Rob Grill (The Grass Roots) - Interview, 2004

Interview segment from a 2004 PBS show. Please note that audio problems were part of the program... AND... they are standing close together because they were on the narrow catwalk in front of the stage and closed curtains.

[@bobbales9249]

This is the same year I met Rob and the band at a festival in Indiana. It was a rainy day but they still played 4 sets over the day. Rob sat with a group of us and talked the whole time. I didn't know much about the Grass Roots before that day but I did when I left. Amazing that he was in the band for almost a year as just the bass player before they ever let him sing. He said Creed Bratton, Denis Provisor and Warren Etner would do the singing and fight over who sang what. One day they had a song that none of those guys could sing very good and Rob was singing it by himself without a mic. They heard him and let him sing it. The rest is history.

[@valgibson3127]

Rob Grill was the voice of the Grass Roots. So sad about his pain. I've had lupus for 30 years and the pain is horrible sometimes. R.I.P. Rob😢😇😠🙏

[@sarahshouse1890]

Love the Grass Roots!!! My favorite band on the planet ever since the 60s to this day!!! Love ya Rob, you rock!!

[@joannklingaman9489]

Thanks Rob for giving us such memories in your songs !!! With all the great groups in the 60's you guys held your own !!!

[@dianasnow7065]

I love the Grass Roots and still do they was a great band they made great music I sure miss the group.

[@EVIEHEARS]

it was a girl's dream, back in the late 60's - early 70's, to see the Grass Roots play at our town's Fisheman's Fiesta....What a crush I had on Rob ! Rob RIP - Your memory will be forever eternal...

[@lindaAA3101]

yes RIP Rob Grill

[@suejohnson3649]

Rob Grill was, is and will always be Exquisite!!! I'll be Waiting a Million Years Baby!!

[@janeswann8956]

Me, too!

[@Gypsisoul1111]

The best! I will forever miss you and the Grass Roots.

[@freddymertz569]

Rob was one of the good people in the music business, as well as an incredibly underrated, self-deprecating talent who didn't just have the ability to create top 40/pop hits, but knew how to interpret them with a rock edge--which is what made the Grass Roots appeal to such a wide audience. I also remember Rob being accessible to the audience after a live performance, and willing to speak with any fans who wanted to come up and say hello.

[@1962drob]

This is a great interview. Rob Grill looks great in this interview. R.I.P. Rob Grill. Your music will live on forever.

[@keithbishop9759]

Grassroots were really underrated

[@tedmorgan7002]

Agreed!

[@GODISMYSTERIOUS]

The music in the 60-70s are fantastic.

[@58terryg]

so glad i got to meet you several years ago, r.i.p rob...god bless you!

[@lavonX1]

Sadly, Rob says he had at least another 26 years in him...but he passed in 2011... Only 8 years later... You never know when time is up. :-(

[@terridorn9077]

I know I thought the same thing😢💔 Gone too soon💔 RIP ROB

[@robinwanless3496]

SO TRUE!!!

[@DutchGirl859]

Rob Grill is sooooooo cute...what a gorgeous man...wow...!!

[@artsyspicey]

Rob was so utterly handsome when he was young, and also as an older gentleman.

[@robinwanless3496]

AMEN

[@markeggins890]

What a legend, looked and sounded great throughout his career.

[@janeswann8956]

I so agree. Growing up with them was a pleasure.

[@cetaittoi5028]

Oh, how I miss him. So good to see him laugh. Thanks for posting.

[@kathyortiz9509]

What a handsome man! Had a huge crush on him!

[@sharonkutz8272]

Me too

[@janeswann8956]

Still do!!!!!!

[@bufb]

He was handsome

[@lindaAA3101]

me three@@sharonkutz8272

[@LousFool]

I love Rob on this interview. Joking around as always. Lookin FINE! I'm missing you baby love....

[@cynthiaellis4637]

Love you guy's Forever

[@musicffan1863]

Green eyed handsome Grill 😗

[@r.mcdermott7508]

We know. You state this on each Rob Grill vid.

[@janeswann8956]

❤ 😍 💖 ❣ 💕 💘 ❤

[@kathyzukaitis28]

I had a wonderful year back in 1975/76 with Rob. We met when the Grass Roots played at the Chalet in Crystal Lake, WI. They played all over the state of WI and I was there at most of their venues. Rob was a wonderful, funny and loving man. I cherished the times I spent with Rob, Dennis, Joel, and Alan (Alan was with the band for a short period time.) Alrhough I only got to see Rob once or twice a month in that year, I fell deeply in live with him. Times changed and we drifted apart, but Rob forever held a large space in my heart! That feeling never died, even when I heard the tragic news that the love of my life had passed away. RIP Rob, this being the 30th of November, 2022; the date of his passing. Such sweet memories.....❤😥😥

[@ReinSman100]

Loved the grass roots.

[@janecarolhogue3140]

The Grassroots was awsome❤

[@janeswann8956]

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rumpestillskin4671]

RIP Rob

[@grantschubach5163]

The Grass Roots were a great band.

