RatDog
File:Bobweirratdog.jpg
Background information
Also known as Bob Weir and RatDog
Origin San Francisco, CA, USA
Genres Rock
Years active 1995–2010 (on hiatus)
Labels Grateful Dead
Associated acts Grateful Dead, The Other Ones, The Dead, Furthur Jemimah Puddleduck
Website www.ratdog.org
Members
Bob Weir
Jay Lane
Jeff Chimenti
Mark Karan
Kenny Brooks
Robin Sylvester
Past members
Rob Wasserman
Matthew Kelly
Vince Welnick
Johnnie Johnson
Dave Ellis
Mookie Siegel
Dave McNabb

RatDog (sometimes known as Bob Weir & RatDog or Ratdog), is an American rock band. The group began as a side project for Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman.[1] After the Grateful Dead disbanded in December 1995, following the death of Jerry Garcia on August 9, 1995, RatDog became Bob Weir's primary band.[2] They perform Grateful Dead tunes primarily with a mixture of covers (including Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry), along with some originals.[3] RatDog's repertoire consists of over 150 songs. Since early 2010 RatDog has been on hiatus while Weir performs with his newest project Furthur.

Throughout 2009 and 2010, original RatDog members Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, and Jay Lane periodically performed under the moniker Scaring the Children.[4]

Contents

Formation and early days [link]

During the late 1980s, Bob Weir teamed up with bassist Rob Wasserman and the duo toured for seven years under names such as Weir/Wasserman and Scaring the Children. In 1994, Weir and Wasserman participated in the Woodstock '94 festival. Jay Lane was added on drums and Matthew Kelly on guitar and harmonica in 1995. They played their first show as a full band on April 22, 1995, billed as Friends of Montezuma and then as RatDog Revue. They played their first show as RatDog on August 8, 1995.

Membership [link]

The original line-up consisted of Bob Weir on rhythm guitar, Rob Wasserman on string bass, Matthew Kelly on lead guitar and Jay Lane on drums. Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick joined the band in September 1995 and played in several shows but left a couple months later. Dave Ellis became the band's first saxophonist in 1996 and remained until 1999 to be replaced by Kenny Brooks. Between 1996 and 1997 Johnnie Johnson and Mookie Siegel had stints as keyboardists. Jeff Chimenti became the keyboardist in May 1997 and is still in the band today. Matthew Kelly was replaced in 1998 briefly by Dave McNabb and then by current lead guitarist Mark Karan. Rob Wasserman left the band in 2003 and was replaced by Robin Sylvester.[5]

The current lineup consists of Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Jeff Chimenti, Mark Karan, Kenny Brooks and Robin Sylvester.

Mark Karan's Health problems and 2007 Summer Absence [link]

In mid-June 2007, RatDog's lead guitarist announced he was taking some time off for a healing period. Karan was later diagnosed with throat cancer. Because he was undergoing treatment, Karan was absent from the remainder of RatDog's 2007 shows. Steve Kimock, the guitarist from the band Zero, who also has had a history of playing with Dead spin-off bands The Other Ones (1998 and 2000), Phil Lesh and Friends (1999), and the Rhythm Devils (2006), stood in for Karan.

Karan returned to the RatDog lineup at the start of the 2008 spring tour.[6][7]

Robin Sylvester's ongoing Health problems [link]

Robin Sylvester missed Ratdog's 2010 shows in Jamaica and the Ratdog reunion in early 2012 at Bob Weir's TRI Studios due to unspecified health concerns. In February, 2012, it was reported that Robin was awaiting a kidney transplant. Donations to help defray Robin's medical costs can be made to The Sweet Relief Musician's Fund

Notable guests [link]

Since its formation, many guest musicians have performed with RatDog, including Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux and Bruce Hornsby. Other well known guests include Joan Baez, Warren Haynes, Al Schnier, Ekoostik Hookah, Trey Anastasio, Les Claypool, DJ Logic, John Popper, Dickey Betts, Sammy Hagar, Susan James and Keller Williams.[8]

