This punk group had a ten-year life, 1975-1985. Its most famous member, Bob Geldof went on to earn fame with his humanitarian pursuits.
Irish Roots:
The bands' members all hailed from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. The band's name does not have Irish roots, however. It came from the name of a street gang mentioned by Woody Guthrie in his autobiography.
The Rats recorded six albums, and had 15 singles on the UK charts. Their single "Up All Night" is used as the theme song for the final segment of the Jim Rome show on ESPN Radio.
Members:
Bob Geldof – lead vocals
Johnny Fingers – keyboards
Garry Roberts – guitar
Gerry Cott – guitar
Pete Briquette – bass
Simon Crowe – drums
