Bob Forrest

Forrest was born on February 15, 1961.{{cite web |title=Bob Forrest |url=https://greenwayrecords.com/artist/bob-forrest/ |website=Greenway Records |access-date=29 June 2025}} He grew up in Palm Desert, California.{{cite book |last1=Forrest |first1=Bob |last2=Albo |first2=Michael |title=Running with Monsters: A Memoir |date=1 October 2013 |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-7704-3599-8 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Running_with_Monsters/Hl7KZ_PScmoC |language=en}}^:5 As a child, Forrest was a top-rated amateur golfer.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=R. J. |title=‘Celebrity Rehab’ Star Bob Forrest’s Musical Past |url=https://www.spin.com/2010/10/celebrity-rehab-star-bob-forrests-musical-past/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=SPIN |date=19 October 2010}}

At the age of 13, Forrest learned that the older sister he grew up with was his birth mother, and he was actually raised by his grandparents. When he was 15, his father figure died and the family was forced to relocate from an affluent neighborhood to a trailer park. Forrest turned to alcohol to cope.

Forrest attended Los Angeles City College before dropping out to work as a DJ. Influenced by figures such as Jack Kerouac and Lenny Bruce, he became interested in trying heroin. He dosed for the first time with blues musician Top Jimmy.

In 1983, Forrest was working as a DJ. He became friends with Flea, then the bass player for Fear, and the two moved into a flat alongside Anthony Kiedis. Forrest worked as a roadie for their band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis described Forrest as "a tortured musician working as a roadie", and in 1984, Forrest started his own band, Thelonious Monster.

Thelonious Monster released their debut album, Baby...You're Bummin' My Life out in a Supreme Fashion, in 1986. Their sophomore album Next Saturday Afternoon came in 1987, followed by Stormy Weather in 1989. Stormy Weather was a commercial failure, but Forrest was still seeing moderate success in the Los Angeles punk scene. In 1990, he signed a major solo recording contract with RCA Records. Although the company reportedly invested over $400,000 into Forrest, he was frivolous with the money and spent much of it to fuel his drug habits. His productivity stalled following the death of Thelonious Monster bassist Rob Graves in March of that year, and Forrest checked into his first rehab program.{{cite news |last1=Hilburn |first1=Robert |title=The Education of Bob Forrest : Drugs and alcohol damaged his career, Forrest says. But Thelonious Monster's leader is back, upbeat and starting again with a new album--and no excuses. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-07-ca-1266-story.html |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=7 November 1992}} Over the next six years, Forrest would spend 23 more stints in formal rehab facilities.

Forrest reformed Thelonious Monster and resumed recording, but he was dropped by the label. The band released Beautiful Mess in 1992 on Signal-Capitol Records. By 1993, Forrest had reentered a deep drug addiction, and he was reportedly spending hundreds of dollars a day on the habit. His relationship with he band suffered. Forrest had a mental break and attempted suicide at Pinkpop Festival that year, planning to jump off of a speaker tower. Instead, fear took hold, and he climbed down to finish the set.

In 1996, Forrest was arrested.{{cite news |last1=Keegan |first1=Rebecca |title=Bob Forrest's unlikely career arc |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-bob-forrest-20110803-story.html |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=3 August 2011}} He described his tormented mental state during the arrest, considering suicide by cop following an extended car chase.{{cite web |last1=Midnight |first1=Chip |title=Interview: Bob Forrest of Thelonious Monster [Part 1] |url=https://bigtakeover.com/interviews/InterviewBobForrestofTheloniousMonsterPart1 |website=The Big Takeover |access-date=29 June 2025 |language=en}} He spent 5 weeks in jail, and later credited the experience as starting his journey towards sobriety.