Discography [link]

Band members [link]

  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals (April 1995–present)
  • Jay Lane – drums (April 1995–present)
  • Rob Wasserman – bass (April 1995–October 2002)
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals (April 1995 – September 1998)
  • Vince Welnick – keyboards, vocals (September 1995–December 1995)
  • Johnnie Johnson – keyboards (February 1996–May 1997)
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone (November 1996–December 1999)

Timeline [link]

<timeline> ImageSize = width:850 height:300 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:0 right:30 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:04/22/1995 till:08/31/2011 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

id:guitar value:red legend:Guitar
id:vocals value:yelloworange legend:Vocals
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:bass value:green legend:Bass
id:keys value:blue legend:Keyboards
id:sax value:lightpurple legend:Saxophone
id:album value:black legend:Albums

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:2

ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1996

LineData =

at:09/26/2000 color:album layer:back
at:07/15/2001 color:album layer:back

BarData =

bar:Weir text:"Bob Weir"
bar:Lane text:"Jay Lane"
bar:Wasserman text:"Rob Wasserman"
bar:Kelly text:"Matthew Kelly"
bar:Welnick text:"Vince Welnick"
bar:Johnson text:"Johnnie Johnson"
bar:Ellis text:"Dave Ellis"
bar:Siegel text:"Mookie Siegel"
bar:Chimenti text:"Jeff Chimenti"
bar:McNabb text:"Dave McNabb"
bar:Karan text:"Mark Karan"
bar:Brooks text:"Kenny Brooks"
bar:Sylvester text:"Robin Sylvester"
bar:Kimock text:"Steve Kimock"

PlotData=

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Weir from:start till:end color:guitar
bar:Weir from:start till:end color:vocals width:2
bar:Lane from:start till:end color:drums
bar:Wasserman from:start till:10/19/2002 color:bass
bar:Kelly from:start till:09/06/1998 color:guitar
bar:Kelly from:start till:09/06/1998 color:vocals width:2
bar:Welnick from:09/01/1995 till:12/12/1995 color:keys
bar:Welnick from:09/01/1995 till:12/12/1995 color:vocals width:2
bar:Johnson from:02/20/1996 till:05/28/1997 color:keys
bar:Ellis from:11/09/1996 till:12/02/1999 color:sax
bar:Siegel from:12/10/1996 till:04/15/1997 color:keys
bar:Chimenti from:05/28/1997 till:end color:keys
bar:McNabb from:09/06/1998 till:09/20/1998 color:guitar
bar:Karan from:10/29/1998 till:06/17/2007 color:guitar
bar:Karan from:10/29/1998 till:06/17/2007 color:vocals width:2
bar:Karan from:05/17/2008 till:end color:guitar
bar:Karan from:05/17/2008 till:end color:vocals width:2
bar:Brooks from:05/05/2000 till:end color:sax
bar:Sylvester from:03/04/2003 till:end color:bass
bar:Kimock from:07/05/2007 till:04/12/2008 color:guitar

</timeline>

Lineups [link]

Bob Weir and Jay Lane performing with RatDog in April 2009.
Dates Lineup
04/22/1995 – 08/25/1995
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
09/01/1995 – 12/12/1995
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Vince Welnick – keyboards, vocals
02/20/1996 – 10/20/1996
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Johnnie Johnson – keyboards
11/09/1996 – 12/08/1996
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Johnnie Johnson – keyboards
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
12/10/1996 – 04/15/1997
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Johnnie Johnson – keyboards
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Mookie Siegel – keyboards
05/28/1997
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Johnnie Johnson – keyboards
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
06/07/1997 – 04/05/1998
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
09/06/1998
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Dave McNabb – guitar
09/09/1998 – 09/20/1998
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Dave McNabb – guitar
10/29/1998 – 12/02/1999
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Dave Ellis – saxophone
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals
12/30/1999 – 03/26/2000
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals
05/05/2000 – 10/19/2002
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Rob Wasserman – bass
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Kenny Brooks – saxophone
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals
02/05/2003 – 02/09/2003
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Kenny Brooks – saxophone
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals
03/04/2003 – 06/17/2007
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Robin Sylvester – bass
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Kenny Brooks – saxophone
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals
07/05/2007 – 04/12/2008
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Robin Sylvester – bass
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Kenny Brooks – saxophone
  • Steve Kimock – guitar
05/17/2008 – present
  • Bob Weir – guitar, vocals
  • Jay Lane – drums
  • Robin Sylvester – bass
  • Jeff Chimenti – keyboards
  • Kenny Brooks – saxophone
  • Mark Karan – guitar, vocals

