(c ’81-’94) – David ‘Ego Whelk’ Collins (lead guitar), Neil ‘Sid Steinway’ Dewey (keyboards), Glyn ‘The Wild Man of Stuffton’ Edwards (drums), Gavin ‘Thunder Thumbs Delaney’ George (bass) and Dave ‘Sammy Rat’ Rose (vocals).
The band used to rehearse in the scout hut opposite The Queen Victoria, Shalford; popping into the pub where you could find Phil Collins from time to time. They’d been together and rehearsing for a while when they got their first gig, after which they were a regular feature on the local scene. The Cricketers, Westfield hosted in July ’86. In Oct ’87 they released the eight track “Juke Joint” cassette demo of R&B covers.
They performed at Miss Woking ’87 and at Farnham Maltings on 29th October ’87. The next month, with Sonny Black’s Blues Band and T Model Slim, they openned at the West End Centre. Aldershot. Then as part of their Christmas Tour, they appeared at Capstan’s on the 18 December ’87 and The White Lyon, Worplesdon on Christmas Eve, without the ‘Big Big Blues’. Early the next year because Rose knew Guildford Civic Hall Manager, Martin Dodd, they supported The Men They Couldn’t Hang on 25 March 1988. On 7 April ’88 the band played The Maltings once again, rolling up to the venue once more, five days later, on 13 April, to open for the Cuff Billet Jazz Band.
This led to other supporting slots at the Civic, including Julia Fordham, The Supremes and The Blues Band. The Talbot, Ripley became a regular Sunday evening gig for the band and was always well attended. May saw the boys back at the West End Centre supporting The Rhythm Sisters. In July that year, the band also secured a supporting slot for Desmond Dekker at The West End Centre, Aldershot. That same month it was rumored that Sammy Rat would be on the bill for Showcase ’88 to be held at Centre Halls, Woking; but it wasn’t to be, consoling themselves with a headliner at Queens Head, Byfleet. Their latest eight track demo however was well received by Soundscene reviewers, labeling the band ‘the notable R’n’R heroes of our time’ and the demo ‘of the usual quality and distinction.’ On 1 September ’88 the full band played The White Lyon, Worplesdon.
1990 was the beginning of a raft of changes, except The Rats regular sound man Graham ‘Chalks’ Collins, but also saw them supporting The Blues Band at the Civic. Larry ? (sax) joined, followed by a full brass section. George left to go to college and was replaced on bass by Bubs Reid. Reid disappeared and was replaced by Gareth Morgan. Rose left in 1990 and was replaced by, non-relative, Phil Rose. Several more line up changes followed and the band finally split in about the mid 1990s. The band’s “Waterfront” cassette LP was selling well from Collectors Records Centre, Guildford in late 1990.
In the Summer of 2003 a line-up of David Rose, Collins, Dewey, Morgan, and Jon Coles, plus a couple of guests played a garden party in Witley. Reforming in 2005, David Rose (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo), Allison Collins (vocals, percussion), David Collins (lead guitar, vocals) Gareth Morgan (bass, vocals), Dewey (keyboards) and Tim Burgess (drums) appeared at Guilfest 2006 and 2007 and now go by Sammy Rat and The Resonators.
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