Bear Grillz in Concert

Some of the biggest names in EDM play their live shows wearing a lavish character mask (Deadmau5, Marshmello), but how many of them can say that they revealed their true identity on The Jerry Springer Show? As his name suggests, Bear Grillz is… a bear. Well, the man behind the mask, “RJ” Pangelinan, isn’t, but he constructed his once-mysterious live persona around an oversize bear headpiece with LEDs over the eyes and mouth, like if Yogi Bear was a raver. Releasing tunes with bass music heavyweights like Datsik, Getter and The Frim, and performing incredibly memorable shows, speculation built that perhaps the man behind the mask was Skrillex, or even Datsik himself. But as RJ revealed himself on the most notorious of daytime shows, Bear Grillz could finally come to terms with his true identity and what he’s capable of as a bass music producer. “Revealing myself was the first step to significant changes that I’ve been making. I wanted people to connect with me as a person and not see me as just some dude with a bear head on stage,” he told Bassrush. One of the changes Bear Grillz instantly implemented was his elaborate stage design, The Void. It sees the producer playing inside of a hexagonal structure reminiscent of a honeycomb chamber, with tricked-out lighting and enveloped by PK sound that beams toward the crowd. The Void has solidified Bear Grillz as a marquee live EDM act, selling out shows all over the world and gearing up for a big 2019, including a headlining set at the stacked Bass Country Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Bear Grillz Background

Denver’s Robert James “RJ” Pangelinan started making music as Bear Grillz in 2013. The character behind his music was a hedonistic bear whose comportment was guided by debauchery, and it struck a whimsical chord with EDM crowds. High-profile collaborations of dub-heavy bass music with glitchy dancehall vibes built up momentum, and his 2015 Mo Honey Mo Problems EP peaked at #25 on the U.S. Dance chart. After an identity reveal in 2016 and 2018’s Too Loud EP on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records label, Bear Grillz is a go-to name in EDM and bass music.