Andy Krikun - Lead Vocalist and Rhythm Guitar
Morley Bartnof - Keyboards and Background Vocals
Paul "The Kid" Lacques - Lead Guitar and Background Vocals
Rob "Rio" Hasick - Bass
Jeff Hollie - Saxophone
Drummers:
Joel Martinez
Andrew Campbell-Hare
Barry "the Hatchet" Wisdom
Influences
Johnny Ace
Albert Ayler
Allen Ginsberg
The Band
The Beatles
Chuck Berry
The Blues Project
Booker T and the MGs
James Brown
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
Jimmy Cliff
The Clash
Ornette Coleman
John Coltrane
Cookie and the Cupcakes
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Miles Davis
Tyrone Davis
Defunkt
The Doors
Lee Dorsey and Allen Toussaint
Bob Dylan
Aretha Franklin
Woody Guthrie
Buddy Guy
Philip Glass
Tim Hardin
Buddy Holly
Garland Jeffreys
Robert Johnson
George Jones
Jack Kerouac
The Kinks
Love
Memphis Minnie
Joni Mitchell
The Meters
The Mothers of Invention
The Neville Brothers
Laura Nyro
Phil Ochs
Augustus Pablo
Ann Peebles
The Pretenders
The Ramones
Otis Redding
The Rolling Stones
The Ronettes
Leon Russell
Selecter
The Sheiks of Shake
Sam Shepard
Sir Douglas Quintet
Sly and the Family Stone
Patti Smith Group
The Specials
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Igor Stravinsky
Toots and the Maytals
UB40
James Blood Ulmer
Velvet Underground
Tony Joe White
Hank Williams
Wire
"Andy Krikuns Rattlesnakes were one of the great lost, eclectic underground rock & roll bands in West L.A. in the early 80s ...." - L.A. Weekly, August 2006
In the late 70s and early 80s, Andy and the Rattlesnakes captivated L.A. music fans with their exciting live performances. Their audiences quickly understood that a Snakes performance was not going to be just another rock-n-roll evening. Whether politically charged, strikingly imaginative or sweetly romantic, their songs covered an expansive musical and lyrical territory. The bands sound combined twisted punk overtones, reggae dubs, ska skanks, spontaneous jazz and blues improvisations, into a mixture held together by the heart and soul backbone of solid R&B.
The Rattlesnakes musicianship provided the perfect accompaniment for New Jersey singer/songwriter Andy Krikuns poignant lyrics and soulful singing style that bring to mind both Otis Redding and Joe Strummer. While the fervid grooves of bassist Rob Hasick and drummers Barry the Hatchet Wisdom and Andrew Campbell-Hare kept the dance floor at maximum capacity, the bands soloists intrigued listeners with their adventurous musical explorations. Keyboardist Morley Bartnof combined the raw energy of Jerry Lee Lewis with the jarring harmonies of Thelonious Monk, guitarist Paul Lacques mixed Chicago Blues and Chuck Berry with metallic space age atonality, while saxophonist Jeff Hollie moved from soothing full-bodied warm tones to ominous caterwauling. Together, Andy and the Rattlesnakes devised a musical melange that still resonates 25 years later.
Since Andy and the Rattlesnakes disbanded in 1981, the members have continued to lead active musical lives. The bands featuring former Rattlesnakes include the Burning Sensations (Capitol Records), the Bonedaddies, Rotondi, the Underthings, Daisychain, Blazing Wheel, Urban Artillery, and Double Naught Spy Car. Individually and collaboratively, their music has been featured in film and television (The Shot, The Mayor of Sunset Strip).
After receiving his Masters degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA, Andy Krikun was appointed a professor of music and music business at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey, where he guides the careers of future musicians and music business professionals. When not leading his own band Cosmo Topper, keyboardist Morley Bartnoff can be found performing with Dramarama and Stew. Guitarist Paul Lacques has recorded three albums with his highly acclaimed country rock combo I See Hawks in L.A.. Bassist Rob Hasick aka Terry has remained active both as a musician and as a visual artist. Living in Amsterdam since the early 90s, saxophonist Jeff Hollie has toured Europe collaborating with DJs and spoken word artists.
Last Summer to Dance is the bands first full-length album, consisting of twelve re-mastered tracks compiling studio sessions, demos, and live performances at the Taurus Tavern. It will soon be available online at www.andyandtherattlesnakes.com.
"long ago in a place that is no more the legendary Taurus Tavern in Venice, California - a band called Andy and the Rattlesnakes showed up. They played a tough, streetwise, worldly-wise music. This guy Andy had been around and musically he had something to say about it all - something that included all of it, and included all of us other musicians listened, and the Rattlesnakes had their influence on L.A.s music". - Michael Ventura
"The group has worked numerous city clubs and built a reputation as rockers with an intriguing mix of originals and rock and soul standards." - Bill Bentley, L.A. Weekly
"The band does high-energy, solid rock and includes some very intriguing original material. The quality of Andys lyrics, the richness of the music is a lot to digest at first; but Andy sings from his heart and with conviction". -Valerie Geller, Pro-Fun
"Solitary Man" chosen as a 45 Pick by L.A. Weekly.
"Third World Wives" featured on the "Ten of Americas Best New Groups of the 80s" compilation by D.I.Y. magazine. The album also included selections by Black Flag, the Red Rockers, and the Dreamers (Johnette Napolitano with Jim and Earle Mankey).
"Patience" featured on USA Networks TV show "New Wave Theater", hosted by Peter Ivers. The show featured cutting-edge bands of the era including X.
