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The Tunnel Rats

About Me

The Tunnel Rats were formed in 1993 by Duke Crevanator and B-Face (of the Queers/Groovie Ghoulies and the Real Kids).The original line-up quickly ran roughshod of the New England "scene" and were banned from every venue they played.
The grouping of Bernie, Captain Leech, Duke and B-Face quickly became the most hated and feared band in New England. To follow up this popularity, the band released two 7-inchers to critical acclaim (Run For Your Life and Going to Marty's). In 1995, a fifth member of the band was added. Sgt. James Rox fit the Tunnel Rats personality perfectly, frequently causing almost as much damage to fans' bodies, and the clubs' equipment as Captain Leech. The highlight of this year was the Tunnel Rats first show with Cocknoose in Kansas City. It was a sign of things to come.
Between 1996 and 1998 it became harder and harder for the band to get clubs that would allow them to play. At this point, Captain Leech decided to retire from performing live, as he was then on probation. If he had been arrested at a show, he would have gone to prison. At the same time, Sgt. Rox moved to California. When this happened, Duke moved to lead vocals, Bernie to guitar, and they added Harlan to guitar and Wimpy (of the Queers/and now the Jabbers) to drums. This was a killer lineup and played shows all over the Eastern US causing the typical Tunnel Rats mayhem.
In 1998, the first Tunnel Rats full-length was released. Called "Our War Is Never Over" It was 26 songs, and 60 minutes in length.
In 1999 the Tunnel Rats were incredibly honored by being inducted into the Confederacy of Scum. It was the greatest moment in the band's history, and something they are still very proud of. Since 2000 the Tunnel Rats have released songs on a variety of comps, a couple of split 7-inchers, and best of all, a split 10-inch with Italy's The Nerds. A record that was greeted with critical acclaim in many different 'zines.
Over the years, the Tunnel Rats stage show has become a little more refined. Basically, they don't get banned anymore, as they finally learned the fine-line required from most venues. Since then the Tunnel Rats have played all over the US. Cities like Kansas City, Philly, NYC, Austin, TX, Charlotte, NC, New Orleans, LA and Las Vegas, NV and more have been graced with the Tunnel Rats presence.
2003 saw one last Tunnel Rats line-up change. Wimpy became the lead singer of the Jabbers and was replaced on drums by Mara Beaverpants, the first female band member the band has had. In the next year or so, the Tunnel Rats are recording two full length projects, two compilations, an East Coast US tour, and a DVD that feature live Tunnel Rats shows taped between 1993 and 2004. And then, in 2005, the European invasion begins, the first victim? PORTUGAL!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/30/2004
Band Website: http://www.thetunnelrats.com
Band Members: Duke Crevanator - Vocals Duke originally started as the guitarist of the band. When Captain Leech was forced to retire from live performances in 1998 for legal reasons, Duke stepped into being the lead singer. Duke also writes for Lollipop Magazine and Carbon 14 Magazine. He also gets drunk a lot at bars, preferably strip bars but any will do in a pinch.

B-Face - Bass B-face and Duke founded the Tunnel Rats in a night of intensely heavy drinking. B-Face's abilities are well documented as a performer and song writer. Besides the Tunnel rats, B-Face has traveled the globe with the Queers, the Groovie Ghoulies, the Mopes and currently Boston's classic rock-n-roll band the Real Kids B-face has also provided incredible artwork for so many bands it's impossible to count.

Harlan Hearst Helmsley - Lead Guitar Harlan has been New Hampshire's guitarist extradroinare since the early 80's. He's been in more bands than one can count. We were excited to recruit Harlan as a member after Captain Leech's retirement. We needed another guitar player, and Harlan fit perfectly. Because unlike Duke, Harlan could actually write and play guitar leads. The Tunnel Rats challenge anyone to come up with better leads than Harlan. And if you want GG Allin stories,Harlan's got `em. From way back to the late 70's. Harlan is also the lead guitar player for Jupiter2.

Mara Beaverpants: Drums Mara has been around the Tunnel Rats since 1993, when it all started. At our first show in Durham, NH she was the one actually saved the lives of two kids when she pulled them out of the way of the towering PA speaker Captain Leech pushed over into the crowd. In 1995, she, along with her sister, were the ones who drove us 24 hours straight to play with Cocknoose in Kansas. She was the one who applied a tourquinet to Duke's legs when someone stabbed him in the knee with a broken bottle at a show in Philly. The stories go on and on. In 2003, when the Tunnel Rats were in need of a drummer, she volunteered to learn, even though she had never played before. 3 months later she took the stage in Las Vegas, NV and brought the house down.
Influences: Way too many list right now.
Record Label: Scarey Records in Torino, Italy
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Obit to Duke’s Ibanez Flying V

As the saying goes, every once in a while even a blind squirrel finds a nut. In my case, it was wandering into Lost Chord records back in 1993. The owner, "Grateful Ted", as creepy a person to man a d...
Posted by on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:26:00 GMT

Damn am I beat

Just got back from playing the CoS Supershow in Austin, Texas. We're done with shows until probably early November, but the new record is coming along.....slowly
Posted by on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 00:00:00 GMT