A newly sober Forrest resumed writing music in 1997. He met the 17-year-old guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, and the two began to collaborate on songs that Forrest had penned. They formed the band The Bicycle Thief, and their work culminated in the album You Come and Go Like a Pop Song in 1999.{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Neal |title=Still a Beautiful Mess |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-12-15/music/still-a-beautiful-mess/2/ |work=SF Weekly |date=15 November 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716051723/http://www.sfweekly.com/1999-12-15/music/still-a-beautiful-mess/2/ |archive-date=16 July 2011}}

Thelonious Monster reunited with Forrest at the helm, releasing California Clam Chowder in 2004. The band would continue to play shows intermittently.{{cite news |last1=Baltin |first1=Steve |title=Heart on their record sleeve |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-20-wk-popbright20-story.html |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=20 May 2004}} In 2006, Forrest leased his first solo album, Modern Folk and Blues Wednesday. In 2008, Forrest began releasing a series of live digital EPs on his official website.

Forrest released a new album, Survival Songs, on October 9, 2015, which was produced by Ian Brennan.{{cite web |last=Steffen |first=Chris |title=Album Premiere: Bob Forrest, 'Survival Songs' |url=http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-bob-forrest-survival-songs |accessdate=October 3, 2015 |website=AllMusic}} It is a stripped-down folk album with new material and folk versions of existing Thelonious Monster and Bicycle Thief songs, and features Zander Schloss on unplugged acoustic guitar. It was released on Six Degrees Records.{{cite news |last1=Horowitz |first1=Hal |title=Bob Forrest: Survival Songs |url=https://americansongwriter.com/bob-forrest-survival-songs/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=American Songwriter |date=7 October 2015}} In 2018, he released the live album Bob Forrest + Friends Live 2016 on Greenway Records.

In 2020, Thelonious Monster released Oh That Monster, their first album in 16 years.

Forrest earned the nickname "Rehab Bob" for his contributions to addiction services.{{cite news |last1=Toto |first1=Christian |title='Rehab Bob' Offers Tough Love to Team Demi Lovato |url=https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/rehab-bob-forrest-demi-lovato/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=Hollywood in Toto |date=1 November 2017}} Forrest became a regular Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor with the Musicians Assistance Program, and he formed a working relationship with Dr. Drew Pinsky. The two had met previously in 1988, when Forrest was under the influence on set of Pinsky's show Loveline. Pinsky was impressed with how well Forrest cleaned up, and he offered him a job at Las Encinas Hospital. Forrest would become director of the chemical dependency program at the hospital.

By 2007, Forrest was seeking ways to reduce the stigma of rehab. He encouraged Pinsky to explore the idea of creating a television show on the topic. Forrest was successful, and in 2008, he joined Pinsky as a drug counselor on Celebrity Rehab.{{cite news |last1=Stanley |first1=Alessandra |title=Further Adventures in America’s Favorite Pastime, ‘Addictionology’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/arts/television/10stan.html |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=10 January 2008}} He appeared on all six seasons.Black, Elizabeth (May 1, 2012). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504062827/http://blog.vh1.com/2012-05-01/rehab-with-dr-drew-to-premiere-in-september-2012 "Rehab With Dr. Drew To Premiere In September 2012"]. VH1. He also featured on the 2009 spin-off Sober House.

Forrest is the co-founder of Hollywood Recovery Services, a counseling service for people after they appear on Celebrity Rehab.{{cite news |title=Psychology ‘bible’ to redefine addiction terms – ‘Celebrity Rehab’ counselor Bob Forrest on what this means for the treatment of millions |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/tv/psychology-bible-to-redefine-addiction-terms-celebrity-rehab-counselor-bob-forrest-on-what-this-means-for-the-treatment-of-millions |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=CNN |date=16 May 2012 |language=en}} He also co-founded Oro House Recovery Centers in California.{{cite news |last1=Keller |first1=Erin |title=Hollywood's dark side of doctors and drugs: 'Not going down to Skid Row' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/matthew-perry-doctor-trial-drug-overdose-michael-jackson-1957158 |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=Newsweek |date=22 September 2024 |language=en}} Established in 2010, the facility serves as a luxury inpatient rehabilitation center.{{cite news |last1=Beddingfield |first1=Duante |title='Dopey' podcast helps save Detroit area-native from drug addiction |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/arts/2022/12/29/dopey-podcast-drug-addiction-recovery-don-rentz/69675104007/ |access-date=3 July 2025 |work=Detroit Free Press}}

