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Just before Nirvana & Over the course of two high-flying months in 1991 — supa Sydney indie rockers Ratcat's EP 'Tingles' & album 'Blind Love' both topped the ARIA charts - Now that ain't bad!

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Ratcat 'That Ain't Bad'
Just before Nirvana & Over the course of two high-flying months in 1991 — supa Sydney indie rockers Ratcat's EP 'Tingles' & album 'Blind Love' both topped the ARIA charts - Now that ain't bad!

It's it. What is it? In the 1980s the music industry was divided into two worlds.

On one side was the big-money mainstream world of MTV-approved pop and rock stars, the all-important singles and album charts, and pay-to-play commercial radio.

This is where you would find the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton.

On the other side was so-called 'Alternative music' — a catch-all category that covered everything from punk and metal to gangsta rap and indie rock.

Underground music in the late '80s was becoming popular without the assistance of major labels, MTV, or mainstream radio, but rather through relentless gigging, word-of-mouth, street press, and non-commercial radio.

By the time the '90s rolled around the cracks were widening in the wall that kept underground music out of the mainstream.

The January 1990 release of Faith No More's hit single Epic in particular, with its inventive mix of hard rock, funk and rap, was seismic.

'No-one in 1990 had ever heard anything quite like it', Schuftan wrote in Entertain Us!

'But 1991 was the year where that quasi-revolution happened in earnest.'

In Australia, the first shots in this 'Quasi-revolution" were fired by Sydney indie rock band Ratcat.

Over the course of two high-flying months in 1991 — May and June — their EP Tingles, single Don't Go Now, and album Blind Love all topped the ARIA charts.

'The local success of a band like Ratcat, on an independent label, I think really underscored that the business was changing'.

'There was a change that was forced upon the major record companies and they started acquiring independent labels and doing distribution deals'.

At the same time across the Pacific, REM reached number 1 with their major label debut Out Of Time, followed soon after by gangsta rap group NWA.

Two months later, Metallica's self-titled follow-up — dubbed The Black Album — achieved the impossible in reaching number 1 in the US and Australia, and becoming one of the biggest-selling albums of all time.

And then came Nirvana - 'Smells like teen spirit' - The new dawn had arrived.

Comments:

Dave-O

this song still holds up extremely well nearly 30 years later... plus we get to see what Pyrmont looked like before they built the casino.

Martin Fiay Sr

I’m 48 and remember my mate played this at his 21st back in 1991 in the backyard turn up full volume, great memories Nigel in Kings Langley ,Sydney NSW Australia

Strike Wolf

One of the times I saw Ratcat was '91, in the back room of a pub in Camden dock, north London. There must have been over 300 people crammed in there.

The atmosphere and vibes, the sound was one of the greatest gigs I've ever been to.

Still have the shirt.

Khrystal Vektor

I'm totally gay for Simon Day

Alli Mac

my god he was gorgeous

MsAudities

lead singer is gorgeous

TheFlybite

They were well before their time..awesome song.

Rock Axis

His hair was so beautiful.

Shane Collins

That dude's rocking that hair looks awesome

James Michael Harding

This has both an 80s and 90s feel to it. This has a sound reminiscent of other Aussie rockers from the 80s like the Hoodoo Gurus, but something about it makes it feel like it could've come from the 1995-1998 era too, could be the fact that the hairstyles remind me  of bands that broke through in the late 90s like The Verve, Grinspoon and The Living End

zedd man

dang, that hair !!  i love it

oz punk

4 years ago

damn i drool over this band, the lyrics, the song, i love you ....

John Catman

It’s 1990 again for all the wrong reasons. Wow this is like yesterday. Still in therapy from that time I think.

Scotty* Bucks

Blind Love was brilliant. Such a great Australian band.

Bert Woods

loved this song back in 90-91.. lost CD and couldnt remember the name.. Thank god i found it

adriangale

I saw these guys at East Leagues Club in Brisbane I think in 90 or 91. Just had a flashback and came here looking for them. Sweet memories

jamie La Macchia

Best rock song ever

Melibu x Melmont

Is that Naomi Watts ? - Yes, it is (Editor)

THESM1THS

These guys were great. This song is Jesus and Mary Chain -esque. That is a compliment indeed.

greg gilmour

That thrash guitar

mannablue1976

Brilliant live band...loud and always had the crowd wantin more.

G M

I remember seeing them live in Cremorne in 1991.  Screaming girls like the Beatles and they had to delay the start of the gig because of the crowd surging.  A great place to be as an 18yo hetro guy...

Peter Goldsworthy

1st saw them supporting the Buzzcocks at the old Palace in St Kilda

Luis

What an incredible song even in 2020

Andrew Kerr

LOUDEST BAND I EVER HEARD LIVE!! THEM AND SPY V SPY. FANTASTIC!!!!!

sexobscura

before Seattle there was Sydney - to right (Editor)


'From Remote LNN Site' | Video Story By : Staff-Editor-02

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