In 1995 friends and musicians Bob Spector, Robert Quinn and Bryan Martin decided it would be a kick to play some rock and roll on the sidewalk in front of Bob's house on Fell St. here in San Francisco. But this was not just any sidewalk on just any day, it was a Sunday in May and approximately 70,000 people in all states of dress and undress, of sobriety and intoxication, of sanity and insanity, would be running, walking, crawling past this exact spot starting at about 8:30 AM. This was a sidewalk about halfway along the route of the world famous "San Francisco Bay to Breakers" foot race, think Mardi Gras with a pair of Nike's on.

The band set up on the sidewalk as planned at about 8 o'clock in the morning and started to warm up with a song before the first runners (see: Kenyans) would be running by at around 8:20. Well no sooner was a guitar string plucked or a snare drum whacked when the band was approached by a couple of jerks...uh...Race Officials, who informed us we could not play music to entertain "the troops" because we were not an "Officially Sponsored Bay to Breakers Band"! We were very polite in telling them to go back to the hole they crawled out of and let the rocking commence. Not amused by our refusal to obey them in their shiny Official Bay to Breakers windbreakers, they got on their little Official Bay to Breakers Walkie-Talkies® and called the Official San Francisco Police. The cops showed and told that as much as they like rocking out just like the next guy, we had to stop...it's not smart to say no to a couple guys with guns and badges. Plus the cops were actually totally cool and more on our side then the side of the jerks...uh...Race Officials, but they had to do their job.

So the amps get powered down and the drums get moved and the three of us sit there with a beer in one hand and disappointment in the other. But all was not to be lost! Thanks to the genius of Robert Quinn (yes we said genius!) things were just getting started and would go longer than any of us could have ever imagined. Based on the premise that if we played in "Bob's Driveway" instead of on the sidewalk we would be on private property and untouchable, Quinn surmised. Surely nobody could complain or argue that we would be disturbing the peace when 70,000 people are running down the damn street! So the band set down their beers (that was the hard part) and went about setting up to play in the driveway.

Not more then half a song into the re-ignited project here come the jerks...uh...Race Officials, with their stupid little Official Bay to Breakers Walkie-Talkies® and just guess who they're calling? So here comes Johnny Law before we've even played one tune... but wait just a minute. The cops tell the jerks...uh...Race Officials, that there is no reason why the band can't play in their own driveway, Officially Sponsored or not! The jerks...uh...Race Officials were flabbergasted and ran off towards Golden Gate Park in their shiny Official Bay to Breakers windbreakers with their stupid little Official Bay to Breakers Walkie-Talkies® between their legs...the band went on to play for three hours straight much to the delight of thousands of race participants, dozens of friends and neighbors, and yes, even the super-cool SFPD!

What started as a lark one morning along Golden Gate Park's panhandle has become somewhat of an institution. Often referred to as "The Unofficial Official Bay to Breakers Band" Bob's Driveway has been delighting race participants and local residents for the last 12 years. With an ever evolving/revolving line-up the two original members Bob Spector and Robert Quinn have been the mainstay with other members and guests coming and going over the years. With the addition of Rich Shiro and Steve Bair last year, Bob's Driveway is sporting probably the strongest group of musicians to date.