Bob Drake American multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer. Date of Birth: 06.12.1957 Country: USA

Biography of Bob Drake

Bob Drake is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist, and sound engineer. He is best known as the founder of the avant-rock group 'Thinking Plague' and a member of the bands '5uu's', 'Hail', and 'The Science Group'. In 2007, he formed his own group, 'Bob Drake's Cabinet of Curiosities'. Drake is also recognized for his collaborations with Ice Cube, Tina Turner, and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Early Life and Musical Career
Bob Drake was born in Cleveland, Ohio and spent his early years in Watseka, Illinois. It was in Illinois where Drake learned to play the guitar and drums, but later he decided to become a bassist after being inspired by the album 'Fragile' by the band 'Yes'. He acquired a 'Rickenbacker 4001' bass guitar, which he still uses to this day. Drake experimented with various sound recording methods, but realized that his experiments were not of much interest in Illinois.

Move to Denver and Success with Thinking Plague
In 1978, Drake relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he worked on recording sound for B-movie horror films. During this time, he also played bass and drums with local underground bands. Drake met guitarist and composer Mike Johnson, and together they formed the band 'Thinking Plague' in 1982. By the 1990s, 'Thinking Plague' had released three albums and gained a good reputation in progressive music circles.

Collaborations and Solo Career
In the late 1980s, talented musicians like Drake decided to move to more promising cities. Drake found work in Los Angeles, where he worked on sound recording projects with Tina Turner, Ice Cube, and Engelbert Humperdinck. During this period, he also co-founded the band 'Hail' with vocalist Susanne Lewis. In 1994, Drake released his first solo album, 'What Day is It?', which had a limited release of 1000 copies. He later recorded five more solo albums, all released under the independent label 'Recommended Records' owned by former 'Henry Cow' drummer Chris Cutler.

Studio Midi-Pyrenees and Continued Collaborations
In 1994, Drake and Dave Kerman moved to Caudeval in southern France, where they transformed an old farm owned by Chris Cutler and Maggie Thomas into the 'Studio Midi-Pyrenees'. Drake and Kerman continued to collaborate, and in 1997, Drake joined 'The Science Group', a band formed by Chris Cutler. In the early 2000s, Drake continued to actively collaborate with 'Thinking Plague' and '5uu's'. In 2007, he formed his new group, 'Bob Drake's Cabinet of Curiosities', which performed recordings from his solo albums. The band consisted of Drake, Kerman, David Campbell, Jason DuMars, Olivier Tejedor, and Lynnette Shelley.

Musical Style and Inspiration
Drake primarily worked on his solo albums independently, playing most of the instrumental parts himself. His music is difficult to categorize, as it incorporates elements of progressive rock, country, and blues. Drake draws inspiration from various sources, and his first album was inspired by the nature and climate of Los Angeles.

Overall, Bob Drake's career has been marked by his versatility as a musician, his collaborations with notable artists, and his unique blend of genres in his solo work.