Fave Rat

Tango · In the Long Grass

Fave Rat

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I can't put them in order, that would be too unfair, but I always thought Fingers was rather cute (after Bob of course).

Steve · I Don't Like Mondays

I like all of them too, but I guess after Bob it would be Garry. Next would be Pete.

Mark Boyle · House on Fire

Ooo, tough one:

Probably all of them joint first except for Gary (who I always felt was a bit of a spare part!) and Simon (who went down in my estimation with his antics the last couple of years - not least of all stiffing me a tenner for what I thought was a copy of the actual Gung Ho album, only to get a shagging shabby copy of it!).

All had their part to play in a wonderful band.

rekamakovics · In the Long Grass

I couldn't put them in order neither I like them all.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark Boyle wrote:

Ooo, tough one: Probably all of them joint first except for Gary (who I always felt was a bit of a spare part!) and Simon (who went down in my estimation with his antics the last couple of years - not least of all stiffing me a tenner for what I thought was a copy of the actual Gung Ho album, only to get a shagging shabby copy of it!). All had their part to play in a wonderful band.

Poor Garrick! I always thought much the same, but he looked pretty hard, and I reckon no one had the balls to tell him.

Agree with that Gung~Ho album, so Fingers should be equally culpable (via mp3.com by any chance). Never read the offending NoTW article so can;t really comment.

My fave rat was Gerry Cott. I wanted to play guitar like him (wasn't able to), and even wore mirrored shades myself for a year or so back in 1979. Even like the fact he contributed to the John Peel tribute. And am impressed that he has a very diiferent career nowadays.

But if I had to nominate one today, it would probably be Pete Briquette. I reckon he'd be the only one you could have a drink and a chat with without getting into a fight!

Garry Gerry Bob Simon Fingers

-- Edited by ArrGee at 15:16, 2005-12-05

Mike OBrien · I Don't Like Mondays

Fave Rat? Bob, bein sur!

And then Pete for sticking with Bob and doing great work with him over the last 15 years or so.

The first time I saw Bob in concert, back in 1993, I had the pleasure of shaking hand with Bob and Pete and exchanging pleasantries, and found them both to be really nice guys. Bob was terribly tall, and despite being very friendly, was almost intimidating, but Pete seemed like one of the fellows, or as ArrGee said - the type of guy you could have a drink with.

The other rats all seem like good enough joes - I liked Johnny Finger's look, and read interesting interviews with Gary and Gerry, and Simon...well... liked him a lot more before he spouted off about Bob, but he had to work with the guy and I didn't so... you know, power to him for speaking his mind, however much I didn't really want to read it, I guess...

Steve · I Don't Like Mondays

I too liked Pete. However, there was something about Garry (or Garrick). I never saw Gerry live, but I believe that Garry was a bit in his shade. When Gerry left, Garry had to take on the guitar work. And I think he did that to good effect. Particularly when In the Long Grass came out. It was this album that saw a new guitar sound for the Rats.

One thing I have learnt though. Never get close to your heroes, because with all human beings they have frailties. Its these frailties that knock our heroes off our perch.

FingersLullaby · Like Clockwork

Fingers is a Legend :] He is my favourite...
From here it gets difficult...
Pete Briquette is a fantastic bass player & I would give anything to play like him ^_^
(Hes my third favourite basest) They're all great musicians... Bob is cool cause hes Bob...

Ian MD · The Elephant's Graveyard

I couldn't put them in order, too difficult. Each brought their own ideas and efforts to the Rats. I would say the sound would be quite different if Simon wasn't there. I always liked his backing vocals and wished he'd sung a few more songs on LP and not just the couple he did at live gigs with them.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Ian MD wrote:
I couldn't put them in order, too difficult. Each brought their own ideas and efforts to the Rats. I would say the sound would be quite different if Simon wasn't there. I always liked his backing vocals and wished he'd sung a few more songs on LP and not just the couple he did at live gigs with them.

Having met some of them last year, I would now say that Simon is probably my favourite. Had a good chat with him after a gig and he was more passionate about the band than I had previously thought. It is a shame he didn't do more vocals, Fall Down and Howard Hughed are two of my favourite songs and two in which he took on a lead vocal (shared in the latter case). His Dr. Feelgood renditions are also top rank. I think the songs let him down on Gung~ho, but Play To Win was a great single.

Ian MD · The Elephant's Graveyard

ArrGee wrote:

Ian MD wrote:
I couldn't put them in order, too difficult. Each brought their own ideas and efforts to the Rats. I would say the sound would be quite different if Simon wasn't there. I always liked his backing vocals and wished he'd sung a few more songs on LP and not just the couple he did at live gigs with them.
Having met some of them last year, I would now say that Simon is probably my favourite. Had a good chat with him after a gig and he was more passionate about the band than I had previously thought. It is a shame he didn't do more vocals, Fall Down and Howard Hughed are two of my favourite songs and two in which he took on a lead vocal (shared in the latter case). His Dr. Feelgood renditions are also top rank. I think the songs let him down on Gung~ho, but Play To Win was a great single.

I agree with all you say there. I thought Remember was a good vocal for Simon in Gung Ho. I have an old bootleg cassette somewhere of the Rats where Simon sang Up or Down live. Really good! How i wish the current Rats line up would do Howard Hughes live.