Patti Rothberg is a native New Yorker. A voracious music fan, she listened regularly to AM radio ("...honey you are my shining star..."), classic rock ("I'm Not In Love", "Good Times Bad Times"), WLIR's new wave ("Lets Go To Bed", "Cities in Dust"). The first record she remembers putting on the stereo is "Sgt. Pepper", but the first she recalls buying at the mall is Culture Club's "Kissing to Be Clever". She was raised in Scarsdale, NY a suburb famous for a diet doctor's homicide. The summer of 1988 she attended the National Guitar Summer Workshop, which would later prove to have been an excellent move. It was at NGSW she met Dave Greenberg, a then aspiring student of music production.
Patti graduated Scarsdale Alternative School (the experimental community school slightly smaller, slightly "hipper" than the larger Scarsdale High) and like rockers John Lennon and Keith Richards pursued a career in the visual arts. Boston University had Patti painting lots of nudes and still life with fruit, but fear of a future with no bread led her to Parson's School of Design in NYC. She majored in illustration where she drew more nudes and still lifes, however this time with a client or product in mind (!). Her third year she applied to Parsons Paris and was accepted. It was there she wrote the songs which would appear two years later on her first full length recording, "Between The One And The Nine" (EMI America).
Back at Parsons NYC, Patti's senior year saw more experimentation. Playing guitar in a subway station walkway she met Denise (Creepy), who introduced her to the all female industrial band Thrust who Patti played with from 1993-94. Later on at Richie Baxt's Guitar repair shop Patti ran into old pal Dave Greenberg, still studying production. This fateful reunion produced the demos that would become "1&9".
Patti signed with EMI in February of 1995 and recording "Between The One And The Nine" commenced soon after. She auditioned drummer Adrian Harpham who played drums on the album, Patti handling all bass and guitar duties herself, The album's release date was April 2, 1996, and it went on to sell over 250,000 domestically and over 200,000 in Europe and Japan. The single "Inside" reached ..32 on the Billboard Pop Charts. After the album's release the rest of the touring band was selected. Demian Simms (guitar), James Elliott (bass), and Adam MacDougal (keyboards) rounded out the line-up. They toured the U.S. supporting Chris Isaak, The Wallflowers, Midnight Oil, and Paul Westerberg. TV appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night With David Letterman, Oprah, and Canada's Much Music. Bass player James left in mid 1996 replaced by Carl Carter who toured with Patti in Europe supporting The Black Crowes (Feb. 1997).
It was later that same year that Patti played a simple acoustic set at Acme Underground back in NYC again. On sound that night was NYC rock legend Freddie Katz. The two discussed bands they both loved. Classics David Bowie, Alice Cooper, The Only Ones, Kate Bush, and local NYC bands The Creeps,The Cycle Sluts From Hell, New York Dolls, The Velvet Underground are just a few. Patti saw that Freddie had the right influences to take her music where it wanted to go and enlisted him to produce a demo for "You Killed My Time", one of her new songs. Both were pleased with the initial results and decided to continue recording what was to become Patti's second album "Candelabra Cadabra". The album was recorded in Long Island with Freddie's longtime friend, engineering whiz Bob Stander, in a now defunct studio called "Avalon". The studio's name proved to be fateful due to the Pre-Raphaelite imagery of the album. College pal Vanessa Johnson designed the cd booklet with Patti, solidifying Parsons' role in the saga. The two had met in the school computer center; Vanessa's tell tale guitar magazine sticking out of her knapsack.
Recently Patti completed "Double Standards", a collection of new songs. It is the culmination of the melodic pop rock associated with "1&9", and the psychedelic explorations and Queen-like harmonies of the "Candelabra" era. The combination is doubly delicious. The title track is an exploration of the concept of good vs. evil wherein " ...the devil loves a double standard and heaven isn't selling cheap..." The album is split down the middle between hard rock and heartfelt acoustic songs. What brings it all together is Patti's melodic sensibility and unique lyrical perceptions. Had this been the age of vinyl, the harder songs might all go on one side, the softer on the other. Both are unmistakably Patti and equally true to her musical leanings. Patti is currently looking forward to touring in support "Double Standards" which will be released in May of 2008.
Hey girl, great thing happend today...I was at my local "watering hole" and I happen to glance at the juke box, and I seen a flash of new music that was put on recently and it was your "Double Standard"!!! I thought that was awesome! I kinda got all warm and fuzzy inside, because I didn't even have to request it! (Im going to play the shit out of it!)
Hey "Soul Sister"....I hope you had a GREAT 4th! I had frends (That are older than me by quit a bit) asking who we were listening to....And I told them Patti Rothberg!!! You were a hit with the "River Rats" So that was exciting for me to brag you up!
hey thanks 4 the add check out our new video and also you can subscribe to our youtube channel if you like http://www. youtube. com/Spynation10 have a nice day
got a package in the mail--it's here--DOUBLE STANDARDS! cranking it right now. this one will be in the car stereo for all road trips this summer. the excitement is high here in CT!
you should post "treat me like dirt" on your page.... i've been playing that song for YEARS, ever since i heard it on klbj in austin.... YEARS ago! you rock patti!!!
I've ordered your new CD, really lookin' forward to it when it eventually arrives.
What a cool year for rock music it's going to be and has already been, what a soundtrack to the Summer your CD will provide too, thanks for making music.
Hey, Patti - completely awesome show tonight at the Blender Theater! You, Freddie and the band totally rocked from beginning to end. Congrats on the new CD and all of the great new songs...
You're a little Austin Powers and a little bit Madonna Ciccone...and a whole lotta AMAZING! The show was off the hook last night and I'm truly awestruck. Thank you for rockin' my socks off! Love you!
my HOOK was 1996 when my little brother 'heard you' and shared with me-- 'you'd dig this'....thx BRO! Moved to KC from Dallas 3 yrs ago. Would sure love to see ya travel this way in 2008.....oh. btw. HI PATTI!!!!
Hey Patti--Dave gave me a copy of Double Standards and I had it playing on my trip to the country last weekend and I must say I thought the work was brilliant. Good Luck--Kaydi
Hey Patti! I got on the Type O VIP list! I'm going to try to get a pic. with Peter and the earrings. I'll post one for yah if it works out. Wish me luck! Love,Heather
Patti- Type O Negative is coming to our town June 6th and my daughter has a friend who knows one of the bands coming with them and could get us back stage. Do you think Peter would like the earrings you made me? LOL! I'm thinkin" about it... Your N.W. friend,Heather