RAT BOY: The Big Cheese in U.K. Punk

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Hellcat Records.

And what a better way to pregame the commemoration of Tim Armstrong’s celebrated Epitaph subsidiary than with CRASH!, the fourth album fropm Essex, England’s RAT BOY — perhaps the one band out there on the scene who channels the raw, infectious spirit of Rancid with ageless abandon.

Recorded in singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro’s garden, and co-produced by Cardy and Booth, the band set up two sheds in Quatro’s garden, as Booth ran back and forth between them, at times barely making the cut.

 

VIDEO: RAT BOY “BROKEN”

“The room wasn’t soundproof; it was a single thin wooden room with no deadening, so the drum kit sounded so insane and live,” explains Cardy. “We didn’t need to add any triggers to the drums; it’s all real! We all shared a headphone mix through splitters, and we pretty much couldn’t hear what we were playing. I think it might have only been in one ear, too, so we had to trust ourselves that we were playing tight.”

CRASH! encapsulates the band’s last few years of touring, inspired by the crowds across Europe, a raw energy and pure passion that hasn’t been seen in decades. With live performances in mind, the band rehearsed the tracks, determined to conjure that unrelenting liveliness. Tracks like “MAKE ME STAY” and “NO STARS” pull from that mid-90s raw aesthetic, catchy hooks and rebellious spirit that defined an era. Between the bright, crunchy guitar riffs and low thumping bass lines, there’s no doubt RAT BOY has hit the sweet spot.

Shortly before the release of CRASH! on all digital platforms this past June 26, Rock & Roll Globe had the pleasure of talking with young Mr. Cardy about hanging in Leather Tuscadero’s garden, working with Lint and a whole lot more.

And yes, RAT BOY > Ratboys.

 

How did you come up with the name RAT BOY?

I was called it as a kid in high school and it kinda stuck. The three letters in both words looked cool drawn. It made more sense when it was a solo project, but now that we’re a band, it’s a little confusing, but fuck it! We are unofficially the “RAT BOY CREW!”

 

How did you wind up recording CRASH! in Suzi Quatro’s garden? Did you go back and listen to her albums, or were you all fans going into the garden?

So, back in 2016, our guitar tech was her son Richard Tuckey. He’s a very good friend, and he let us record there. I love him a lot, I have his name tattooed on my leg! Suzi popped in a few times she’s cool very humble and wise. She has great advice. Noah, our drummer, produces records for Suzi, so he knew how to use the studio, and I think he helped put it together.

 

What led you guys to connect with Tim Armstrong? And how have you seen a shift in RAT BOY’s music since starting this collaboration?

I can’t really remember who connected us but I remember I was on a train the first time we spoke. I’ve been a fan of his music for a long time. My sister brought home the Transplants record in 2002-03 when I was, like 6, and my dad loved it and played it loads. So I think it was ingrained in my head since I was young. I didn’t know what punk was I just really liked the music. When I was about 11 I started playing guitar and got really into Dookie, which led me to Operation Ivy and Rancid, and I put two and two together! I’ve proudly been subscribed to Hellcat on YouTube since I was 11, haha.

We started making music together in 2017. I would say the ethos of all my records and visuals/lyrics have had nods and been influenced by punk but not as head on crash like this record. We were working on other projects together and he helped with advice for this record. Writing wise and production. I always mix genres together and can kinda get lost but this time I was disciplined and I focused on songwriting and it has truly been the best thing. I have ADHD so I can kind of spiral it can be a blessing, I deffo wouldn’t have the motivation and obsession with making music and art, but it can be frustrating for my daily life. I probably wrote most of the lyrics and hooks for that album in three months and didn’t feel any writer’s block! It came so naturally, and I’ve loved every moment of it. It’s definitely been a journey musically for me and this record reminds me of my first recordings when I started like “Fake ID” or “Laughter.” I haven’t stopped writing since the album was done. It could be a 40-track album if we kept going!

This album feels like the first RAT BOY album again, I can’t explain it but, I feel so motivated and energized. I have the focus I had when I was 18 every day, I’m living this album / music video ideas / gigs. I think I lost focus for a while and put my time into other art that wasn’t coming as natural if I’m honest. I’m proud of everything I’ve made but this has been the most personal and from the heart songs I’ve ever written.

I absolutely love RAT BOY’s sound and how you all are bringing that Rancid style into modern-day punk. What do you feel has been missing from punk in your opinion over the last 10 years or so?

