Jan and Wes selected the name one evening with the assistance of depraved, swirling impairments.

From day one, we exalted an ominous mission statement that detailed a clear and concise list of objectives that had to address particulars of promotional materials peddled by our contemporaries (rightfully compelled in doing so, being dually appointed, self righteous criticizers). Being keenly aware that shopping a demo was key to landing a lengthy tenure of shitty weekday gigs, and driven by nothing more than being paid in the wee hours with a bar tab being called even, our comprehensive, state of the art, micro-scrutinized protocol was designed to self authorized an obnoxious celebration run amuck, defiling any and all First Amendment principals with rabid, parading obscenities, void of any recognizable moral Christian inclination. The findings of our in depth, scholarly research and development has concluded that our first demo would be nothing less than a trade of divine compromises. This exchange of goods and commodities would usher in an era that would become known as the Harris County Tour ’96.

1997 saw more comfortable, recognized bookings. That year graced us with the honor of opening for the likes of iconic Houston goddesses, Manhole, notable Chapel Hill, North Carolina rockabilly legends Flat Duo Jets, and New York's Suicide King.

We started off completely aware that there would be no proverbial record deal. We brought with us this pessimistic ideology: No band… this band, or any other band was going to last forever, thus crafting ratbastard from a blueprint that detailed very specific expectations of it winding down into disorder. Plagiarizing the timeless self-fulfilling prophecy seemed a logical, realistic approach to what we knew was likely to become a daunting marriage/ business endeavor/ end of friendship arrangement between four people with penises. We were cynically observant and keenly aware that the Houston scene was a dried up heap of dung, wasting away before our very eyes and ears, while other metropolitan Texas markets flourished to varied degrees of notable, historic mention

This approach left us with few expectations, and absolutely no misconceptions of grandeur. To personify this back ass vision, the opening bars of The Secret Game were intentionally shat forth as they might have been if at the end of some track; presented with a mock “Damn, I’m glad THAT’S over” appeal. With each successive effort, we would devolve a little more. If our inception was forged of precision/ garage/ slop metal, then our twilight efforts illustrated a more whittled down content that reflected a primal relevance. We reversed engineered ourselves. That was our business model.

Wes Dodson
22 April 2012

Things would pick up in the fall of that year when Wes, Shengar, Gary Thompson (a drummer Wes had recently recruited) and I assembled at a studio near Lake Conroe that Wes had spent the previous year building. By now, both Wes and I had both got our hair cut in an effort to stay employed, and our interests had also begun to lean more towards punk rock. Shengar's playing and writing style had a distinctly “Oingo Boingo” influence. After a “production meeting” and and hour and a half of obnoxious laughter, The four of us adopted the name ratbastard. What came out of the session that followed contained the trappings of what would later drive the fans wild. Shortly after, they would release, along with B-side classics “ The Secret Game” and “Last Doob”, their first single “Jefekep?”, which would later become the band's anthem.

Jan Mundorff
January 2012


I got a call from Wes, asking if I would [be interested] in laying some bass tracks down on a four song demo that he had recorded with Jan and a cat named Gary. I said “ok”, and a few days later received a four track demo that I listened to about 100 times straight. I have to be honest; I had no idea how to record and was in a bit of a pickle. I had some ideas on what I wanted to lay down but had no talent in recording. I gave Wes a call, and said I would like to do the recording with band (that was my way out of the pickle). A few days later I drove up to Lake Conroe, where Wes had moved to and built a studio. He met me at a gas station, and boy did he look different,! He had cut his f***ing hair off and dyed it red! I followed Wes to his home/studio and met up with Jan and Gary, and some cat that I can't seem to remember his name.

Now I was secretly interested in joining the band but had to play it cool. After a few introductions and some things to start the creativity flow, we played a few songs… and a few more… and a few more. During a break, with more things to help the creative flow, Jan ask me if I was going to join the band. Wes seemed mortified and said "Shengar is already in a band.” I didn't know if that meant "shut up this f***er can't play a lick and sucks" or what. Like I said, I was already wanting to play in this band, but I had to be cool. I told Jan that my band had split and I would love to join. Some more creative smoke was smoked and we came up with the name ratbastard!

Shengar
01 January 2012

Gwar, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, dead horse, Butthole Surfers, Asylum Street Spankers, Rockbusters, Drunken Thunder, The Hates, Manhole, Pain Teens...

Blah blah blah.

Once we had a good feel for the lackluster Houston music environment of 1996 (i.e. a dying hair metal scene and the occasionally snooty inner loopsters), we would have the wind knocked out of us in Austin, where we were blown away by a seething force of competition! That being an inspiration and kick in the ass like nothing we'd encountered in H-Town! We briefly discussed relocating, but nothing would become of it.

Won't you take just a moment to sift through these maladjusted transitions that serve to validate a relative identity through music?

This has been my life...



PARAGON (1991)
http://www.soundclick.com/paragontexas

GOLGOTHA/ CREEP (1992)
***SoundClick page coming soon***

CHEESY DRIP (1993)
http://www.soundclick.com/cheesydrip

BZ (1994)
http://www.myspace.com/bz1994magnoliatexas
http://youtu.be/Ud2LH1jZFFI

ratbastard (1995-1998)
http://www.soundclick.com/ratbastard
http://www.reverbnation.com/ratbastard

RJ2K (1999)
http://www.soundclick.com/rj2kreverendjim2000
http://www.reverbnation.com/rxjx2xkxreverendjim2000

FRIENDLYS (2002-2005)
http://www.reverbnation.com/friendlysmagnoliatexas
***SoundClick page coming soon!***

PROTARD (2007-2010)
http://www.reverbnation.com/protard
***SoundClick page coming soon!***

REV. DR. DUBB DIABLO (2010-present)
***Soundclick page coming soon!***

Wes Dodson @ ReverbNation:
http://www.reverbnation.com/wesleymdodsonjr

Wes Dodson @ SoundClick:
http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=Wes+Dodson

RIVETHEAD MAGAZINE/ Rivethead Radio/ Podcast/ from Wes:

http://kitsworld.rivetheadmagazine.com/

(podcast-WES #1/ PODCAST #4, PODCAST V, Witching Hour - Rivethead Radio Venom Special, Rivethead Radio - VII, & Rivethead Radio Podcast IX)