362:"Radio Rats opened with a strong set that firmly established them as one of the most vital outfits to have emerged in South Africa in years. They were tight and funky with a confident air that belied any impressions of impending disaster. The first song was 'Rocking', taken at a cracking pace that revealed the strength of new recruit Pierre de Sade on drums. He was powerful and decisive, knitting well with Herbie Parkins' bass lines, and providing a solid backing for the two front men. Dave Davies was in fine form – his distinctive vocals were rivetting as he gave all he had to give. Jonathan Handley looked happy as he led the band through the songs, playing some fine guitar and contributing the backing vocals. They were confident and firm, playing solid rock music with a bite. 'Poxy Music', 'Waiting for the Boot' and 'Man After You' were all well delivered. Rats left the stage triumphant, promising to return for a second set . . ..
747:
128:
365:"When the Rats took the stage again, they made no mistake in confirming their aim in conquering the Durban audience. They seemed to take the energy level of Wild Youth, and translate it into their own idiom. They worked the audience up with solid renditions of 'ZX Dan' and 'Law and Order' before pulling out all the stops with 'Crazy Caroline' during which the audience went bananas! Extremely fast and very tight – it was great. From here on – Rats ruled!”
384:
225:. Patric van Blerk, remembering that he loved the band from when he first heard them, described them in these terms: "Jonathan is a wizard and Dave Davies the greatest undiscovered rock leader singer in the world (alongside Brian Davidson ) ! The whole album was oh-so right – and 'ZX Dan' just screamed 'hit'."
399:
and continues to record and archive in his home studio in
Winterskloof. As an anaesthetist, he also oversees the training of future diplomate in anaesthetics. By September 2013, Jonathan Handley and his team of tutors at the hospital have trained more than 100 diplomate in anaesthetics. Davies still
267:
In
January/February 1979, "ZX Dan" peaked at number two on Johannesburg-based Radio 5. It is still cherished as one of South Africa's greatest pop rock songs of all time. At the end of 1999, it received the second-most votes in the "All time favourite SA song" category in "The SA Rock Digest/Amuzine
212:
The name "Radio Rats" first appeared on an A4 poster drawn and put up in August 1977 in
Springs up by fifth-year Wits University medical student, Jonathan Handley. The band had in quick succession earlier that year called themselves "The Warehouse Rats", then "Slither", which briefly featured John
220:
Cheryl van Blerk was the PRO for the
Gramophone Record Company when she first heard the Radio Rats' demos, including an intriguing song titled "ZX Dan". When GRC ignored them, she recommended the band to her brother Patric, the owner of Jo'Burg Records and the legendary South African producer and
374:
Following their earlier success, 1980 was meant to be the year that the Radio Rats "made it big", but once again the group was plagued by renewed drummer problems following
Leonard Dixon's departure. Although they never recaptured their former glory, the band's core of Jonathan Handley and Dave
328:
e-mag on 27 November 1999: "I cannot think of any performers or groups to compare the Radio Rats to, so I'm left with the conclusion that in rock this is original stuff. Additionally, while possessing a distinctive style, each song is different from the others . . . This is fun and original and
216:
Dave Davies gave Parkin – also called David – the nickname "Herbie" because he didn't want a band with two men sporting the same name, and it stuck. Lloyd Ross of Shifty
Records joined the Rats as a second guitarist and played on the 7-singles, "Crazy Caroline" and "Rocket Road", in 1979.
339:
The Rats recorded "Crazy
Caroline" and "Rocket Road" at Satbel Studios in Johannesburg during June 1979 using Pierre de Sade (born Vos) on drums and Lloyd Ross on guitar. "Crazy Caroline" backed with the latter song was released as a single in July, but it failed to stir the charts.
356:"The pre-gig atmosphere was electric. There were people who were convinced that Rats were going to blow it, that the Wits gig had been the beginning of the end. The news that new guitarist Lloyd Ross was too sick to make the trip seemed to confirm their views . . ..
