dum news page
Click here to see Peppi's response to the March 1st, 2003 benefit.
Click here to see the Ratstock 2003 invitation.
Click here to see the Ratstock 2004 invitation.
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GOOD RATS Newsletter - April 1, 2005 |
First of all, NOW is the time to book The Good Rats for your private party. Please don't wait until we book a club gig on the day you want us for your party. E-mail us at goodrats@goodrats.com and tell us your name, phone #, and the best times to reach you. ------------------------------------------------------ NEW E-MAILS ADDED TO THIS: Here are the addresses:
------------------------------------------------------ Friends of the band, we must ask you this favor: We've had situations when we are playing in a restaurant, and Rat fans show up early to have dinner. That's great, we want you to enjoy yourselves to the fullest. However, sometimes the clubowners prohibit us from asking you early folks who do end up staying for the show for the cover charge, because you're already spending money on dinner and they think we'll scare you away or something. Remember, that cover charge is the band's primary source of income. Please, if you get to a club before the cover begins at one of our gigs, be a hero and go over to Dan the Man at the door and give him your cover charge. Many of you have done this in the past and we appreciate your support. It's the only way this thing will keep going........and we want it to. ----------------------------------------------------- Speaking of restaurants, the ownership of Daphnie's in Newton, NJ would like to know what Rat fans think of their place, i.e. food, service, etc. If you've seen us there, you can share your comments by e-mailing:
------------------------------------------------------ RATSTOCK VII!!! The tradition continues with shows on Fri. and Sat. Aug. 19th and 20th, 2005, in Waymart, PA, the same location as the last 4 Ratstocks. Full details coming soon. IMPORTANT: Cabins and trailers on the grounds go quickly! Call Bill at the campgrounds, 570 448-2268 to rent one for Ratstock VII. Same as previously, you pay him directly for those and the cost is in addition to the camping and show costs you pay to us. OR, you may decide to reserve a hotel room in the Waymart/Honesdale, PA area and just pay us for the show admissions. As stated previously, more details will be forthcoming, but the time to reserve a cabin, trailer, or hotel room is now! This will be the party of the year!! ------------------------------------------------------ By the way, we have a few shirts (size small)left from Ratstock 6. You can buy them at an upcoming gig. ------------------------------------------------------ WDHA in New Jersey has been given the Zone CD (see below). ------------------------------------------------------ By popular demand - Zone finally has a CD available: Gene and Stefan rocking hard on
It's only $10! Uncle Rat Music Please include $4 postage & handling Hey, pick up a Good Rats CD for $15 more at the same time - the $4 postage covers the whole order. That means the total for 1 Zone CD and 1 Good Rats CD with postage is $29. ----------------------------------------------------- IF YOU KNOW OF ANY LOCAL CLUBS OR BARS IN YOUR AREA THAT WE SHOULD BE PLAYING AT CONTACT US VIA EMAIL !!!! RAT-ON!!! If you are interested in ordering merchandise, here are the details: We have all cd's except We Are The Good Rats. Send $15.00 per CD and $4.00 shipping & handling per order (check or money order) to: Uncle Rat Music Here is what is available:
(Each are $15 + $4 s&h when ordered individually) "Tasty" tee shirts. ($18 + $4 s&h in Black sized L & XL) The $4.00 shipping & handling is for the entire order. If anyone would like to purchase I M Happy (who happens to sing the "WORLD PARTY ANTHEM") please let _ The 14_" life-like figure comes alive with the simple press of a button located at the front of the barstool. To order make checks or money orders payable to "Uncle Rat Music" and send orders to: |
October 20, 2004 |
By popular demand: Zone finally has a CD available! Gene and Stefan rocking hard on "8 Songs" Park & Ride It's only $10! Pick it up at a gig, or by mail-order Send check or money order made out to Please include $4 postage & handling |
February 27, 2004 |
