rattlincane

Rattlincane is a band with history, a lengthy history. It is a band with a story, an interesting story. It is a story as much about, family, friendship and community as it is about loyalty, camaraderie and commitment to each other and their music over many more years than the vast majority of bands will stick together. The years have seen lineup changes, lifestyle changes and a quite a few Key changes. 

 Rattlincane are currently a quartet consisting of the original core of three, who started rolling the ball back in the early nineties and their new drummer, who came along just on ten years ago and is about to qualify for full citizenship and permanent residency. 

These four recently released Rattlincane's seventh studio album and 'GONE' as it is titled is being acclaimed as a watershed album for the band. 

With Stephan Biddlestone on guitar, John Dynon on Bass, Greg Prow on vocals and Greg Ratten the new kid in town on Drums the Rattlincane story has begun a new chapter. As we said though this band has history and a story, so lets go back,,,, waaaaay back to where Rattlincane's jouney first arrivd at the station.

IN THE BEGINNING

As the 80's rolled into the 90's Rattlincane found its beginnings. The core of a southern country rock cover band with lots of Australian greats The Dingoes and Stars material in the repertoire as well as stuff by The Kentucky Head Hunters, Lynard Skynard etc bonded together after that band Goldfever's demise. The three decided to pursue a shared desire to explore creation over imitation. 

Starting out as a three-piece, Steve Biddlestone on Guitar, Greg Prow on Drums and Johnny Dynon on Bass work was begun tossing ideas and inspirations around creating some original material. It was a fun and fruitful time often surprising ourselves with some of the stuff we were creating. 

It was soon decided we needed a singer and after some auditions our new singer Chris was found. Chris had a swag of his own songs to contribute and with his keyboard playing Uncle Andy coming along in a package deal the lineup was set and soon putting a repertoire of songs together. Before too long the band was ready to get out and do shows and the age-old problem of a band name reared its brain twisting head. One of the songs we had been working on written by Chris our new singer was titled 'Rattlincane' and we all decided that was a good name for a band. 

After gigging for a while we had a bit of cash and decided to record some of our songs for a demo tape. That's how long ago it was, this was back in the days when you went to venues and pubs with your demo tape to hand to the band booker hoping they would give it a listen, get excited and say to themselves or someone standing close by, "These boys are incredible we have got to book them ASAP!" But normal practice was to throw Demo tapes in the bucket with 'DEMO TAPES' written on it in texta the second you turned your back. One dick didn't even wait until you turned your back, some people are just shit people hey.   That fella probably sleeps in one of Melbourne's dirty laneways these days and will never know the value of what he had in his slimy hand that day.                                                                                 That DEMO TAPE went on to become regarded as Rattlincane's first Album and is now a collector's item. Only ever available on cassette the album simply titled 'Rattlincane', has become super rare and incredibly sort after. Lara Croft gave it her best shot, even the Special Forces that found Osama bin Laden had a crack but to no avail. This six piece line up had a big rocking sound with a classic Hammond B3 and that Lesley speaker with the spinning cone and was tracking quite nicely until the mysterious disappearance of lead singer Chris two days before our biggest break supporting 'The Sweet' in Melbourne. His uncle Andy our keyboardist followed soon after and went on to twinkle the ivory's nightly at a restaurant somewhere out East. Every cloud has a silver lining though, our Big sound was gone but so was that Big Fucking Heavy Hammond 'Wonkavator' that needed to be lugged up and down the many skinny rickitey stairwells of shitty Melbourne venues in those days...

ToBeContinued....