About Robin & the Rocks
ROBIN & THE ROCKS, featuring the powerful vocals of Robin Pearl and the searing pedal steel guitar of Ned Selfe, combined with the duo’s punchy power pop songwriting, formed one of the Bay Area’s finest unheralded bands.
Their debut album, UNKNOWN LOVER, was recorded in 1983 with the sure hand of producer/songwriter/performer Bonnie Hayes at the helm and a stellar cast of San Francisco musicians, including Chris Hayes (Huey Lewis & the News) and Kevin Hayes (Robert Cray Band). The first album was recorded at the legendary Plant Studios in Sausalito and mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.
In those pre-internet days, the music world and the Bay Area in particular was swirling with change and innovation. MTV (Music TV) was the ‘killer app’ that allowed cable TV to make significant inroads vs. ‘free’ broadcast networks, the music video had become the dominant format for new and established acts, New Wave had burst through onto the airwaves, and the Compact Disc (CD) began to supplant the vinyl LP.
Onto this tumultuous stage, Robin & the Rocks planted a flag with a nomination from the Bay Area Music Awards for “Best Independent Label Album” in 1984. They played most of the major clubs in the Bay Area and garnered significant press and radio airplay. Having assembled a first-rate band consisting of Keith Allen (Steve Miller Band) on guitar and keys, Jonathan Bassil on bass, and Jeff Brewer on drums, the band played a private showcase in L.A. with all the major record labels attending. Though response from the labels was overwhelmingly positive, no suitable offers were forthcoming. Given that the major labels still controlled the rollout onto a national stage at that time, the band decided to self-produce a 2nd album, AMERICAN EXCESS, which was recorded ‘live in the studio’ direct to 16 track tape with no overdubs or fancy production touches.
Though the band continued to play some gigs, eventually Robin moved on to new endeavors in the field of art and design. Ned continued to perform, produce and record with local artists, and went on to release two albums of contemporary instrumental music on his own Selfe Service label.
Oh, and by the way, the husband/wife duo is still happily married and living in Hawaii.
Robin & the Rocks came together slightly out of the usual order of band formation. Robin & Ned, having been through a number of different bands and styles, decided that they wanted a pop/rock format, envisioned the sound and look, then wrote material aimed in that direction, hired producer/guru Bonnie Hayes, went into the studio and recorded the first album (UNKNOWN LOVER) using hired gun players on a shoestring budget, struck a pressing & distribution deal with local label Dublab Records, and finally hired a band and set off to promote the album by playing local gigs in the Bay Area.
Robin Pearl – vocals, looking stylish.
Ned Selfe – pedal steel guitar, e-bow, vocals.
Keith Allen – guitar, keys, vocals.
Jonathan Bassil – bass.
Jeff Brewer – drums.