R. B. Korbet

R.B. Korbet (born Rebecca Bronwyn Korbet) is an American musician. She is perhaps most well-known for her contributing drumming and vocals to the first incarnation of art rock band King Missile, and as a current member of Bush Tetras, having joined them on bass guitar in 2020.

R.B. Korbet
Background information
Birth nameRebecca Korbet
BornManhattan, New York City, USA
GenresPunk rock, hardcore punk, industrial, garage rock, noise rock, art rock, experimental
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, drums, guitar, percussion, vocals
Years active1981–present
LabelsShimmy Disc
Member ofBush Tetras, The Carvels NYC, Highly Effective People, Silk Cut
Formerly ofBig Stick, Even Worse, King Missile (Dog Fly Religion), Missing Foundation, Pussy Galore, The Wharton Tiers Ensemble

After first joining Even Worse as lead vocalist in 1981, Korbet would go on to play guitar or bass and sing in bands such as Chop Shop, Hit by a Truck, Missing Foundation, Pussy Galore, Big Stick, Navigator, Madgodz, Bubba Zanetti, Sloth, Hellvis, the Floyds of Flatbush, The Wharton Tiers Ensemble, Judas Livingston Seagull, Verona Downs, and Um.[1]

Since 2019, she has played bass and sang with the Carvels NYC. In the duo Silk Cut, with King Missile's John S. Hall, she plays all instruments (except ukulele) and produces their recordings.[2]

In 2020, Korbet contributed the track "The Power Broker" to Marc Sloan's compilation project Reel to Real Vol. 1.[3] She also joined Bush Tetras the same year, alongside Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, and appeared on their 2023 album They Live in My Head.[4] In 2021, Korbet started another project, a trio called Highly Effective People, in which she plays bass and sings, along with guitarist/singer Vern Woodhead and drummer Alex Baker (also of Skull Practitioners).[5]

Personal life

Korbet was born in Manhattan to two artist parents, but was raised primarily by her grandparents, who moved her to the suburbs of Detroit in 1972.[6] Her first musical inspirations were Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Stevie Wonder.[7] Upon returning to New York in 1980, she became involved with the punk and hardcore scenes and later joined the second lineup of Even Worse, which was documented on the compilation album New York Thrash.

After nearly two decades in New York City, Korbet relocated to Berkeley, California in early 1998, following the death of a close friend and fellow musician. The next year, she was diagnosed as bipolar. After moving to the UK in 2003, she took a complete break from music in 2008 to focus on academic pursuits in the field of politics and history, and has since completed a BA at University of Westminster and a PhD through the Institute of Contemporary British History at King’s College London.[6]

Selected discography
Artist Release Record Label Release Year
Even Worse New York Thrash (compilation) ROIR 1982
King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) Fluting on the Hump Shimmy Disc 1987
King Missile (Dog Fly Religion) They Shimmy Disc 1988
Hellvis The Frog E.P. Fat Bastard 1994
Wharton Tiers Brighter than Life Atavistic Records 1996
The Wharton Tiers Ensemble Twilight of the Computer Age Atavistic Records 1999
Even Worse You've Ruined Everything (archival release) Grand Theft Audio 2002
The Carvels NYC Everything with You Is a Travesty EP (double 7") self-released 2017
Bush Tetras They Live in My Head Wharf Cat Records 2023

References
  1. "RB Korbet". Discogs.
  2. "R.B. Korbet (The Carvels, King Missile, Jon Spencer )". Know Your Bass Player.
  3. "Music". Bandcamp.
  4. "Bush Tetras — Wharf Cat Records". Wharf Cat Records.
  5. "Music". Bandcamp.
  6. "None The Worse for Wear: The Life & Times of R.B. Korbet". Flaming Pablum.
  7. "The New York Hardcore Chronicles 10 Questions w/ RB Korbet (Even Worse)". YouTube.


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