[@nicoledaluz4258]

He was such an articulate man and beautiful to boot.

[@janeswann8956]

Yes he was!

[@evelynzink2547]

Saw Grass Roots in 1998 was great after he was done we left at oral roberts un

[@shosho63449]

so sad so tragic rip rob

[@Bellyflops2]

Personal space was not observed in the making of this video

[@60s70sVintageRock]

I would love to post the performances, but the dvd is still commercially available, so that would get me into copyright trouble. You can find ''60's Pop Rock Reunion LIVE!" on Amazon. Also features Tommy James, Peter Noone, Mark Lindsay and more :)

[@wildnites558]

You may be right about the medication, but I pretty sure it's not "recreational" medication. I remember seeing Rob and the Grass Roots in the 90s and he told the audience that he hadn't taken any drugs in decades. But since about 2000 or 2001 Rob has experienced a bunch of health problems like bone disease, arthritis and couple of hip replacements. So the medications he may be on right here are for pain and disease. God bless Rob. R.I.P.

[@kathleenfavorite3527]

He had many hip surgeries and was in pain in his later life. He had to walk with a cane.

[@fmbighair]

I hope I dont jinx myself here, but I never understand how people get hooked on pain meds and stuff? I have been prescribed oxycodone after a minor surgury but try to only use if I really needed. Are there other non invasisive/non adicting alternatives he couldve used? He seemd like a real positve guy.

[@robinwanless3496]

WOW, I didn't know Rob went through Hell, a painful HELL. I thought He had a fall, And then because of that fall He had a stroke And died. I didn't know about All the arthritis, hip replacements, lupus... ALOT of Pain. RIP Rob Grill

[@robinwanless3496]

@@fmbighair I can only speak for Myself, I come from a long line of people with Addictions And Mental Illness. For Me it's Self Medication , Doctors no longer give Me what works, opioids work for Me, make Me Feel stable, heaven forbid We be allowed to Feel Good. I'm sure I'll catch hell for My statements. I'm just telling You why people get hooked, from My point of view.

[@robinwanless3496]

fmbighair, it's, Robin again with a P. S. I'm jealous of people with Your chemical makeup And mindset. I wish I could just take meds when I REALLY found it necessary to take them.

[@WaltGekko]

That would explain why his voice was much different by the time he did lead on the group's "Symphonic Hits" album in 2001 where the group re-did a lot of their old hits with longer versions of many of them.

[@muziclover1952]

This was part of a concert taped in cleveland for pbs.It and other interviews are on the dvd of that concert.Herman Hermits,Tommy James,etc...were there.GREAT CONCERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@braznartn5176]

Standing so close to each other... Very strange!!

[@lonehorseman09]

grassroots and tj and the shondells are my favorite groups of all time. phil sloan was a great writer.

[@cc9z]

in a 1975 appearance on dick Clark american bandstand he said 19 times appearance and 16 here

[@sarahshouse1890]

I remember that, saw that video too.

[@javelin1010]

The interview was great but I'd love to see the show.

[@kathleen3177]

boomers had the best music

[@avengernemesis7990]

Kathleen I agree and us girls we had great micro mini skirts. No false nails, no fake boobs, no artificial tans and not overweight. Freedom and the music was great.. Stay safe and stay healthy Australia..🙂🙃

[@galaxy2012]

I agree too. Loved the minis and the music.

[@avengernemesis7990]

@@lickitup8461 And you mine..🤭

[@avengernemesis7990]

@@lickitup8461 😘

[@avengernemesis7990]

@@lickitup8461 We need a time machine...the music was great and us being young enjoyed the 60's and 70's. I had a good time as my father was job transfered in the 60's from Australia to South Africa then we went to New Zealand.. I had family living in Australia so I would fly across the Tasman to live and work in Australia then fly back to New Zealand. I live in Oz permanently but my wings have been clipped because of Covid.

[@artman102]

He said he thinks he has 26 years to go. Who would have imagined it would only be 8 years. His biography mentions that he fell and injured his head and suffered two strokes and went into a coma.

[@WaltGekko]

Yes, "Mr. Music" as Norm has been known as for years. He also for many years did the weekend Top 20 Countdown shows on WCBS-FM (101.1) in New York when he did two separate full-time stints there. Knight I believe was back at CBS-FM by this point doing a Sunday Night "Heart of Rock 'n Roll" show that aired on Sunday nights up to the flip to JACK shortly after Memorial Day weekend in 2005. Rob Grill's voice was much different by this point as evidenced by his 2001

[@Baci302]

Oh wow, that's Norman Knight. I grew up listening to his show on many a Sunday night.

[@susan2seven516]

Why is everyone so pushed up against each other ? Is there no room on the stage ? Weird !

[@kelleyblair7170]

They were standing on a catwalk

[@suzieparis6821]

Left coast..got that right

[@edjsho]

at 5:56 you will see why they are standing so close. They are standing on a 2 foot wide pier.