Thank you. I’m not sure what’s been missing. I think the scene is insane, and we’ve been missing out! What we want to do is see what we are able to create whilst keeping it DIY. We recorded this whole album ourselves and Noah mixed it in the van. We shoot the videos ourselves and I edit them. I also do the art so it’s really fun that we are in control of what we do. We try do a good job of it and we wanna show other bands you can make your own videos recordings etc and sometimes it’s better to do it yourself. Admittedly I’m lucky that now I have a camera that looks killer but you can record things on your phone or old camcorders like we’ve done in the past and Something having personality is much more important than it being perfect in my opinion.

Most of my favourite records are from the 90s so maybe I want to see more brit pop and ska bands!

 

Was there any particular album or artist you all listened to that helped shape the way you approached creating CRASH!?

Albums that create a world show the band’s personality and energy and tell stories. London calling, And Out Come The Wolves, Dookie, Combat Rock, Straight Outta Compton, Fore!, Generation X, Excitable Boy, the Libertines and a load of punk records and power pop choruses. I also love slick ricks approach to storytelling.

 

What is the punk scene in London like these days? Are there a lot of young people still going to shows? What’s the generational divide like in the scene between the kids and the lifers?

I don’t really know. I know that there ares still kids making posters putting on shows making all their own stuff and building scenes. Maybe it doesn’t sound like punk in the traditional sense, but the mentality is definitely still strong.

 

I love the old school cut-and-paste aesthetic of the album cover. A definite contrast to all this horrible AI art happening these days. Was your decision a commentary on the state of modern art and the encroachment of AI in some way?

I think the whole album is that. AI can’t be four friends in a shed recording an album. We kept in our rushing and mistakes to keep it as real as possible. We could have stacked vocals and guitars and drum samples, but we literally did the opposite. We didn’t even DI the bass. It’s just a bass amp. Live drums, one left guitar, one right, one lead guitar. Single vocals in verses and gangs and harmonies in choruses.

The artwork is the same. I went to boot sales which is like an English yard sale and bought about 20 old British newspapers from 1969 I think someone was scrapbooking the moon landing. I’ve been using this for the lettering and the old sscrapbook paper for the background.

I couldn’t use a photo of a boxer for the cover, so I printed a photo of Noah that Harry took on tour onto a bit of blank space on a bit of the old newspaper. I wish I had screen-printed it but I got inpatient!

The whole AI thing is lame. I can imagine it’s really affecting people who make art for a living. I love traditional signwriting from growing up around banger racing (it’s the English demolition derby), so I’d sit and watch our two local sign writers paint my dad and brother’s car. They are wizards and so fast I think they can do a few cars a day. I wish more shops and buildings had this rather than some weird, generated picture with three thumbs.

 

Do you have any touring plans for this album? Do you have any hopes to come to the United States for shows?

Yes! We are trying to play in as many places as possible. We recorded the album live with the intention that the four of us can play the whole 18 track album live. We are sorting our visas at the moment, and are trying to get out early next year for a tour.

We have around 20 shows at the end of the year in Europe, too.

 

VIDEO: RAT BOY “HIGH LIFE”

What new bands are you guys currently listening to?

It’s probably not cool to say but I don’t listen to too many new bands. Not that I don’t want to, I’m just kinda in a bubble. I get obsessed with albums and study them religiously when I get into something. I got really into Stray Cats recently, but I don’t think they are classed as a new band?

 

What is your favorite Hellcat Records album and why?

Transplants’ self-titled. It’s one of the first albums I can remember from my childhood along with The Streets’ Original Pirate Material probably from the same time. I still have the case for the CD. Covered in overspray from it living in my dad’s garage for 20 something years. I pulled it out recently and put it in my studio.

That record being my introduction to punk music has really helped with my vocal approach. I love rap music and the way the songs are structured and the tempo really locks it together. They have that formula down. As I get older I understand how different that record was for the time!

I love the Aggrolites’ self-titled; that record sounds crazy the attention to detail blows my mind. I chat with Jay Bonner sometimes, he played bass on that record. He is a genius and he has showed me lots of cool techniques over the years.

I listen to all the Interrupters albums a lot but my favourite is Fight The Good Fight. We supported them on that tour in 2019 for two months in America. So hearing that record reminds me of those shows. I’d watch them every night. They really made us want to up our game. They are incredible live. Great people too. Kevin mixed our album Internationally Unknown.