Ratdog
Encyclopedia
RatDog is an American
rock band. The group began as a side project for Grateful Dead
rhythm guitarist Bob Weir
and bassist Rob Wasserman
. After the Grateful Dead
disbanded in December 1995, following the death of Jerry Garcia
on August 9, 1995, RatDog became Bob Weir's primary band. They perform Grateful Dead tunes primarily with a mixture of covers (including Bob Dylan
and Chuck Berry
), along with some originals. RatDog's repertoire consists of over 150 songs. Since early 2010 RatDog has been on hiatus while Weir performs with his newest project Furthur
.
Throughout 2009 and 2010, original RatDog members Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, and Jay Lane periodically performed under the moniker Scaring the Children.
festival. Jay Lane
was added on drums and Matthew Kelly
on guitar and harmonica in 1995. They played their first show as a full band on April 22, 1995, billed as Friends of Montezuma and then as RatDog Revue. They played their first show as RatDog on August 8, 1995.
joined the band in September 1995 and played in several shows but left a couple months later. Dave Ellis became the band's first saxophonist in 1996 and remained until 1999 to be replaced by Kenny Brooks. Between 1996 and 1997 Johnnie Johnson
and Mookie Siegel had stints as keyboardists. Jeff Chimenti
became the keyboardist in May 1997 and is still in the band today. Matthew Kelly was replaced in 1998 briefly by Dave McNabb and then by current lead guitarist Mark Karan
. Rob Wasserman left the band in 2003 and was replaced by Robin Sylvester
.
The current lineup consists of Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Jeff Chimenti, Mark Karan, Kenny Brooks and Robin Sylvester.
, the guitarist from the band Zero, who also has had a history of playing with Dead spin-off bands The Other Ones
(1998 and 2000), Phil Lesh and Friends
(1999), and the Rhythm Devils
(2006), stood in for Karan.
Karan returned to the RatDog lineup at the start of the 2008 spring tour.
, Bill Kreutzmann
, Donna Jean Godchaux and Bruce Hornsby
. Other well known guests include Joan Baez
, Warren Haynes
, Al Schnier
, Ekoostik Hookah
, Trey Anastasio
, Les Claypool
, DJ Logic
, John Popper
, Dickey Betts
, Sammy Hagar
, Susan James and Keller Williams
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band. The group began as a side project for Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
rhythm guitarist Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
and bassist Rob Wasserman
Rob Wasserman
Rob Wasserman is an American bass player, who has played with a wide variety of musicians including David Grisman, Lou Reed, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Cockburn, Van Morrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Mark Morris, Aaron Neville, Chris Whitley, Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger,...
. After the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
disbanded in December 1995, following the death of Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
on August 9, 1995, RatDog became Bob Weir's primary band. They perform Grateful Dead tunes primarily with a mixture of covers (including Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
), along with some originals. RatDog's repertoire consists of over 150 songs. Since early 2010 RatDog has been on hiatus while Weir performs with his newest project Furthur
Furthur (band)
Furthur is a rock band founded in 2009 by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. The original lineup also included John Kadlecik of the Dark Star Orchestra on lead guitar, Jeff Chimenti of RatDog on keyboards, Jay Lane of RatDog on percussion, and Joe Russo of the Benevento/Russo Duo...
.
Throughout 2009 and 2010, original RatDog members Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, and Jay Lane periodically performed under the moniker Scaring the Children.
Formation and early days
During the late 1980s, Bob Weir teamed up with bassist Rob Wasserman and the duo toured for seven years under names such as Weir/Wasserman and Scaring the Children. In 1994, Weir and Wasserman participated in the Woodstock '94Woodstock '94
Woodstock '94, often called the "commercial Woodstock" or "Mudstock", was a music festival organized to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival of 1969...
festival. Jay Lane
Jay Lane
Jay Lane is an American drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently a member of Primus, as well as Bob Weir's RatDog, Scaring the Children with Weir and Rob Wasserman, and the hip hop/jazz fusion group Alphabet Soup. In 2002, Lane was named "drummer of the year" by the California...
was added on drums and Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly (musician)
Matthew Kelly, also known as Matt Kelly, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He plays guitar and harmonica. Kelly is best known for being the leader of the rock band Kingfish, and for his association with Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead....
on guitar and harmonica in 1995. They played their first show as a full band on April 22, 1995, billed as Friends of Montezuma and then as RatDog Revue. They played their first show as RatDog on August 8, 1995.