A LETTER FROM PEPPI 1) Good Rats Denim Jackets are available again, featuring The Good Rats logo embroidered on the back, and Uncle Rat and your name or nickname on the front. For sizes S, M, L, XL, $110 (incl. shipping within the U.S.) Send check (or money order) with size and monogram info to: Uncle Rat Music Make payable to Uncle Rat Music (don't forget YOUR return address) 2) The Tasty Seconds CD was a limited edition item. We have been swamped with requests, so we are re-issuing it and adding it to our available selection. Same price/ordering procedures as with the other CD's, or buy it at a gig in the near future. 3) Ratstock VI: Since many fans have asked for a 2-day event, and have also requested that the shows occur on Friday and Saturday to leave Sunday for travel home, we have scheduled Ratstock VI for Fri. August 20 and Sat. August 21st, 2004 at Valley View Farm & Campground in Pleasant Mount, PA (same location as last year.) There will be a show Friday night and another late Saturday afternoon. Price is $55 per adult and will cover the Friday and Saturday shows and include camping for SATURDAY NIGHT only. Children under 15 are free, and children 15 and over are $20. Campsites for Friday, as well as cabin or trailer rentals for either or both nights, are paid directly to the campsite owners. Those just attending shows (not staying overnight on campgrounds), are $20 for either show per person, or both shows for $30. There are full campsites with electric and water hook-ups; there are also 'rural' campsites. There is The $55 per adult price does not include cabin or trailer rental charges. Those who want cabins, trailers, or extra days (including Friday night) should call Bill at the campgrounds to make arrangements. 570-448-2268. Ratstock attendance has been growing - ADVANCE TICKETS ARE THE WAY TO GO! For tickets, make checks out to: Please include a $4 handling charge with each order. For more info: Call Bill at the campground 570-448-2268 4) There will be more original Good Rats reunion shows happening in July. Stay tuned for info. 5) E-mail us at goodrats@goodrats.com to get all info in advance, and let us know your name, address, and zip code if you are still receiving our snail mail. 6) Me and my boys really need you guys to keep this Rock & Roll life going: come out with your friends and party with us whenever we are playing in your area. We give you 2-and-a-half to 3 hour shows, and I guarantee you'll not feel shortchanged after these shows! 7) We are available for private parties - please give us plenty of notice. 8) If there are any bars/clubs in your area that you think might be a good place for the Rats to play, It's you guys that keep the Rats rockin', and I thank you very much! Peppi Marchello |
September 3, 2003 |
Peppi Joins Comics Legends to Aid Harlan Ellison's Internet Piracy Battle Aardwolf Publishing will be releasing "god's 15 minutes," featuring the complete dark stories of Peppi's pal, author Clifford Meth to aid author Harlan Ellison's battle with AOL (as recently covered on page 1 of THE WALLSTREET JOURNAL). The anthology will feature illustrations by comic-art legends Alex Toth, Gene Colan, George Perez, Marie Severin, Dave Cockrum, Joe Sinnott, Herb Trimpe, Gray Morrow, Bill Messner-Loebs, and others. Wrapped in a painted cover by Mike Kaluta, the book will carry story introductions by Peppi, Harlan Ellison, Al Feldstein (MAD Magazine), Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck), Tony Isabella (Daredevil), Andy Shernoff (lead guitarist/writer of the legendary punk band The Dictators), Pat DiNizio (lead singer/writer of The Smithereens), and the late Robert Bloch (author of Psycho). The book will also include the never-before-published "THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ZAPPA," a rare, insightful, hilarious interview with the late Frank Zappa. Proceeds from "god's 15 minutes" directly benefit Harlan's KICK Internet Piracy fund. For more information, visit www.aardwolfpublishing.com or www.harlanellison.com |
April 10, 2003 |
