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The Rats

 
 
 

Years active:

1976-77

 
 

Location:

Truro

 
 

Band Members:                                         

Pete Lewis (bass, vocals)
Julian Lobb (guitar)
Paddy Macready (drums)     
                                               

 
     
 

Thanks to Peter Lewis for the original information and Bored Teenagers (www.boredteenagers.co.uk) for allowing it to be reproduced here

Formed in 1976, after 18-year old Pete Lewis disbanded his first band, Truro School rock combo, X-Ray, the Rats were arguably Cornwall’s first punk rock band. Taking their inspiration from the likes of the New York Dolls, the Sex Pistols, Generation X, Buzzcocks, the Adverts and the Ramones, they played a mix of original material (penned by bass guitarist/vocalist Pete Lewis) and punk rock covers.

Their regular haunt was Truro’s William IV pub, sometimes playing under various aliases (such as Nasty Tales and the Lazy Bastards) to keep the regulars on their toes.

In 1977, the Rats recorded two songs (‘First Mistake’ and ‘She Don’t Care’) at Roche Recording Studios, in Cornwall, with ‘First Mistake’ chosen to appear on the ‘Double Booked’ album (a compilation LP featuring acts that appeared at ‘the William’), and receiving airplay on John Peel’s Radio 1 show. The following year, the Rats returned to Roche Studios and recorded two more tracks, ‘For My Pleasure’ and ‘Don’t Forget (engineered by Hawkwind drummer Martin Griffin), with the former (the title of which was inspired by Roxy Music’s ‘For Your Pleasure’) included on this CD (Bored Teenagers).

 

First Mistake

Pete Lewis went on to study medicine at Nottingham University, reconvening the Rats when he returned to Cornwall during his holidays. He also played in a number of university bands, including Make Up (featuring Matthew Bannister, who later went on to become controller of BBC Radio 1 and Director of Radio at the BBC, on vocals). Later, whilst working as a doctor at Torbay Hospital, Pete Lewis fronted local new wave/power pop act, Heat Treatment.

Pete Lewis now practises integrative medicine in Sydney, Australia.

 
     
 

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Did you play in this band? If so please get in touch!
 
 
     

 

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