Membership
The original line-up consisted of Bob Weir on rhythm guitar, Rob Wasserman on string bass, Matthew Kelly on lead guitar and Jay Lane on drums. Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince WelnickVince Welnick
Vince Welnick was an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the band The Tubes during the 1970s and 1980s and with the Grateful Dead in the 1990s.-Music career:...
joined the band in September 1995 and played in several shows but left a couple months later. Dave Ellis became the band's first saxophonist in 1996 and remained until 1999 to be replaced by Kenny Brooks. Between 1996 and 1997 Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson (musician)
Johnnie Johnson was an American pianist and blues musician. His work with Chuck Berry led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Career:...
and Mookie Siegel had stints as keyboardists. Jeff Chimenti
Jeff Chimenti
Jeff Chimenti is an American keyboardist, best known for his ongoing work with RatDog. He is also a member of the post-Grateful Dead bands The Dead and Furthur....
became the keyboardist in May 1997 and is still in the band today. Matthew Kelly was replaced in 1998 briefly by Dave McNabb and then by current lead guitarist Mark Karan
Mark Karan
Mark Karan is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his ongoing work with Bob Weir & RatDog. He also leads the band Jemimah Puddleduck.-Career:...
. Rob Wasserman left the band in 2003 and was replaced by Robin Sylvester
Robin Sylvester
Robin Sylvester is a London born musician, living in San Francisco, who is best known for his ongoing work with RatDog. Although primarily a bass player, he plays several instruments, including the guitar and keyboards, and has done extensive arranging....
.
The current lineup consists of Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Jeff Chimenti, Mark Karan, Kenny Brooks and Robin Sylvester.
Mark Karan's Health problems and 2007 Summer Absence
In mid-June 2007, RatDog's lead guitarist announced he was taking some time off for a healing period. Karan was later diagnosed with throat cancer. Because he was undergoing treatment, Karan was absent from the remainder of RatDog's 2007 shows. Steve KimockSteve Kimock
-External links:** at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at Internet Archive's live music archive*, San Francisco, April 3, 1999*, Unofficial Fan Forum...
, the guitarist from the band Zero, who also has had a history of playing with Dead spin-off bands The Other Ones
The Other Ones
The Other Ones was an American rock band formed in 1998 by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart, along with part-time Grateful Dead collaborator Bruce Hornsby. In 2000, Bill Kreutzmann, another Grateful Dead alumnus, joined the group, while Phil Lesh dropped out. In...
(1998 and 2000), Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
(1999), and the Rhythm Devils
Rhythm Devils
The Rhythm Devils are a band led by founding Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.-Grateful Dead:The Rhythm Devils had their origins as an informal but frequent fixture in the Grateful Dead concert repertoire...
(2006), stood in for Karan.
Karan returned to the RatDog lineup at the start of the 2008 spring tour.
Notable guests
Since its formation, many guest musicians have performed with RatDog, including Grateful Dead members Mickey HartMickey Hart
Mickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
, Donna Jean Godchaux and Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
. Other well known guests include Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
, Al Schnier
Al Schnier
Al Schnier is a musician most noted for being one of two guitarists for the American jam band moe.-History:Schnier was born on January 9, 1968 in Utica, New York. He attended New Hartford Central High School in Oneida County, New York before going to college at State University of New York at...
, Ekoostik Hookah
Ekoostik Hookah
əkoostik hookah is a rock band from Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1991, they host a biannual music festival called Hookahville, typically located at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio or at Frontier Ranch in Kirkersville, Ohio. The spring Hookahville happens over Memorial Day weekend, and in fall, over...
, Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
, Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
, DJ Logic
DJ Logic
DJ Logic is an American turntablist active primarily in jazz and with jam bands.Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx. An early interest in hip hop led to his using the turntables, practicing often. Kibler was also interested in funk and jazz music, and began collaborating with various musicians...