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Hey, guys! I am a creature of habit & tradition, therefore, there will be a Ratstock V. It will be held at the same location as Ratstocks III & IV were, that is, Valley View Farm & Campground in Pleasant Mount, PA on Saturday, August 16, 2003. Ratstock V starts at 9:00am Saturday morning when the site opens up & culminates at 2:00pm Sunday afternoon. The music will start about 5pm Saturday afternoon and end sometime Saturday evening. We'll do about 50 songs during that period. As usual, anyone who wants to play or sing along with the band is welcomed! There are full campsites with electric and water hook-ups; there are also 'rural' campsites. There is an above ground pool, an 18-hole miniature golf course, hot showers, laundry, children's play area, small general store, fire rings, and some tables. Firewood is available. This event is for family and non-family Rat fans. In other words, come with the kids or leave them home. Here is the ticket info for Ratstock V:
All are invited to come early and enjoy the whole day. Cabins & trailers are NOT included in these prices. Those of you do want to get cabins & trailers should pay for them directly to the campground, then pay Uncle Rat Music at the show campsite prices ($40/adult). Those who want cabins, trailers, or extra days should call Bill at the campgrounds to make arrangements. 570-448-2268. For example, a group of 4 adults in a cabin will pay 4 X $40 for the event = $160 plus cabin charges. There are only 3 cabins and 3 trailers available. If you have an RV let us know so we can provide you with an appropriate site. If you are coming with a group of friends let us know so we can try to keep you guys together. We will try to accommodate all your needs. If you are absolutely coming to Ratstock V please order your tickets early so I don't have to work so hard!
Please include a $4 handling charge with each order. For more info:
You can also write me at the PO Box above. Hope to see you at Ratstock V, |
March, 2003 |
[ A letter from Peppi ] Dear Rat fans, I want to thank all you guys who came to the benefit on March 1st. I especially want to thank the folks who traveled long distances to be there. I was overwhelmed by all the love that was in that bar that night. For those of you who had to leave early and missed the 7 or 8 songs I sang let me say I'm sorry I didn't go on earlier. In the way of thanks let me say that my four friends (Mike Rodden, Rick Stanton, Joe Femminella, & Chris Candida) who put the event together did a great job. Also "The Hardliners" along with Stefan & Gene, George Tebbitt, Phil Sasso, Kirk Peters, Dean Giuffrida, and Carl Emerson all played great and made for a fantastic night of Rock & Roll. We had 27 sponsors who contributed everything from booze, dinner for two, skiwear, makeovers, & even great tickets for the Billy Joel play "Piano Man" on Broadway. I wish I was able to name and thank everyone personally here on the site. I also want to thank those fans who could not make it to the party but purchased merchandise thru the mail or just sent cards or money. You guys have helped me through a very difficult time. I hope to get started again in May so I can see all your smiling faces again. God bless you all,
[ A letter from Bill - the web & email guy ] All of you who are on our list* are obviously Good Rat/Peppi Marchello fans therefore it would follow that you would want to have all of Peppi's CDs, especially the new "Play Dum" CD. Peppi feels that the new CD is the most energized & heaviest of all his CDs and he wants his fans to know that he is still making powerful, quality music. Here is what is available: The new "Play Dum" CD or other CDs. (Available CDs are Tasty, Ratcity in Blue, Rats to Riches, Birth Comes to Us All, Great American Music, Live at Last, and Rats the Way You Like 'Em. (Each are $15 + $4 s&h when ordered individually) To order make checks or money orders payable to "Uncle Rat Music" and send orders to: Uncle Rat Music Also know that The Rats will be playing in May... Watch for the dates! Thank you, * You are on the email announcement list aren't you? Please email me to join! Also, if you are still receiving postal mailings, please email me your name and ZIP code so we can delete your info from our costly snail-mail list. |
February, 2003 |
