When guitarist Rick Rivets left the fledgling NEW YORK DOLLS in 1972, he didn’t switch gears so much as he just assembled one of the toughest US Glam rock bands of the era, …
The Brats were among the earliest offshoot bands from the New York Dolls. The New York-based quartet was formed by Rick Rivets, an alumnus of the Dolls, with drummer Sparky Donovan, vocalist Keith West (not connected at all to the singer from the U.K.-based Tomorrow), and Andy Doback. The group was organized by Rivets in the early ’70s and based in Queens, NY. Rivets was already putting together a band, and had Donovan on board when he chanced to visit the Music Box, a now-legendary record store on Union Turnpike in Queens, where Keith West offered the best in used records, underground U.S. releases, U.K. and German imports, and bootlegs. A leading exponent of the Flamin’ Groovies, Dr. Feelgood, and a brace of lesser-known but equally important acts of the time, West was already a kind of rock & roll guru to a lot of teenagers and college students in the area. West was also a good singer with a charismatic persona, and soon became part of Rivets’ plan. With David Leeds filling out the fourth spot, they rehearsed in SoHo (then a newly opened industrial-cum-residential part of Manhattan) and moved into Bleecker Street, where their early rehearsals and gigs had them brushing up against a pre-fame Kiss.
Their sound was a punchy brand of glam rock, somewhat similar to the New York Dolls (for whom they opened at their first gig) and they were also heavily influenced by the Kinks, the Yardbirds, and the early Rolling Stones. Their mix of originals and covers of the latter bands’ repertory attracted a fair amount of attention at venues such as Max’s Kansas City, and they earned the imprimatur of no less a figure than Alice Cooper (who, so it is said, came up with the group’s name) — they wrote a song for him, in turn, entitled “I’m So Cruel.” Their lineup went through numerous changes between 1973 and 1975, with Leeds departing, Mark Mayo joining on lead guitar, and Mark Polott taking the bass spot. They lasted into the punk era, which they may have helped herald, and may have been an influence on the Ramones; it was rumored for years that the latter group’s “Beat on the Brat” was a reference to the rival group.
The Brats got onto the live compilation Max’s Kansas City 1976, cut at the legendary New York venue, and they released one single with a cool A-side and an incredible B-side called “If You Can Rock You Can Roll.” Sadly, the group never earned serious coverage of their music by the mainstream press, and only broke into local news over a mishap at a gig. One night at a show, in an incident that recalled the appearance of the Who on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the explosives they used to punctuate their stage act singed (or worse) some audience members, which earned them coverage in the local tabloids of the time. Rivets later moved on to other bands, including the Corpse Grinders. A reunion of the Brats took place soon after the start of the new century, and their music, old and new, continues to excite and intrigue new listeners in the 21st century. -Allmusic.com
Aloha from Hell !!! Mr.Eliminator is out in the streets again [for few more rounds].
Hello & Greetings to everyone !!! And Now… DIG !!!
Welcome back, we are ready!
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Yayyyyyyy!!!, to quote Kermit the Frog! You’re back!
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On the wave again!
Great new. Your spanish friend
Jose
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Hi Jose my dear friend, it’s been a long time. Glad you’re still rockin’ and rollin’. Cheers
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is really a great pleasure see you back on track.
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Thanx Luis, Surf’s Up! Cheers
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Welcome back!
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Great to have you back, you have been well missed
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Thanx Peter, enjoy the stuff. Cheers
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Just when I thought one of my fave blogs was gone, it rises zombie-like from the grave.
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Hey MrFab, you got it right. Cheers
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Its Great that you are back thank you for all of the Dave Allan posts and your great surfadelic blog
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Hi Rick, glad you enjoy Surfadelic music. Surf’s up!
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Love this band. thanks
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Wow, what a re-entry! Welcome back, sir!!
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Hello Bernie, Thanx for comment. Enjoy!
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What a pleasure to find this cave blog. Good return on the web Mr Eliminator
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Thanx! Surf’s up!
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Hey!! You’re welcome again. I’ve missed you… 🙂
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Tanx for comment, missed you too, Cheers
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Hello everyone, I am a follower of this blog and it is great the return of Mr. Eliminator.
Thank you !!!
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Awesome! Welcome back to the Interwebs.
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Great to see you back with a vengeance dear Mr Eliminator! Long time no see! I hope you are in good shape and spirits! May you spoil us with more loud music!
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Hi Paul and tanx for comment. Gonna do what I can. Cheers
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Good to see you back in my mailbox, Mr. E!
As you can see all the old gang has missed you.
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Hi Rev, been long time, glad you’re still rockin’n’rollin’. Just check out Lord Rockingham’s XI stuff. Maybe gonna make some post on ’em in future. Thanx for the tip. Cheers!
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Glad to see you back dear friend hope everything is fine by now !
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Great to have you back Mr. Eliminator. You’ve been missed.
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wow!! You BACK!!!!!!!!
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Psyched to see you back on the beat, bringing out the stuff I love that I never even knew I wanted. Looking forward to dipping my headphones into the Brats + Shady Lady, although I hope you’ll continue to keep the page filled up with plenty of good old greasy r&r. Welcome back & keep up the good work!
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This… is…sim…ply… gu…rate… Thank you!
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I am going to break stride here, more than two years after the fact, but this is one of a handful of blogs, still active, that deserves to be a sticky and a must view for anyone wanting to explore all things rock encompasses. They do say RnR is MY music, yet I continually find stuff that has slipped up the cracks.
I realize the work involved with your labor of love, and hate to burden, those who do the the things they do just a cut above anyway, Others I get a kick out of being a burden to, I digress. Well, here I just have too. if you could re-up The Brats you would make for one happy devil, and thats s good thing.
I’ll keave you with this:
KUDOS!!! sUrFaDelLIC & mReLimInATor, may the cards forever fall your way.
TheeMostHighTheeRev.LouCifer
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Hi there Mr. Lou Cifer and thanx for visiting my site. I’m glad if you dig some really hot rockin’ stuff here at Surfadelic.
Here are new links for The Brats:
Criminal Guitar
https://www2.zippyshare.com/v/84da2xfw/file.html
Rock Candy
https://www89.zippyshare.com/v/VCnC3tPb/file.html
May all hot rockin’ fire walk with you.
Happy hunting on souls,
Cheers,
Mr.E
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Hi please, reupload again. I can’t to find these albums by web. I have noticed only by Youtube, but I don’t like Youtube sonours quality.
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