, John Popper
John Popper
John Popper is an American musician and songwriter.He is most famous for his role as frontman of rock band Blues Traveler performing harmonica, guitar and vocals...
, Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
, Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, Susan James and Keller Williams
Keller Williams
Keller Williams is an American musician from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who began performing in the early 1990s. He is also known by the names K-Dub or just Keller, when performing. Williams' music combines elements of bluegrass, folk, alternative rock, reggae, electronica/dance, jazz, funk, and...
.
Band members
- Bob WeirBob WeirBob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
– guitar, vocals (April 1995–present) - Jay LaneJay LaneJay Lane is an American drummer from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently a member of Primus, as well as Bob Weir's RatDog, Scaring the Children with Weir and Rob Wasserman, and the hip hop/jazz fusion group Alphabet Soup. In 2002, Lane was named "drummer of the year" by the California...
– drums (April 1995–present) - Rob WassermanRob WassermanRob Wasserman is an American bass player, who has played with a wide variety of musicians including David Grisman, Lou Reed, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Cockburn, Van Morrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Mark Morris, Aaron Neville, Chris Whitley, Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger,...
– bass (April 1995–October 2002) - Matthew KellyMatthew Kelly (musician)Matthew Kelly, also known as Matt Kelly, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He plays guitar and harmonica. Kelly is best known for being the leader of the rock band Kingfish, and for his association with Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead....
– guitar, harmonica, vocals (April 1995 – September 1998) - Vince WelnickVince WelnickVince Welnick was an American keyboardist, best known for playing with the band The Tubes during the 1970s and 1980s and with the Grateful Dead in the 1990s.-Music career:...
– keyboards, vocals (September 1995–December 1995) - Johnnie JohnsonJohnnie Johnson (musician)Johnnie Johnson was an American pianist and blues musician. His work with Chuck Berry led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Career:...
– keyboards (February 1996–May 1997) - Dave Ellis – saxophone (November 1996–December 1999)
- Mookie Siegel – keyboards (December 1996–April 1997)
- Jeff ChimentiJeff ChimentiJeff Chimenti is an American keyboardist, best known for his ongoing work with RatDog. He is also a member of the post-Grateful Dead bands The Dead and Furthur....
– keyboards (May 1997–present) - Dave McNabb – guitar (September 1998)
- Mark KaranMark KaranMark Karan is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his ongoing work with Bob Weir & RatDog. He also leads the band Jemimah Puddleduck.-Career:...
– guitar, vocals (October 1998–June 2007, May 2008–present) - Kenny Brooks – saxophone (May 2000–present)
- Robin SylvesterRobin SylvesterRobin Sylvester is a London born musician, living in San Francisco, who is best known for his ongoing work with RatDog. Although primarily a bass player, he plays several instruments, including the guitar and keyboards, and has done extensive arranging....
– bass (March 2003–present) - Steve KimockSteve Kimock-External links:** at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at the Internet Archive's live music archive* at Internet Archive's live music archive*, San Francisco, April 3, 1999*, Unofficial Fan Forum...
- guitar (July 2007–April 2008)
Lineups
| Dates | Lineup |
|---|---|
| 04/22/1995 – 08/25/1995 |
|
| 09/01/1995 – 12/12/1995 |
|
| 02/20/1996 – 10/20/1996 |
|
| 11/09/1996 – 12/08/1996 |
|
| 12/10/1996 – 04/15/1997 |
|
| 05/28/1997 |
|
| 06/07/1997 – 04/05/1998 |
|
| 09/06/1998 |
|
| 09/09/1998 – 09/20/1998 |
|
| 10/29/1998 – 12/02/1999 |
|
| 12/30/1999 – 03/26/2000 |
|
| 05/05/2000 – 10/19/2002 |
|
| 02/05/2003 – 02/09/2003 |
|
| 03/04/2003 – 06/17/2007 |
|
| 07/05/2007 – 04/12/2008 |
|
| 05/17/2008 – present |
|
External links
- rat-dog.com, official web site of RatDog
- ratdog.org, RatDog fan site
- Ratdog collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive