Bob Forrest

{{Short description|American musician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Bob Forrest

| image = Bob Forrest 2011.jpg

| caption = Forrest performing in 2011

| birth_name = Robert O'Neil Forrest

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1961|2|15}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin

| years_active = 1983–present

| associated_acts = Thelonious Monster, The Bicycle Thief

}}

Robert O'Neil Forrest (born February 15, 1961){{cite web|url=http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/calbirths?c=search&first=Robert&last=Forrest&spelling=Exact&4_year=&4_month=0&4_day=0&5=&7=LOS+ANGELES&SubmitSearch.x=27&SubmitSearch.y=1 |title=Free Family Tree, Genealogy and Family History – MyHeritage |publisher=Familytreelegends.com |accessdate=October 3, 2015}}{{Better source needed|date=March 2024}} is an American musician who is best known for his work with the Los Angeles bands Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief. Forrest, a recovering drug addict, has worked for years as a recovery advocate and is cofounder of Oro House Recovery Center. He hosts podcasts called "Rehab Bob"{{cite web|url=https://www.rehabbob.com/podcasts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124164038/https://www.rehabbob.com/podcasts/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 24, 2019|title=Rehab Bob|publisher=Rehab Bob}} and "The Don't Die podcast". Forrest is the former Chemical Dependency Program Director at Las Encinas Hospital.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090729000139/http://www.lasencinashospital.com/about%20our%20facility/hospital%20staff.php Las Encinas Hospital: Hospital Staff], archive.org. Accessed July 29, 2009. In 2010, he and co-founder Shelly Sprague launched Hollywood Recovery Services.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In September 2006, he released his first solo album, Modern Folk and Blues Wednesday. He is also a drug counselor, appearing alongside Dr. Drew Pinsky on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House.{{cite web |url=http://www.joshklinghoffer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179 |title=Joshklinghoffer.net |accessdate=April 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727173845/http://www.joshklinghoffer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179 |archivedate=July 27, 2011 }} He contributed the song "Moonshiner" to the I'm Not There soundtrack.

Forrest was good friends with River Phoenix, whose overdose death affected Forrest deeply.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/river-phoenix-death-think-m-od-ing-actor-012437026.html|title=River Phoenix's Final Moments Revealed in New Book: 'I Think I'm OD'ing'}}

In 2008, he began releasing a series of live digital EPs exclusively at his official website. In 2010, Forrest began hosting a weekly radio show, All Up In The Interweb, airing Wednesday nights on Indie1031.com.[http://allupintheinterweb.indie1031.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115100411/http://allupintheinterweb.indie1031.com/ |date=January 15, 2012 }}

On October 1, 2013, Forrest released Running with Monsters: A Memoir which he co-wrote with author Mike Albo.{{cite web |url=https://drdrew.com/product/running-with-monsters-a-memoir/ |title=Running with Monsters: A Memoir {{!}} Dr. Drew {{!}} Official Website |website=drdrew.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720050034/http://drdrew.com/product/running-with-monsters-a-memoir/ |archive-date=July 20, 2016}}

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 continues to play on the film festival circuit. The DVD was released in September 2013.{{cite web |url=http://invisible-movement.net/2013/05/bob-and-the-monster-to-be-released-on-dvd-in-september |title=Bob and the Monster to be released on DVD in September | John Frusciante unofficial – Invisible Movement |publisher=Invisible-movement.net |date= |accessdate=October 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004073704/http://invisible-movement.net/2013/05/bob-and-the-monster-to-be-released-on-dvd-in-september |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Forrest released a new album, Survival Songs, on October 9, 2015, which was produced by Ian Brennan.{{cite web|last=Steffen |first=Chris |url=http://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/album-premiere-bob-forrest-survival-songs |title=Album Premiere: Bob Forrest, 'Survival Songs' |website=AllMusic |accessdate=October 3, 2015}} It is a folk album featuring new material and folk versions of existing Thelonious Monster and Bicycle Thief songs.

After Keith Levene parted ways with John Lydon, Forrest featured on one of his records, singing on the track "I'm Looking For Something."

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 |website=Variety |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}}