Interviews: Interview with Ricky Rat of the Trash Brats
This past September, one of Detroit's best known and well loved bands, the Trash Brats, got back together for a show at Small's. This was the final of three shows the boys put on in 2009. The occasion, well... fans and the band had an itch to scratch. We (globalpunkreview.com) were there and did a video interview with the band, but due to technical problems the video is non-exsistant. Not one to accept defeat, I contact Ricky Rat, founding member of the Trash Brats, and asked him to answer a few questions about the show, and the band's future.
Out of the three re-union shows that the Trash Brats decided to do this year, do you think this last one felt more like THE one, because of the timing?
RR - In some ways, yes. We had really AWFUL weather for the first one back in December 2008. So even though that was our first one back, this one feels much better overall. I think the crowd would agree as well. No ice storm in September!
MR - I know you can really only speak for yourself I suppose, but what was the mood before the show with you and the guys? You had to know it was going to be a packed house, right? Was there a nervousness about it?
RR - Yes, there really was! But at the same time, it felt really good. I miss that feeling from the old days when we used to do shows and we would get excited in the dressing room while waiting to go out and see and hear and feel the crowd. Our crowd here in Detroit was always sooo good to us.
MR - Now what was the feeling about the show afterwards? Can you sum up how the others felt?
RR - Emotional on many levels, and also very drained! This may also be in part because I did two sets tonight. (Luxury Pushers & Trash Brats) Everything about the show felt right but as much as we miss playing together and being with our crowd, we know better than to do these kinds of shows too often. It's nice to keep them special.
MR - What were fans saying to about it?
RR - Everyone seemed to be pretty excited, and they were telling us all how much FUN they had, which is always a great thing. Even though we played like 20+ songs, there were of course still people saying, "Hey, you didn't play 'so-so' tonight." Ha ha.. If we kept going it would have been like a Rolling Stones or Springsteen set!
MR - Now other Detroit bands from the 80's and 90's get together a couple times a year and play a show or two. Like Almighty Lumberjacks of Death, for instance, seem to get together
around the holidays. Given the popularity of the Trash Brats can you see that in the bands future?
RR - Yes. But like I was just saying, we don't want to overdo these kinds of things. Doing it once in awhile helps to keep it special. We have had a GREAT time with the three shows we have done. (two in Detroit, one in Indianapolis with Sloppy Seconds) I'm sure we'll do another in the next couple of years.
MR - You're playing with Dayton, Ohio outfit the Luxury Pushers now. Are you joining the band as a full on member, or is it for the tours only?
RR - Right now it's full-time. I love the band and love the guys. Jamy and I go back almost 20 years now. But at the same time, it can be difficult to get together for practices and whatnot with the band all being in Dayton, and me being in Detroit. It's been a blast so far, and we are working on new songs, a new single, and may be going overseas for the first time this Spring.
MR - For the moment, everyone I imagine, are headed back to their lives. Please fill us on what Toni, T.T. and Brian are doing musically these days.
RR - Toni is still playing quite often with Easy Action. T.T. (Troy) has been keeping busy with his covers band, the Chocolate Crackers, over in Iowa where he and his family live, and Brian is still doing his solo thing. He was just recently back in the studio, so I'm sure we'll see a new solo album from him this year.
MR - I saw a pretty wide selection of Trash Brats music and t-shirts at the show. Where can fans got their mitts on some of it?
RR - There isn't really one set place. I always have Brats stuff with me when I tour with Kevin K and Luxury Pushers. CD Baby will have the stuff soon, and I guess ebay is a good place still for finding the oddball Brats stuff.
MR - If the Trash Brats never play another show again, or record again, what would you like to see as the Trash Brats legacy to Detroit, or music in general be?
RR - That we were a true Detroit Rock and Roll band, and we gave everyone some good songs, and fun shows. It makes me happy when people tell me how much our music and those times have meant to them. We really did things our own way, and I think that the mix of our crowd showed that we had something for everyone.
MR - Thank you for your time Ricky, and good luck with the tour this spring.
Toledo, you’ll be able to catch Ricky Rat with the Luxury Pushers at the Longhorn Saloon on May 15th, more details to come.
You can keep up with Ricky ,the Trash Brats, and their various projects with the following links
