Bio
Dubbed “one of the great lost, eclectic underground rock n’ roll bands” by the L.A. Weekly, Andy and the Rattlesnakes today are making some of the greatest music of their careers, combining their classic sound with the musical influences band members have absorbed over the past three decades. In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Andy and the Rattlesnakes captivated L.A. music fans with their exciting live performances at legendary venues. After honing their sound as the house band at the down-and-dirty juke joint the Taurus Tavern in Venice, the band moved on to wow audiences at clubs in Hollywood and Chinatown such as the Starwood, Troubadour, Whisky, Cathay de Grande, Hong Kong Café, and Madame Wong’s.
A Rattlesnake’s audience knew instantly that they were in for much more than just another rock ‘n’ roll night out. Exploring an expansive musical and lyrical terrain, the Snakes combined twisted punk overtones, reggae dubs, ska skanks, jazz skronk, and blues with the heart and soul of solid R&B.
Since the release of their first single in March 1980, a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man” that aired on KROQ and was declared “Single of the Month” by the L.A. Weekly, the Rattlesnakes have always believed in the importance of the DIY ethic. The band appeared on the groundbreaking television show “New Wave Theatre” in September 1980, performing a supercharged version of their anthem “Patience,” a track recorded for an anthology on Elton John’s Rocket Records. Their last single “Third World Wives” was included on 1981’s The D.I.Y. Album: Ten of America’s Best New Bands, an album that also featured Black Flag, the Red Rockers, and Concrete Blonde’s Johnette Napolitano.
The Rattlesnakes' musicianship perfectly accompanies New Jersey singer/songwriter Andy Krikun's poignant lyrics and a soulful singing style that brings to mind both Otis Redding and Joe Strummer. Keyboardist Morley Bartnof combines the raw energy of Jerry Lee Lewis with the jarring harmonies of Thelonious Monk. Guitarist Paul Lacques mixes Chicago blues and Chuck Berry rock ‘n’ roll with metallic space age atonality. Saxophonist Jeff Hollie moves from soothing, full-bodied warm tones to ominous caterwauling. The rhythm section of Rob Hasick on bass, John Lacques on drums, and Mike Tempo on percussion provides the solid foundation for the Rattlesnakes' musical explorations.
Since the original Andy and the Rattlesnakes disbanded in 1981, the members have continued to lead active musical lives. Bandleader Dr. Andy Krikun is currently Professor of Music at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey, where he guides the careers of young musicians and is still active as an author and singer-songwriter. When not leading his own band, Cosmo Topper, keyboardist Bartnof has performed with the Burning Sensations and Stew and Heidi of Passing Strange. Living in Amsterdam since the early 90s, saxophonist Hollie has toured Europe, collaborating with DJs and spoken-word artists. Percussionist Mike Tempo continues to perform with his band the Bonedaddys and is also active as a visual artist. The newest Rattlesnake drummer, John Lacques, is the founder and principal facilitator of drumtime.
The Rattlesnakes mourn the recent deaths of guitarist/songwriter Paul Lacques and bassist/songwriter Rob Hasick. A playwright as well as a stellar songwriter and guitarist, Paul was a Los Angeles cultural giant. In addition to Andy and the Rattlesnakes, Paul played with his acclaimed country-rock combo I See Hawks in L.A. as well as with the Bonedaddys, Rotondi, Underthings, Double Naught Spy Car, and the Earthworm Ensemble. Rob Hasick was the bassist for the Burning Sensations and remained active as both a musician and visual artist. Paul and Rob also collaborated on the sardonic comic strip series O. Bleak, which was featured in the L.A. Weekly in the 1980s.
Released on Fellaheen Records in 2006, Last Summer to Dance, the Rattlesnake's first full-length album, featured 12 remastered tracks encompassing studio sessions, demos, and live performances at the Taurus Tavern in 1980 and 1981. Most of the band’s original 1981 lineup reunited recently to perform at two special events at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles—a memorial tribute to one of their major influences, playwright Sam Shepard, in November 2017 and the Radio Free Hollywood Family Band Reunion in November 2018.
The eponymous new album, Andy and the Rattlesnakes, was recorded in Los Angeles, New York, and Amsterdam. It includes all-new material and features special guests, including legendary Doors drummer John Densmore on percussion, Richie Lawrence on accordion, and vocalists Victoria Jacobs of I See Hawks in L.A., Daisy Anabelle, and Oscar-nominated actress Amy Madigan.
The album was mixed and co-produced by New Jersey-based recording engineer Rod Shepard and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Steve Vavagiakis of Bang Zoom Productions. A documentary about the band, Last Summer to Dance, which was directed and produced by Daisy Krikun and Jared Elder, is scheduled to be released in 2025.
Together, Andy and the Rattlesnakes continue to create music that resonates nearly four decades since the band first thrilled Los Angeles audiences.