Mike V and The Rats

Mike V And The Rats was formed in late 2001 and disbanded in late 2005. Started as a “project” by Jason Hampton, formally of The Third Degree and Gish of The Smut Peddlers, Mike V And The Rats grew into more than just a “project” over the course of the four years we were jamming together. I mean, how many “project bands” that you know of get to tour Sweden, have Keith Morris join them on stage as a guest vocalist, open up for a re-united Black Flag, tour with CKY, Linkin Park and Millencolin? No doubt about it, we had our fun.
Upon forming in November of 2001, Jason and Gish brought in PT Pugh to drum and then asked me to be the vocalist, they didn’t have to ask twice. By January 2002 we’d already written Rats classics like “Never Give Up,” “The War” and “Step Back.” The name of the band according to Jason Hampton came from the idea that no matter what we named the band people would say, “That’s Mike V’s band” so my name was included in the title of the band. I was never too keen on this and in late 2005 as Jason and I talked about continuing to pursue music together we decided to drop the name “Mike V And The Rats” and we regrouped as “Revolution Mother.”
Our first recordings “First 3 Songs” we’re recorded and produced by Fletcher of Pennywise. This CD was originally released in May of 2002 as a promotional disc packaged with my skateboard film “ DRIVE .” Our second self-titled CD released by Indecision Records in November of 2002 featured new versions of “Never Give Up” and “The War” as well as the song that opened most Rat’s shows “Viewpoint.”
The position of bass was a revolving door in this band for it’s entire short existence. Soon after recording our self-titled CD we realized we wanted to be more than a “project” and parted ways with Gish who was busy with and dedicated to his band The Smut Peddlers. Brian Balchack filled in for Gish on our first tour in September 2002 with The Deviates but was unable to commit to the band full time. We then brought in Reid Black who in my mind was the Rats true bassist. Reid was with us for our best road trips and tours and memories as a band. I’ll never forget union stagehands carrying his “gig bag,” a Trader Joe’s brown paper grocery bag of cables and peddles off of the semi-truck everyday onto the stage on Linkin Park’s Project Revolution Tour. It doesn’t get any better than that. Reid also played on “The Days” EP and the Sessions Compilation track, "Dehumanized." After Reid left the band Brian Murray filled in for a short stint on the Zumiez Couch in the summer of 2005 and it was soon after that trip that Jason and I decided that Mike V And The Rats had run it’s course and formed Revolution Mother.
For me The Rats will always be a special time and place in my life. It was in this band that I got my start in music and cut my teeth on the road and in the studio. But more so, The Rats is where my musical relationship and friendship with Jason Hampton got started. Our song “The Days” truly sums it up best… Skateboarding, punk rock music and great memories.
-- Mike V