Dear Rats Fans, We are 4 friends of Peppi Marchello. In early November Peppi had open-heart surgery. He is doing very well and is currently in a cardiac rehab program. Unfortunately he is unable to work for at least 5 more months and, as a self-employed musician, is not eligible for unemployment (or other income augmentation) benefits to help him and his family through this difficult period. We need your help! There is going to be a benefit to help Peppi pay some of his bills. It will be held on Saturday, March 1st, in Commack, Long Island at "The Dugout" (directions below). The admission will be $20 and CDs and tee shirts will be sold. ALL MONIES COLLECTED WILL GO TO PEPPI!! There will be other bands performing including Peppi's sons, Gene & Stefan. For those of you who want to help out but can't make it to the party we are asking you to buy the new CD "Play Dum" (Peppi's latest) or other CDs or tee shirts. (We will list these at the end of this letter along with ordering information.) Peppi will be at the bash as long as he can to thank you for your support. He asks that we bill this event as his "Belated 9th annual 50th Birthday Party" which was cancelled last December because of his illness. The festivities will begin at 8pm for those of you who need to get home early or drive a long distance. There are also hotels & motels in the area. If you need info call the Good Rats' hotline (631-696-0707) leaving your name, number & the best time to get back to you. We hope you feel like we do. Peppi & his music have given us over 30 years of wonderful memories and his music will be with us forever. We're sure he'll be able to get back to his music a lot faster without having to deal with much of the stress related financial problems caused by 5 months of no performances or money. Once again, here are the ways you can help: 1. Come to the benefit / birthday bash
Some of you who bought CDs last time have sold them on E-Bay and made some nice profits. I don't mind that at all as long as you DON'T burn your own CD's. If you get our video and want to make copies and send them to bars, colleges, friends or whatever that's fine with me. Make checks or money orders payable to "Uncle Rat Music". Send orders to: Finally, Peppi's asked us to ask you to please, if you are on his snail-mail list, email him at goodrats@goodrats.com with your name & address so that you can be moved off the expensive postal mailings list and onto the much more efficient email list saving time and money! Please help us spread the word. Tell friends who are Good Rats fans to join us at the benefit, and if they can't get there, to buy lots of Dum / Rats stuff!!!! Hoping you can help out our favorite Rat,
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Dec 22, 2002 |
In the last few years I have released two new CD's TASTY SECONDS and LET'S HAVE ANOTHER BEER, both were LIMITED EDITIONS. So, am I writing to you just to "Rub your nose in it"? No, I am not. I 'm writing to tell those of you who are obvious GOOD RAT FANS and therefore fans of my song writing and singing, that I have finally finished the new "PLAY DUM" CD. And I hope you guys will want to order it now. With your permission I will remove the shrink wrap and sign the CD however you request and date it. Here are some facts about the new CD: 1. The Band name is "DUM" you guys know it's the Good Rats but not the rest of the world. 2. It has 7 songs that we had on the last CD "LET'S HAVE ANOTHER BEER" they are: 3. It has 3 songs from TASTY SECONDS they are: She's Staying Home Tonight, Thunder Rocks My Soul and Football Madness (with all the new jams). 4. All these songs have been made bigger with new rhythm guitar and mixes. In other 5. We have recorded "JOEY FERRARI" AND "MR. MECHANIC" both songs from previous Rat albums, the new versions KICK ASS. 6. We have recorded a new song called "Rock Radiold" that Stefan sings lead on. Now 7. We have short versions of the "World Party Anthem" & "Ashes to Ashes" all in all 15 cuts & 13 songs.
We would love to play your private parties; just give us a call well in advance of the date you want. Also keep letting us know about places in your area to play. Try to get the name, phone number and person to speak to regarding band bookings. Once again I hope you true Rat Fans order our new "Play Dum" CD. I am sure you will love it. The CD is $15 per CD plus $4 S&H per order (not CD). Thanks for your continued support.
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Dec 20, 2002 |
Peppi is recovering nicely. In the meantime the band is rocking the house playing "Zone" gigs. Come out and see Gene and Stefan play dum, Zone originals, covers and Good Rats tunes! See them soon in your town. Check the club dates page. |