Bob Forrest spent the 80s and early 90s criss-crossing the country fronting the band Thelonious Monster. Along the way, Thelonious Monster released eight albums, an EP and received great critical acclaim, despite their notorious antics and drug-fueled chaos. Thelonious Monster was one of the founding bands of the alternative/college rock movement. Since then, Bob has continued on his musical path releasing a series of albums.
During his years of decadence and rock music, Forrest experienced 24 stints in rehab and even more attempts at sobriety before finally successfully staying sober in 1996. In the years since, he has been on the Board for the Musicians Assistance Program (MAP), helping numerous musicians find and maintain sobriety. For eight years Forrest worked side-by-side with Dr. Drew Pinsky, as the head of the Chemical Dependency unit at Las Encinas Hospital where he learned the inner-workings of the chemical dependency field as well as the clinical aspects of drug addiction and alcoholism. In 2010 he opened Hollywood Recovery Services, an out-patient treatment facility in Hollywood, California, in order to implement a new model in the recovery industry.
At the podium, Forrest candidly discusses his past with stories that will make audiences laugh, cry, recoil in horror and provide answers to many questions about addiction and substance abuse. He openly recounts the personal challenges he has faced coming to sobriety and takes a hard look at the rehab industry. He hits on the tough questions such as: Does it work? Is
it for everyone? What is the difference between an addict and an abuser? Forrest’s program is relatable whether you are struggling with substances, know someone who is, or are simply looking for inspiration to find your own way in life.
Forrest has been a featured member of the treatment team on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew for five seasons, it’s spinoff Sober House (for two seasons) and is currently filming the follow up episodes to the previous seasons.
In 2011, a documentary entitled Bob and The Monster was released detailing Forrest’s tumultuous musical and drug-addicted past. In October, 2011 he launched a radio show discussing addiction, rock and roll and pop culture on Sirius Radio. Forrest is currently working on an autobiography, to be released in 2012.
Forrest is married, he and his wife welcomed the birth of their son in 2010.
