Rock legends far from quitting

South African rock veterans Radio Rats are still going strong, with a new album and a busy touring schedule.

Their latest album, Killville, features some of their best work in years – work that have delighted new and old fans alike at their usual stomping ground, the Coffin Shoppe bar in Springs.

The band that pioneered South Africa’s alternative sound was formed in Springs in 1977 by Jonathan Handley on lead guitar and vocals, Dave Davies on lead vocals and Herbie Perkins on bass guitar.

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Their unique sound and look immediately caught the eyes and ears of rock fans around the country.

The band’s breakthrough came in 1978 when ZX Dan from their sophomore album, Into the Night We Slide, rocketed to the No 2 spot on Radio 5, trailing a notch behind Michael Jackson.

Award-winning songwriter and music producer, Patric van Blerk, was immediately impressed by Radio Rats and says: “Jonathan is a wizard and Dave Davies the greatest undiscovered rock leader singer in the world, alongside Brian Davidson of Freedom’s Children.

“The whole album was oh-so right – and ZX Dan was a screamer of a hit.”

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Van Blerk was similarly impressed with Into the Night We Slide: “A lovely adventure which never caught fire, but has enjoyed the sort of passionate niche-loyalty that made a treasure out of Freedom’s Children’s Astra.

“I always thought of it as the Jo’burg Records equivalent to the other gems which took decades to go gold and platinum, such as Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks.”

Radio Rats cite John Cale, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols and Dr Feelgood, as the band’s main influence, contributing to the diversity of their sound.

Handley says that the advent of British and American punk rock in the late 70s and early 80s, had an influence on the band to push their style and image to greater heights.

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Although the band has seen many line-up changes, Handley and Davies still record and perform regularly, and their prolific output contributes to the group releasing a new album on almost a yearly basis.

Radio Rats can proudly call themselves one of the pioneers of South African rock, and their unfading influence can still be felt in the contemporary South African rock scene.