375:
Davies continues until today. Over the years, Davies and
Handley and various friends (sometimes including Jonathan's brother Graham) have released music under various guises – as the Radio Rats, the Pop Guns, the Chauffeurs, Titus Groan and the Glee Club.
198:
In his Radio Rats retrospective on SAFM radio in
January 2000, Nigel Vermaas called Jonathan Handley one of the unsung heroes of South African music: "He's funny, he's witty and he's dedicated. And he's disarmingly self-deprecating."
144:, by Jonathan Handley (lead guitar and background vocals), Dave Davies on lead vocals and Herbie Parkin on bass, with various drummers. Leonard Dixon is remembered as the group's drummer during its most famous period.
391:, Jonathan Handley has reunited the classic Rats line-up by utilising previous band members, Leonard Dixon and Herbie Parkin, during visits that year to South Africa and, as ever, its original vocalist Dave Davies.
283:, Brian Currin wrote: "'ZX Dan' is a wonderful piece of new wave space-rock whose similar lyrical theme is a nod to David Bowie’s 1972 hit, 'Star Man'. The song was also inspired by the 1977
195:
has also been included in the "Essential South
African albums" list, based on a survey of various people in the South African music industry compiled in 2002 by music critic, John Samson.
307:
is "a lovely adventure, which never caught fire mainstream, but has enjoyed the sort of passionate niche-loyalty that made a treasure out of Freedom’s Children’s
792:
153:. The album immediately created a stir, in particular with its kick-off single, "ZX Dan", which peaked at no. 2 on Johannesburg-based Radio 5 (now called "
797:
333:
213:
Griffith – who as solo artist "John Ireland" would make his name with hits, "(You're) Living Inside my Head" in 1978 and "I Like" in 1982.
289:
147:"The Rats", as they are known colloquially, are notable for their 1979 hit "ZX Dan". In 1978, the group recorded a ten-song LP called
352:
magazine a double-header concert of The Radio Rats and Wild Youth held at Travolta's at the Killarney Hotel in Durban in April 1979.
187:
311:. 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
383:
244:
259:. Despite this, during live performances they mostly played their own songs, which had all been written by Handley.
400:
resides in the same house in Springs where he has always lived. Herbie Parkin is living, working, and playing in
395:
Jonathan Handley and Dave Davies still record and perform together. Handley is an anaesthetist practising in
453:
149:
332:
Nonetheless, with the solitary exception of "ZX Dan", all tracks on the LP were banned from airplay by the
273:
221:
composer. Jo'Burg Records was very active at the time following the success of artists like Rabbitt and
141:
45:
256:
269:
248:
396:
284:
222:
252:
158:
767:
746:
127:
679:
786:
701:
757:
752:
657:
317:
312:
772:
240:
55:
17:
232:
173:
as one of the top ten local rock albums of the seventies, along with Hawk's
762:
404:, most recently with Men on the Border, while Leonard Dixon has settled in
405:
236:
182:
401:
382:
463:(1981; 12 early Radio Rats compositions that were never released)
740:
154:
116:
777:
419:, for the first time since the band's classic 1978 album.
594:(the Glee Club, the Radio Rats and the Pop Guns) (2010)
415:
has reunited musically all four members that played on
272:'s 1988 self-composition, "Weeping", took first spot. "
228:
Cheryl van Blerk left GRC to become the Rats' manager.
329:
rollicking rock that doesn't lend itself to analogy."
324:Reviewer Kurt Shoemaker of Texas, US, wrote in the
111:
107:
82:
78:
61:
51:
41:
34:
140:was a South African rock group formed in 1977 in
680:"South African Rock Lists Website – Pollwinners"
632:, The Radio Rats, Fresh Music, 2002 CD re-issue
354:
276:" (1983) by Johnny Clegg and Juluka was third.
