Ratdog

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Biography

RatDog (sometimes known as Bob Weir & RatDog or Ratdog ), is an United States|American rock band. The group began as a side project for Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman . 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. They perform Grateful Dead tunes primarily with a mixture of covers (including Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry ), along with some originals. RatDog's repertoire consists of over 150 songs. Since early 2010 RatDog has been on hiatus while Weir performs with his newest project Furthur (band)|Furthur .

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

Formation and early days

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 (musician)|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

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 (saxophonist)|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 (musician)|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 .

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

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.

Notable guests

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 , and Keller Williams .

Discography

Evening Moods (2000)

Live at Roseland (2001)

Band members

Bob Weir – guitar, vocals (April 1995–present)

Jay Lane – drums (April 1995–present)

Rob Wasserman – bass (April 1995–October 2002)

Matthew Kelly (musician)|Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica, vocals (April 1995 – September 1998)

Vince Welnick – keyboards, vocals (September 1995–December 1995)

Johnnie Johnson (musician)|Johnnie Johnson – keyboards (February 1996–May 1997)

Dave Ellis (saxophonist)|Dave Ellis – saxophone (November 1996–December 1999)

Mookie Siegel – keyboards (December 1996–April 1997)

Jeff Chimenti – keyboards (May 1997–present)

Dave McNabb – guitar (September 1998)

Mark Karan – guitar, vocals (October 1998–June 2007, May 2008–present)

Kenny Brooks – saxophone (May 2000–present)

Robin Sylvester – bass (March 2003–present)

Steve Kimock - guitar (July 2007–April 2008)

Timeline

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Period = from:04/22/1995 till:08/31/2011
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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

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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"

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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
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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

Lineups

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

External links

, official web site of RatDog

, RatDog fan site

at the Internet Archive 's live music archive

Category:Grateful Dead
Category:American rock music groups
Category:Jam bands
Category:Live Music Archive artists

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Copyright Citations

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Ratdog Photo by: metropolis.japantoday.com


1. Grateful Dead 2. Bob Weir 3. The Black Crowes 4. Bruce Hornsby

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