Thursday, August 07, 2008

100 Club


Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe were back, but this time they had two new recruits. Peter Barton and Darren Beale.

Peter Barton is a strong R'n'B vocalist who added depth to the vocals on a bunch of classic tracks. Barton even wore his pyjama bottoms lest anyone miss Fingers' sartorial style. He was aided and abetted by Darren Beale whose virtuoso guitar made up for the lack of horns, strings and keyboards. There was the majestic drumming of Simon Crowe holding it all together, and the authentic sound of Garry Roberts, providing the main riffs that made the Rats sounds from 1977 -1979.

The audience were treated to a run through of many of the Rats finest moment from the late seventies.

They played (Peter Barton on lead vocals except where stated) ....
  • Close As You'll Ever Be
  • Looking After Number One
  • Neon Heart
  • Mary of The Fourth Form
  • Joey's On The Street Again
  • Someone's Looking At You
  • I Can Make It If You Can
  • She Does It Right (Lead Vocals : Garry Roberts)
  • Like Clockwork
  • Riot in Cell Block #9 (Lead Vocals : Simon Crowe)
  • She's Gonna Do You In
  • All Through The City (Lead Vocals : Simon Crowe)
  • Rat Trap
  • She's So Modern
  • I Don't Like Mondays
Gerry Cott was also in attendance to watch his former band members going down a storm with the enthusiastic crowd.



It was brilliant! Go and see the Rats! Next stop Blackpool.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Key Street Music Bar, Clitheroe

Monday 4th August - Key Street Music Bar, Clitheroe 01200 422 588. Doors 7.30pm



“We asked but Bob politely declined. He said he's doing his own thing now,” said Simon. “Bob's gone in a different musical direction and we're about taking it back to basics."

Simon wants to make sure I make it clear that it's just two of the original line-up reuniting — himself on drums and Garry Roberts on guitar. They're being joined by The Animals' Peter Barton on bass and Darren Beale on lead guitar.

“I wouldn't say 'just' two of us though,” said Simon. “We'll be playing the songs we used to play when we first started off in 1975 — all the early stuff that really defined the Rats, We're drawing the line after the second album.”

“Garry and I talked about it before but although we could have got a few pub gigs we didn't really have the contacts in the music business to make it work from a commercial sense,” said Simon.

Simon and Garry contacted the other Rats but they were all too busy.

“We thought we'd just carry on anyway,” said Simon. “The music comes naturally to me and Garry but the new guys have had to do a bit of homework. It's not been a problem though. They're such good musicians they've slipped into it.”

“We did a gig in Devon the other day and the place was hopping — it was absolutely electric. It was so long since it's happened like that I forgot the feeling.”

The band hope to record a new album in 2009 but they're not getting carried away.

“We're taking one step at a time,” said Simon. "We're just going to get out there and see what reaction we get. But the message is watch this space. We're back, we're in action and it could be Boomtime again.”