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The Good Rats (with Joe Franco, John Gatto, Lenny Kotke, Mickey Marchello and Peppi Marchello) rose from popularity as "the local Grateful Dead" to become a nationally popular boogie band by 1974.
On February 7, 1964, when The Beatles landed at Idlewild Airport, a young St. John's student was there to see the plane arrive. He was so inspired by the event, he knew his world had changed. "I instantly knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be like them. I wanted to make music," said Brooklyn-to-Baldwin native, Peppi Marchello. Four years later, Peppi would launch The Good Rats.
The Good Rats' shows were sellouts as audiences ate up their manic stage antics. Known for extended jams as well as Peppi's bravado vocals as he swung his trademark baseball bat (more like an "air guitar"); the band tossed rubber rats into the crowds while tossing kids off the stage.
In 1979, drummer Joe Franco commented on their local popularity: "If the rest of the country was Long Island, we'd be The Beatles." The Good Rats still command sold out venues each time they reunite. Although some of their albums are difficult to procure, notably the classic, "Tasty" (Warner Brothers 2813, 1974), there are CDs available of their albums.
The Good Rats have performed at Madison Square Garden, the Philadelphia Spectrum, the Nassau Coliseum, the Hammersmith Odeon in England, and New York's Central Park. The Good Rats have also played most of the major showcase rooms in the country including the Bottom Line, Paradise in Boston, Whisky in L.A., well... you get the point!They have headlined and opened up for such groups as Rush, Aerosmith, Meatloaf, Ozzy, Grateful Dead, Kiss, Journey, Heart, Springsteen, Styx and many others over their career. The Good Rats have released 8 albums over the past years and have re-issued 6 CD's that are currently in the record stores and on the radio. The release of their new album " Tasty Seconds ",has been getting great reviews here and overseas. The new line up includes Peppi Marchello, Gene Marchello, Stefan Marchello and Denis Perry.
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