Bob Rock

Bob Rock
Rock presenting at the 2009 Juno Awards
Background information
Birth name	Robert Jens Rock
Born	(1954-04-19) 19 April 1954 (age 62)
Origin	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres	Rock, heavy metal, punk rock
Instruments	Guitar, bass, piano
Years active	1978–present
Associated acts	Payolas, Rock and Hyde See: Producer/engineer sections for other associations

Robert Jens "Bob" Rock (born 19 April 1954) is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing rock bands and music artists such as The Tragically Hip, Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, Bryan Adams, The Offspring, Michael Bublé, Black Veil Brides and Ron Sexsmith.

Rock began his music career in Langford, British Columbia (a suburb of Victoria) as a guitarist playing with friends William Alexander and Paul Hyde in the former's household basement. After high school graduation, Rock left Victoria and became the co-founder of the Payola$, who became well known with the success of their 1980s hit, "Eyes of a Stranger", which was used as part of the soundtrack of the movie Valley Girl starring Nicolas Cage. In 1983, the Payola$ won the Juno Award for Single of the Year. Rock also worked as an assistant engineer at Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver. In 1987, the Payola$ (who had by then changed their name to Paul Hyde and the Payolas) again changed their name to Rock and Hyde and had a hit single in Canada with the song "Dirty Water". The song also charted on Billboard's Hot 100. In 2007, the Payola$ became briefly active once more as a touring and recording act, releasing the EP Langford Part One.