Bob Weir (Guitars, Vocals)
Jay Lane (Drums, Percussion, Vocals)
Jeff Chimenti (Keyboards, Vocals)
Mark Karan (Guitars, Vocals)
Kenny Brooks (Saxophones, Touchpad, Vocals)
Robin Sylvester (Bass Guitars, Vocals)
RatDog.Org was launched on February 14, 2000 as a spinoff from OtherOnes.Net, which at the time featured RatDog and Phil Lesh setlists in addition to information on The Other Ones.
As for the band......
It started out with Rob Wasserman and me as a duo and we played that way for six or eight years, and then one day I was working on a project and we needed a drummer. And Rob said, "I know this drummer that I met last night and he was pretty good. You want me to give him a buzz?" and I said, "Sure."
And so Jay [Lane] came up and did this session with us. The next morning, I called Rob and said "Hey, listen. That was kind of fun yesterday. How bout we take a drummer on our next tour?" and he said he was just thinking the same thing.
We started working together and booked another tour, and we were working with Jay at the time and we were about to go out on tour and my old pal Matthew Kelly came through town. And he was just sort of footloose and I said "Hey, you want to come out with us? You want to come sit in with us?" And that worked so we had a little quartet and we took that on the road.
— Bob Weir
Since that beginning in 1995, RatDog has undergone many changes, both in personnel and musical approach. It has evolved from a blues revue into a musical fusion of backgrounds and talents; complex, energetic, and adventurous. The members are no longer a supporting cast for front man Bob Weir. Rather, the band is a full time, full force powerhouse, capable of taking music fans to new and mystical places every night. Now composed of original members Bob and Jay, in addition to Jeff Chimenti, Mark Karan, Kenny Brooks, and Robin Sylvester, RatDog has truly come into its own. The RatDog experience delights and exhilarates, and as Bob says, "If you like what you hear, do come again...."
I just wanted to drop in on a rainy day and say hi. I hope everything is great with you. We are excited, D.B. Pacini's youth/YA fantasy novel, THE LOOSE END OF THE RAINBOW, is being published in one week. Actually, she’s so excited that she is driving me a little nuts. She is donating some books and 10% of the proceeds to a charitable organization that helps Native American youth.
I also wanted to tell you about our free Starry Night Creative Artists Community. We started it last summer and it is growing like a weed, becoming international. It is open to creative artists of all mediums and we showcase organizations and individuals that help others. It is a cool community. I hope you’ll check it out. Just click on this link and then scroll down to: Starry Night Creative Artists Community: www. astarrynightproductions. com
Online Now!