157:"). It was kept off the number one position by
279:In his liner notes for the 2002 CD release of
442:"The Big Wham Bam"/"Welcome to My Car" (1981)
8:
753:The South African Rock Files: The Radio Rats
652:
650:
648:
646:
644:
642:
640:
638:
169:The South African Rock Lists website lists
763:Herbie Parkin's Radio Rats tribute website
745:
624:
622:
620:
618:
616:
614:
612:
610:
608:
436:"Crazy Caroline"/"Rocket Road" (June 1979)
126:
31:
604:
27:South African rock group formed in 1977
334:South African Broadcasting Corporation
439:"Erase"/"Lisa Come Down" (April 1981)
7:
231:The band cites among its influences
793:Musical groups established in 1977
336:because of their lyrical content.
290:Close Encounters of the Third Kind
25:
702:"SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE NUMBER 40"
592:Girl Trouble 3 – Serious Trouble
798:South African rock music groups
513:Entertaining from your Freezer
344:The Radio Rats live in concert
268:End of the Century Big Vote".
1:
507:Home Decorating for Beginners
433:"ZX-Dan"/"I’m in Love" (1979)
303:In Patric van Blerk's words,
177:(1971), Freedom's Children's
408:where he is still drumming.
758:The Radio Rats' family tree
359:"They were all wrong . . .
348:Duncan Gibbon reviewed for
814:
479:Theatre of Electric Chairs
245:Iggy Pop & the Stooges
576:(Radio Rats demos) (1988)
521:(with Roger Lucey) (2005)
725:magazine, 27 April 1979
630:Into the Night We Slide
588:(the Radio Rats) (2009)
454:Into the Night We Slide
417:Into the Night We Slide
305:Into the Night We Slide
298:Into the Night We Slide
281:Into the Night We Slide
193:Into the Night We Slide
171:Into the Night We Slide
150:Into the Night We Slide
628:Album liner notes for
582:(the Glee Club) (1999)
501:Modern Cake Decorating
392:
367:
274:Scatterlings of Africa
386:
142:Springs, South Africa
46:Springs, South Africa
549:Radio Rats Live 1978
768:Johannes Kerkorrel
704:. Sarockdigest.com
574:Pure Pop 1985-1988
495:Music for Funerals
393:
249:the Rolling Stones
165:Critical reception
188:Boys Will Be Boys
134:
133:
16:(Redirected from
805:
749:
744:
743:
741:Official website
726:
720:
714:
713:
711:
709:
698:
692:
691:
689:
687:
676:
670:
669:
667:
665:
654:
633:
626:
525:Spooky Obsession
519:Locomotive Hotel
397:Pietermaritzburg
285:Steven Spielberg
223:Margaret Singana
130:
125:
122:
120:
118:
97:Jonathan Handley
85:
71:Radium Wreckords
32:
21:
813:
812:
808:
807:
806:
804:
803:
802:
783:
782:
739:
738:
735:
730:
729:
721:
717:
707:
705:
700:
699:
695:
685:
683:
678:
677:
673:
663:
661:
656:
655:
636:
627:
606:
601:
570:
449:
430:
425:
381:
372:
370:1980s and 1990s
346:
301:
265:
253:the Sex Pistols
210:
208:The early years
205:
167:
159:Michael Jackson
115:
103:
83:
74:
68:Jo'burg Records
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
811:
809:
801:
800:
795:
785:
784:
781:
780:
775:
773:James Phillips
770:
765:
760:
755:
750:
734:
733:External links
731:
728:
727:
715:
693:
671:
634:
603:
602:
600:
597:
596:
595:
589:
586:Girl Trouble 2
583:
577:
569:
566:
565:
564:
558:
552:
546:
540:
534:
528:
522:
516:
510:
504:
498:
492:
486:
476:
470:
464:
458:
448:
445:
444:
443:
440:
437:
434:
429:
426:
424:
421:
380:
377:
