Good Rats -

The Good Rats were an American hard-rock band from Jamaica, Queens, that released nine albums between 1969 and 1981, including Tasty, Ratcity in Blue, From Rats to Riches, and Birth Comes to Us All. The band built a regional following around New York and gained nationwide FM airplay with “Tasty,” “Back to My Music,” “Injun Joe,” and “Papa Poppa.”

Members: Ted Haenlein (1964-68, 1970-72), Frank Stapleton (1964-68), Eric Crane (1964-68), Denny Ryan, Peppi Marchello (lead vocals, 1964-2013), Crazy Artie (bass), Gene Marchello (lead guitar, vocals), Stefan “The Weasel” Marchello (bass, vocals), Mike Haupt (drums), Dan Smiraglia (keyboards), Mickey Marchello (guitar), John Gatto (guitar, keyboards), Lenny Kotke (bass), Joe Franco (drums), Bruce Kulick (guitar), Schuyler Deale, John Argento

Background

Good Rats originated in 1964 in Jamaica, Queens, New York, when singer Peppi Marchello joined fellow St. John’s University students Ted Haenlein and Frank Stapleton in the U-Men. Eric Crane and Denny Ryan completed the five-man lineup. The U-Men played Top 40 material at Rockaways clubs Peyton Place and McNulty’s, followed by dates at the Attic and Tiger’s Tail on Long Island.

Frank Stapleton’s brother John secured a 1966 booking at the John Doe Room in Queens, where a record-company executive heard the group and recommended a new name. The musicians adopted Good Rats and began to incorporate original songs into their club sets. The band established a north-shore Long Island residency at the Knotty Knee, where owners Jack Dowd and Al Cunningham booked the group seven nights a week.

By the late Sixties, lineup changes brought guitarist Mickey Marchello (Peppi’s brother), bassist Art Fahie (known as Crazy Artie), and organist Jim Roberge into the Good Rats fold. Haenlein left after receiving his 1968 military draft notice. Producers Ron Haffkine and Barry Oslander subsequently brought Good Rats to Kapp executives Jack Wiedenmann and John Walsh, who commissioned a single and album for the label. Kapp issued “The Hobo” in October 1968 (b/w “The Truth Is Gone”) and scheduled the self-titled The Good Rats for January 1969.

Discography: