Name: Bobby Schayer
What he does: Play the drums
Useful info (Michele A. Ceazan) :
Schayer's entry into Bad Religion, replacing first five-
LPs drummer Pete Finestone at the onset of the sessions for 1992's
Generator, is also an Interesting one, since he was a fan of the group from its
earliest incarnations.
A noted member of the LA. punk/hardcore community at the tender
age of 13-you can find him in the audience in the 1981 live photo of Black
Flag in the book Hardcore California: A History of Punk and New Wave-
Schayer's extensive pre-Bad Religion experience was actually drumming for
a string of '60s British-Invasion inspired pop bands, two of which, The Clay
Idols (fronted by his brother Steven, later a member of vaunted New
Zealand outfit The Chills) and The Question, remaln renowned among los
Angeles concert goers with long memories for their superb live
performances and a small number of releases.
Schayer gained his first touring experience as a member of Two Free
Stooges, a musical/comedy revue including then-Circle Jerks guitarist Zander
Schloss (who later backed ex-Clash frontinan Joe Strummer on his solo LP
and tour). Two Free Stooges was the support group for the Red Hot Chili
Peppers on their 1991 U.S. tour, being somethlng of a protégé of the Chili
Peppers.
This tour proved significant when Schayer's connection with Schloss
led him to be recommended for the position of drummer in Bad Religion by
Schloss's friend and bandihate Greg Hetson. Schayer secured the job by
beating out Brian Baker's old laag Nasty bandmate Cohn Sears and punk
legend Nicky Beat (of The Weirdos, The Bags, and The Germs) in auditions.
The multi-talented Schayer is also noted for constantly playing the
guitar as the "human jukebox"-he Is purported to know the chords every
great song ever recorded in rock history. The celebrity-deaths buff is also a
collector of vintage gramophones and 78 r.p.m. discs. Away from the road,
bachelor Schayer lives in Seattle.
E-mail: bobbys@badreligion.com - think before mailing.