Forrest, alongside Chuck Davis, hosts Bob Forrest's Don't Die Podcast. The podcast was created with the goal of increasing awareness to addiction. Mike Martt co-hosted the program until his death in 2023.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jamie |title=Bob Forrest’s “Don’t Die” Podcast: The Importance of Humor And The Strength Not To Die |url=https://www.themomentum.com/articles/bob-forrests-dont-die-podcast-the-importance-of-humor-and-the-strength-not-to-die |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=The Momentum |language=en}}

In 2010, Forrest began hosting a weekly radio show, All Up In The Interweb, which aired on Internet radio station indie1031.com.{{cite news |last1=O'Neill |first1=Ann |title=Risen from the gutter, he whispers hope to Hollywood’s junkies |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/13/showbiz/bob-forrest-profile |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=CNN |date=13 November 2011 |language=en}}

On October 1, 2013, Forrest released Running with Monsters: A Memoir, which chronicles his life in the Los Angeles music scene. It was co-written by Michael Albo.

On April 5, 2023, it was announced that Forrest, along with Anthony Kiedis and Ron Burkle, had formed the production company Said and Done Entertainment. Their first project will be an animated series for TBS called Hellicious which is based on the comic book of the same name. Forrest will also serve as an executive producer on the series.{{cite web |title='Hellicious' Animated Series in the Works at TBS, Anthony Kiedis to Star and Produce Via New Production Company Said and Done (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/hellicious-animated-series-tbs-anthony-kiedis-1235574731/?fbclid=IwAR3dsg43rvqgfIvGndkEl9ebAL4jEXNHOC3Ejom7X1VnBkdw1L8u6cD47sQ |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=Variety}}

Forrest, who was good friends with River Phoenix, was one of the last people to see the actor alive the night he died of a drug overdose in 1993. Twenty years after Phoenix's death, Forrest opened up about the actor's final days and hours. Forrest said Phoenix was staying with John Frusciante and that the two went on heavy drug binges that Forrest also was involved in. Forrest was with Phoenix at The Viper Room the night of his death. Forrest said Phoenix informed him he was overdosing and that Forrest told him he wasn't, and that Phoenix told him he was feeling better. But moments later, Phoenix collapsed outside the club and went into convulsions. He was pronounced dead shortly later at the hospital. "I still have guilt that I dismissed his worries so casually," Forrest said. He said at the time that even though he showed empathy and concern, he too was a junkie, which is why he didn't discuss this; he was fearful of drawing legal attention towards himself and others for their drug issues and involvement.{{cite news |last1=Kenneally |first1=Tim |title=River Phoenix's Final Moments Revealed in New Book: 'I Think I'm OD'ing' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/river-phoenixs-death-think-im-oding-actor-said/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=TheWrap |date=31 October 2013}}

Forrest is the subject of Bob and the Monster, a documentary about his music career and battles with drug addiction. The documentary was released in March 2011 and was showcased on the film festival circuit.{{cite news |last1=Holmes |first1=Linda |title='Bob And The Monster': The Curious Question Of What You Leave Out |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/06/22/137339239/bob-and-the-monster-the-curious-question-of-what-you-leave-out |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=NPR |date=22 June 2011 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bobforrestmusic.com/ Official music website]
• [https://alorecovery.com/ Alo House Recovery Centers]
• [https://www.rehabbobforrest.com/ Rehab Bob]

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Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:American rock singers

Category:Musicians from Los Angeles

Category:Six Degrees Records artists