Rick Froberg possessed a distinctive vocal style that blended a snarling quality with a piercing tone.
Within the realm of male punk vocalists, some exhibited a resonant quality at the back of their throats, much like Joey Ramone, while others had a guttural depth reminiscent of various hardcore bands.
However, Froberg’s voice was unmistakable—it didn’t strive to sound tough intentionally; it simply manifested that way. His voice always seemed to echo that of a frail, elderly man who had indulged in too many cigarettes and consumed copious amounts of whiskey.
On Friday, Froberg succumbed to natural causes, as verified by John Reis, his musical collaborator of more than three decades. Reports suggest he was 55 years old.
Froberg’s initial collaboration with Reis occurred in the late ’80s with Pitchfork, a post-hardcore band based in San Diego.
Yet, it was during the ’90s with the band Drive Like Jehu that Rick Froberg’s voice arguably reached its full potential. The band’s self-titled debut album featured the song “Atom Jack,” showcasing the stark contrast in Froberg’s vocal delivery. Their second album, “Yank Crime,” presented the dissonant and epic track “Luau,” which spanned over nine minutes. Froberg passionately shouted against imperialism, intermittently breaking the discord with the words, “Aloha, aloha. Suit up. Luau, luau. Luau, luau.”
However, it was with Hot Snakes, their third major collaboration, where Froberg’s vocals truly flourished. This time, Reis abandoned his lengthy and intricate guitar solos from Drive Like Jehu, opting for shorter, faster-paced songs that drew influence from garage rock. The result was aggressive punk with an added layer of intelligence. The occasional skipped or extra beat in the time signatures, along with the interplay of staccato guitar leads and rhythms, created a distinct sound. Froberg’s vocals, now harsher and higher in pitch, found their perfect match.
This culmination of Froberg’s vocal prowess was evident right from the opening track, “If Credit’s What Matters I’ll Take Credit,” on Hot Snakes’ debut album, “Automatic Midnight,” released in 2000.
Hot Snakes proceeded to unveil two additional studio albums during the early 2000s: the subdued “Suicide Invoice” succeeded by the lively and spirited “Audit in Progress.”
After a hiatus of approximately 14 years, the band reunited in 2018 to release a new album. NPR characterized Froberg’s voice as “high and serrated.” Reviewer Andrew Flanagan, in reference to Froberg’s lyrics at the time, described them as largely incomprehensible, operating as an expressionist splatter of impassioned thoughts across the band’s relentless and fervent musical canvas.
Apart from his collaborations with Reis, Froberg gained recognition for his work with Obits, a band that infused punkish garage rock with a bluesy touch. NPR noted that his vocals carried a sense of bitterness even as the music adopted a more subdued tone. Between 2009 and 2013, the band released three studio albums.
Froberg also displayed his talents as a guitarist in most of his bands. However, it never seemed to be his primary focus. In a recent interview, he candidly admitted, “I have news for the world, I’m not a good guitar player.”