Rat Trap
Encyclopedia
"Rat Trap" was a single by The Boomtown Rats
which reached #1 in the UK singles chart for two weeks in November 1978
, the first single by a punk
or new wave
act to do so. It is a rock ballad telling the tale of a boy called Billy who feels the depressing town he lives in (presumably Dublin) is a "Rat Trap".
It was also famous for finally replacing "Summer Nights", a hit single from the soundtrack of Grease
, after it had spent seven weeks at the top of the UK charts.
When the band performed the song on Top of the Pops
(which is also mentioned in the song), the band members began by tearing up pictures of Olivia Newton-John
and John Travolta
to loud cheers from the audience.
In the music video, various members of the band are seen reading copies of the novel "Rat Trap" by Welsh author Craig Thomas
, although the book has no connection to the song, a further sign of the band's sense of humour.
One of the more popular Boomtown Rats songs, it was performed by them at Live Aid
and is still performed by Geldof to this day.
In 1996 Geldof recorded a self-mocking cover version of the song with Dustin The Turkey
.
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
which reached #1 in the UK singles chart for two weeks in November 1978
1978 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.-January–April:*January 14 – The Sex Pistols play their final show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom....
, the first single by a punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
or new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
act to do so. It is a rock ballad telling the tale of a boy called Billy who feels the depressing town he lives in (presumably Dublin) is a "Rat Trap".
It was also famous for finally replacing "Summer Nights", a hit single from the soundtrack of Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
, after it had spent seven weeks at the top of the UK charts.
When the band performed the song on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
(which is also mentioned in the song), the band members began by tearing up pictures of Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
and John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
to loud cheers from the audience.
In the music video, various members of the band are seen reading copies of the novel "Rat Trap" by Welsh author Craig Thomas
Craig Thomas (author)
David Craig Owen Thomas was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series.-Background:...
, although the book has no connection to the song, a further sign of the band's sense of humour.
One of the more popular Boomtown Rats songs, it was performed by them at Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
and is still performed by Geldof to this day.
In 1996 Geldof recorded a self-mocking cover version of the song with Dustin The Turkey
Dustin the Turkey
Dustin the Turkey is a puppet, "television presenter" and star of RTÉ television's The Den since 1989. A turkey with a strong Dublin accent, Dustin is voiced by John Morrison, brother of Ciaran Morrison who was one of the creators of Zig and Zag. Dustin first appeared on The Den with Zig and Zag in...
.
Personnel
- Bob GeldofBob GeldofRobert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
– vocals, saxophone - Pete BriquettePete BriquettePete Briquette is the stage name of Patrick Cusack . His pseudonym refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat briquettes are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal.-Boomtown Rats:He was the bass guitarist, backing vocalist, occasional songwriter, and sometime...
– bass, vocals - Gerry CottGerry CottGerry Cott was a guitarist and songwriter with the Irish new wave band, The Boomtown Rats.He started playing flamenco guitar when he was 11 years old....
– guitar - Johnnie Fingers – keyboards, vocals
- Simon CroweSimon CroweSimon Crowe was the drummer for the Irish new wave bandThe Boomtown Rats.The original name of the Boomtown Rats was the "Nightlife Thugs". The name Boomtown Rats was taken from a novel entitled Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie.The Boomtown Rats had eighteen hit singles in the UK, including "Rat...
– drums, vocals - Garry RobertsGarry RobertsGarry Roberts is the former lead guitarist with the Irish band, The Boomtown Rats, which came into being in 1976...
– guitar, vocals