Speakeasy with Beatle Bob

St. Louis’ Beatle Bob is arguably the most famous concertgoer in history and possibly the most eccentric. While in town for MMS, Speakeasy chatted him up.

Q: Do you have a day job?

Yes, my 40-hour-a-week job is as a social worker in St. Louis. This is besides the radio thing at night, doing the journalist thing. I freelance for a couple magazines in St. Louis. What’s good about that is that as long as you’re done by your deadline, you can work whatever hours you want.

Q: How much sleep do you average a night?

If I get four hours of sleep I’m good. I always kid people because I live a non-rock and roll lifestyle. Vegetarian for 23 years, never did smoke, never did drink. Never did like alcohol. The milder alcohol like champagne and wine, it’s always tasted bitter to me.

Q: It could be argued that you live the most rock and roll of lifestyles. How long is the current streak?

The current streak is 2,538 shows. I keep a diary of all the shows I go to and the last time I stayed home was Christmas Eve of 1996.

Q: What started the streak?

I’ve always kept a diary of every show I’ve seen even prior to 1996. I’ve got notebooks just full of dates and venues.

Q: Are you obsessive compulsive?

No, not really. It’s just fun to put that stuff down. When you go to as many shows as I do you might forget what show was that, what club was that.

Q: Why do you go to shows?

I just love music. What makes it special is when you go out as much as I do is that you get to know the people at the clubs — venue owners, waitresses, security guys and the fans.

Q: Favorite shows?

Al Green is one of my perennial favorites. Of all time was April 21, 1968, in St. Louis, James Brown and the Famous Flames. Close second would be when my uncle took me to this little club in Springfield, Mo., to see Jerry Lee Louis, who had at that time had been ostracized for marrying his cousin. What people don’t realize is that down South it’s a tradition, although in the South you do have to divorce your first wife first. It was a wonder to behold. The Polyphonic Spree is one of my favorites.

Q: At this point, do you keep it going because of a love of music or a need to continue the streak?

It’s both, but more for the love of music. I can never see it happening, but if there weren’t any good bands playing, only wretched bands, than I would probably just keep the streak going to keep it going, but probably not.