[@brendametcalfe7442]

Why don’t they ever mention Warren Entner?? He is Fabulous!! I loved watching him!!😍

[@YESYES-qz2ex]

They call him the "druggie".

[@BartmanBrooklyn]

Yes! He's absolute musical legend in his own right! There's a beautiful video of his daughter interviewing him for his 80th birthday.

[@BartmanBrooklyn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4DHfaSnp7aBes0si=snzayLk9Ef4ZrhiC

[@juliemiller5781]

i didnt even reconize him-- changed so much

[@Katy-ye1zr]

Looks like he got in an accident- his nose is damaged and I saw a big scar near his mouth- right side I think. Rob Grill was a chronic pain patient for many years and his hip had quite deteriorated; much pain.

[@BBCDE125]

He had the scar in the 70's - think that's why we wore a mustache.

[@mswitter1]

Yes, he does look slightly different.

[@janeswann8956]

I'd know That man anywhere.

[@janeswann8956]

@@Katy-ye1zr God Bless him.

[@WaltGekko]

I meant as evidenced by the group's "Symphonic Hits" album in 2001.

[@brtherjohn]

@bze2nlz4 What a shame. I didn't know that about his past health. He was such a charismatic musician. July has been a bad month for passing rockers, the other being Dan Peek.

[@tedmorgan7002]

Creed Braaten was in the Grass Roots

[@LUISMARTINEZ-ho6xw]

very good!!! una pena que no entiendo un pito...pero bueno...HEAR ARGENTINA...ONLY ONE FAN OF THE GRASSROOTS!!! TENGO TODOS SUS VINILOS!!! CHAU!!!

[@60s70sVintageRock]

@15yankeeman The emcee is Norm N. Nite, and yes, he's the same person from Sirius. He has a channel here, NormMNite.

[@lickitup323]

Did he have a local cable show in west allis wisconsin late 70s early 80s ?

[@60s70sVintageRock]

@brtherjohn He may have been...having suffered pain for years from a degenerative bone disease and several hip replacements.

[@LousFool]

@bze2nlz4 You bet--too good. I hope he is doing ok since Christian's passing. I've been thinking of him.

[@r.mcdermott7508]

Damn, all snuggled in together, strange. Grill is obviously medicated, and Peter Noone comes out..they all huddle together 😳

[@terridorn9077]

They were on a very narrow platform! The only drugs Rob was on was for Parkinson's disease. How cruel and IGNORANT you are👹🔥😈 RIP ROB

[@dennywayne8879]

Is this show available to the public by purchase?

[@60s70sVintageRock]

Denny Wayne: Yes, it's "'60s Pop Rock Reunion Live!" on dvd. Most are used copies on eBay and various other sites. Also it was posted on YT more recently... kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZfdpWpolrutrLM

[@caroltalbott7817]

How tall was Rob ...

[@kathyortiz9509]

6 feet tall

[@samuelclemons508]

Poor Rob....got caught up..

[@transformer889]

he is pretty loaded

[@ronizutell4702]

He'd been on pain pills for years.

[@brtherjohn]

Rob looks a little medicated here. Oh well. Peter Noone puts on a hell of a show too...

[@methatlovescats3602]

Hey..if those 2 guys get any closer they will be kissing

[@swimlaps1]

Too close for covid-19 virus, social distancing in 2020!

[@guygrip9634]

Intriview is like up his face.

[@60s70sVintageRock]

If you go to the end of the video, you'll see they were standing on the narrow catwalk. Why they were standing there, I'll never know, lol.

[@fenderstratguy]

playback keeps locking up on me

[@VicksWander]

Personal space please.....awkward

[@anij8226]

Peter Noon 5:58

[@gtoneyprice5293]

Bromance?

[@olhobbler]

you are right, he seems slightly impaired.

[@hermanglimsher]

This must have been during Rob's drug period.

[@lonehorseman09]

rob is defenitely medicated here but who cares? it should be noted grassroots had top 40 hits until 1973.

[@fmbighair]

A lot of people say he looks medicated but to me, he actus and looks like his chipper fun loving self?

[@karlaoneil7347]

I am under the impression he was a Christian, I pray he is in Heaven, shame on you for your comment.

[@user-dd7tx2te2h]

Why does the interviewer have to stand so close. I dont want to smell your breath dude. Back up.

[@60s70sVintageRock]

@Jayne Kinney - Most of the stage was behind a curtain, covering the musical equipment for the many bands featured in this program... so they were standing on a narrow catwalk. Yeah, too close for comfort lol!

[@Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8]

*He looked like a Good Looking young man, but I guess he sure went to hell in a hand basket.*

[@r.mcdermott7508]

Yes.

[@suzieparis6821]

Why

[@r.cociarelli2659]

@@r.mcdermott7508 he deteriorated physically, so fast.

[@cathyrosborough1516]

He was a beautiful man to the end!❤

[@brendamccullough7424]

What a judgemental bitch you are