Notes [link]

  1. ^ Bob Weir Biography, Rolling Stone
  2. ^ Ruhlmann, William. RatDog Biography at Allmusic
  3. ^ Selvin, Joel. "Dead Man Talking", San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 2004
  4. ^ "Bob Weir & RatDog :: news". Rat-dog.com. https://www.rat-dog.com/news/. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
  5. ^ "The Band". RatDog. https://ratdog.org/band/. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
  6. ^ Condran, Ed. "Hot Rats", Atlantic City Weekly, July 9, 2009
  7. ^ Heselgrave, Douglas. "Catching Up with Mark Karan", The Music Box, April 2008
  8. ^ "Guest Musicians". RatDog. https://ratdog.org/stuff/guests. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 

External links [link]


https://wn.com/RatDog

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:

I like you a lot

by: Reh Dogg

(Verse)
Lady I’ve been keeping an eye on you for the longest time
I’m impressed with the way that you move and I like your
Sexy eyes and your smile gotta tell you
You get my mans in the mood and thing, are you single
Or do you have a man I don’t see a diamond ring
If you do I understand I’m your biggest fan number one fan
You make my manhood get hard and expand it’s like an
Airplane vroom coming in for a land you gets me sex appeal
Cause you know you’re the real deal for real
I wanted you for the longest time the first time that we met
You swept me off my feet and now I go home and think about
You and I beat my meat tender sweet how sweet my beef will
Be inside you but nah for real I like you a lot girl
Could you be with me could you give me a chance
Let me know I sure know how to romance
(Verse 2)
Lady I really gotta have you and I’ve been watching you
And I’m not a stalker but I really really want you cause you make my blood
Boil get hotter yeah
Watching you for the longest time cause you impress me girl and I want you
Watching you for the longest time I’m impressed by the way that you move
And I love your sexy eyes and the way that you smile give me a chance woman
Come on give me a chance Lady I’ve been keeping an eye on you watching you
for the longest time
Cause you impress me the way you move you impress me gotta tell you gets me
in the mood
Are you single or do you have a man I’ll understand I’m your number one fan
you make my manhood
Get hard and expand it’s like an airplane vroom coming in for the land you
get me hard got sex appeal
I love you yes for real
(Verse 3)
Love at first sight like Adam & Eve the apple I wanna bite love at first
sight like Adam & Eve I wanna bite
Lady I’ve been keeping an eye on you for the longest time I’m impressed
with the way that you move
I gotta tell you,you get me in the mood are you single do you have a dude
If you do I’ll understand I’m your number one fan you make my manhood get
hard and expand
It’s like an airplane vroom coming in for a land it be Reh Dogg
It be Reh Dogg coming in hard come (howl) make a man howl cause you know
you make my feet go vroom yeah that’s right
I’m impressed by the way that you move gotta tell you, you get me in the
mood hope you don’t have a dude like I want it spicy let’s go down to the
dinny
Yeah lady is you alone are you alone let me know cause I come here to show
a good time yeah that’s right
Sex is not what’s on my mind I love your mind because you’re sexy
intelligent you’re smart yeah you fine
That’s right I want you to be mines dark skin and you’re a little chunky
you got little sharp curves




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