The Rave-Ups are a roots rock group hailing originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but is best known as being from Los Angeles, California.[1] They are best known for their alternative rock hit songs "Respectfully King of Rain" and "Positively Lost Me" as well as their appearances in Pretty in Pink and Beverly Hills, 90210.[2]
The Rave-Ups were originally founded at Carnegie Mellon University in the fall of 1979 by Jimmer Podrasky (guitar/vocals), with Michael Kaniecki (guitar/vocals), George Carter (bass, violin, vocals), and T.J. Junco (drums). The original group lasted only through that fall when T.J. Junco left the band. Rich Slevin (drums) joined the group in January 1980 and helped the band develop through the year, and though the group was considered part of Pittsburgh's early punk/new wave scene along with its sister group The Shakes/Combo Tactic, with a somewhat more polished style The Rave-Ups were considered less an example of the Punk genre. The band performed mostly original songs written by Podrasky and Kaniecki, some songs contributed by Carter, and a few covers. Early performances in Pittsburgh were at The Electric Banana, The Decade Lounge, functions at Carnegie Mellon, as well as regular gigs at Fat City in Swissvale. During the summer of 1980 the band made 4-track and 16-track studio recordings including the later popular "Class Tramp" and "Gremlin", along with the usual live recordings of club dates. Slevin left the band in the summer of 1980 to return to his native New York City and was replaced by Vic McPoland, a fellow Pittsburgher and Carnegie/Mellon grad, while the band relocated to Los Angeles, California. The original members broke up less than a year after the move to LA.
The second incarnation of the band followed after Podrasky met drummer Tim Jimenez, guitarist Chuck Wada & bassist Douglas Leonard. That line-up released a six song EP entitled Class Tramp on Fun Stuff Records in 1984. The EP sold all 3,000 copies produced. Terry Wilson (guitar) and Tommy Blatnik (bass guitar) joined the band on a permanent basis. In 1985, the band released their first album, Town and Country, which sold 40,000 copies.
Actress Molly Ringwald, who had become a friend and fan of the band through her sister Beth's relationship with Podrasky, introduced the band to moviegoers in the movie Sixteen Candles when her character's three-ring binder featured the name "The Rave-Ups" scratched on it with a ball point pen. Ringwald later invited director John Hughes to see the band at a club date where the band informally and successfully auditioned for an appearance in the movie Pretty in Pink. In the movie, the song "Rave-Up, Shut-Up" is heard in the scene where Duckie (Jon Cryer) talks with the club bouncer (Andrew Dice Clay) outside the club. In a later scene, The Rave-Ups play "Positively Lost Me" on stage while Duckie, Iona (Annie Potts), Andie (Ringwald) and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) share dialogue at a nearby table. The band also appeared on the MTV "Pretty In Pink" Movie Premier Special performing "Positively Lost Me". That song became a cult hit big enough that Rhino Records included the song on Rhino's "Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of The 80's - Vol. 12". During this time the band was getting major acclaim from critics including Robert Christgau and Robert Hilburn and entered into talks with several major record labels.
In 1987, the band signed to Epic Records and released their major label debut The Book of Your Regrets[3] to high critical expectations, despite being only promoted to the college radio scene (albeit a burgeoning one). The album failed to sell many copies, due to Epic's corporate restructuring and lack of promotion. The label almost dropped the band but a few believers from Epic insisted that the band get another opportunity. 1990 saw the release of the album Chance[4] (named after Podrasky's son with Beth Ringwald) to slightly more commercial success. The single "Respectfully King of Rain" became a modest alternative rock hit, garnering some video airplay on MTV and peaking at #12 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The second single "(She Says) Come Around" was readied for distribution (including a music video) by Epic who then decided that they would not promote the single or video and, soon after, dropped the band from the label. The band continued working for a few months including an appearance on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 ("Spring Dance"). However, after much frustration, the band broke up in 1992.
Podrasky formed the band Lovin' Miserys with Concrete Blonde drummer Harry Rushakoff, but was unable to sign a deal with a music label. In 2000, the band reformed, recording a CD entitled The Salmon In The Woods which has remained unreleased due to lack of record label interest.
Podrasky and Wilson continued to maintain a musical partnership writing and performing occasionally over the following years. In August 2007, with Jimenez and Blatnik back in the rhythm section, the band re-grouped to play and work on new material that they hope will find the ears of their original audience as well as many who only know the band from hearing about them from others.
Town And Country is available at Rhapsody.
Jimmer Podrasky is a first cousin of the Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts.
(Very limited edition 12" single)
(Limited edition of 2000 CDs. Contained "Respectfully King Of Rain" from 'Chance' and two non-album tracks: "Train to Nowhere" and "The Night Before Christmas (Hey Baby)")
(contains the song "Positively Lost Me")