371:
368:
345:
342:
326:SA Rock Digest
300:
295:
264:
261:
255:and the early
209:
206:
204:
201:
166:
163:
132:
131:
113:
109:
108:
105:
104:
102:
101:
98:
95:
92:
88:
86:
80:
79:
76:
75:
73:
72:
69:
65:
63:
59:
58:
53:
49:
48:
43:
39:
38:
35:
26:
24:
18:The Radio Rats
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
810:
799:
796:
794:
791:
790:
788:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
748:
742:
737:
736:
732:
724:
719:
716:
703:
697:
694:
681:
675:
672:
659:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
635:
631:
625:
623:
621:
619:
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
605:
598:
593:
590:
587:
584:
581:
578:
575:
572:
571:
567:
562:
559:
556:
553:
550:
547:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
523:
520:
517:
514:
511:
508:
505:
502:
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
484:
483:Radio Rats IV
480:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
456:
455:
451:
450:
446:
441:
438:
435:
432:
431:
427:
422:
420:
418:
414:
409:
407:
403:
398:
390:
385:
378:
376:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
353:
351:
343:
341:
337:
335:
330:
327:
322:
320:
319:
314:
310:
306:
299:
296:
294:
292:
291:
286:
282:
277:
275:
271:
262:
260:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
229:
226:
224:
218:
214:
207:
202:
200:
196:
194:
190:
189:
184:
180:
176:
172:
164:
162:
160:
156:
152:
151:
145:
143:
139:
129:
124:
114:
110:
106:
100:Herbie Parkin
99:
96:
94:Leonard Dixon
93:
90:
89:
87:
81:
77:
70:
67:
66:
64:
60:
57:
54:
50:
47:
44:
40:
33:
30:
19:
722:
718:
706:. Retrieved
696:
684:. Retrieved
682:. Rock.co.za
674:
662:. Retrieved
660:. Rock.co.za
658:"Radio Rats"
629:
591:
585:
580:Girl Trouble
579:
573:
568:Compilations
561:Cyanide Lake
560:
554:
548:
542:
536:
530:
524:
518:
512:
506:
500:
494:
488:
482:
478:
473:Third Street
472:
467:The Big Beat
466:
461:To the Tower
460:
452:
416:
413:Cyanide Lake
412:
410:
394:
389:Cyanide Lake
388:
373:
364:
361:
358:
355:
349:
347:
338:
331:
325:
323:
318:Astral Weeks
316:
313:Van Morrison
308:
304:
302:
297:
288:
280:
278:
266:
230:
227:
219:
215:
211:
197:
192:
186:
178:
174:
170:
168:
148:
146:
137:
135:
84:Past members
29:
723:Music Maker
555:Merry Tales
531:Pop Coffins
423:Discography
350:Music Maker
270:Bright Blue
257:Dr Feelgood
241:David Bowie
181:(1970) and
175:African Day
91:Dave Davies
787:Categories
599:References
537:Love Train
489:Tandy Park
387:On 2013's
138:Radio Rats
119:.radiorats
36:Radio Rats
778:Rodriguez
233:John Cale
543:Madhouse
263:"ZX Dan"
191:(1975).
428:Singles
411:2013's
406:Germany
379:Present
237:JJ Cale
203:History
183:Rabbitt
112:Website
708:4 July
686:4 July
664:4 July
563:(2013)
557:(2013)
551:(2012)
545:(2011)
539:(2010)
533:(2009)
527:(2006)
515:(2005)
509:(2003)
503:(2001)
497:(2000)
491:(1996)
485:(1995)
481:, aka
475:(1995)
469:(1991)
457:(1978)
447:Albums
402:Sweden
235:("not
62:Labels
52:Genres
42:Origin
309:Astra
287:film
239:!"),
179:Astra
710:2014
688:2014
666:2014
136:The
56:Rock
321:."
315:'s
293:."
185:'s
155:5FM
123:.za
121:.co
117:www
789::
637:^
607:^
251:,
247:,
243:,
161:.
712:.
690:.
668:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
