He is the son of Michael Been of The Call, and appeared as bassist on his father's 1994 solo album On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough.

His father suffered a fatal heart attack in 2010 while working as a sound engineer during the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium, where BRMC were appearing.

Robert Been used the pseudonym 'Robert Turner' on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's first two records, in an attempt not to be linked to his father.

Later that year, he appeared in two concerts with a reunited The Call, taking his father's place on bass and vocals.

He also plays guitar on a number of songs, most popularly "Berlin" and "Beat the Devil's Tattoo",[4] and piano on several tracks, most notably "Promise".