Rob Rocks
By Tiarra Mukherjee

What's had the greatest impact on your life?

Rob: My biggest influences growing up were songwriters like Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and Tom Petty. Now I get to meet alot of these people. When I get recognition from them, (that support) helps to keep me focused on what I'm doing.


If you and the band could work with any other group, which one would it be?

Rob: REM. They're the model for credibility. No matter how successful they've gotten, they've stayed true to the music.


I know you've been to hell and back, but would there have been a "Yourself Or Someone Like You" without all that suffering?

Rob: No. If you use the pain in your life to make you realize your place in the world, I think it's a good thing. I've never thought what I've gone through was bad, because I've looked at it as a character building experience.


I love the song "Girl Like That". What's it about?

Rob: That was about being obsessed with a girl for the wrong reasons. You get into the relationship and then you realize it's not what you thought it would be.


What inspires you to write your lyrics?

Rob: Anything that affects you emotionally. It could be something I see in a movie, something that happened to me that day, or something I see out the car window. Someone might say a phrase. "Push" was written because I had that phrase "I'm a little bit rusty" in my head. I thought of all the images it conjured up.


What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you at one of your shows?

Rob: In San Diego, this 50-year-old woman jumped onstage in the middle of a song and grabbed me, hiked up her dress, and wrapped her legs around me while I was singing. It was embarrassing.


Do you enjoy when girls throw themselves at you?

Rob: I appreciate anyone who's a fan, and if any girl thinks I'm attractive it's flattering. But it's wrong when people invade your space.


What exactly do you do for homeless teens?

Rob: We hooked up on our last two tours with an orginization called Children of the Night. It seems homeless teens have been overlooked, so we set up boxes at every show for people to leave clothes, phone cards-- anything to help kids on the street.


What is your biggest fear in life?

Rob: I don't want to die yet. I've got a lot I want to do. That and flying-- I think they run hand in hand.


Are you currently in a relationship?

Rob: I am indeed. I'm actually about to be married. Her name's Marisol, and she's from New York.


What does a girl have to do to totally win your heart?

Rob: I have a different list now than I did maybe two or three years ago. When I met Marisol, she had never seen the "Push" video. That was great. I knew she was digging me for me, not because I'm in a band. A woman has to have her own agenda in life and be someone who's independent and can boss me around. So many people let me do whatever the hell I want, it's nice when somebody tells me I can't.


One last question: In the video for "Push, you look superfine. But wasn't that outfit uncomfortable?

Rob: No, actually it was kind of sexy. The outfit was leather, and I didn't have anything on under it. And that's always good.