There are two bands by this name: 1) The Rattlers was an American punk rock band formed by Mickey Leigh in 1979. Mickey, the younger brother of Joey Ramone of the Ramones, had a similar vocal style but incorporated a more upbeat, power pop inspired vibe to his music. The band recorded two singles ("On the Beach"/"Livin’ Alone" and "What Keeps Your Heart Beatin’?"/"Let’s Move"), and, in 1985, they released the album 'RATTLED!' It was hailed by Robert Christgau as one of the Top 50 albums of 1985 in his annual “A+ List” column in the Village Voice. Bridging the musical gap between The Who and the Sex Pistols in a sense, the Rattlers' album and related live shows continued to garner acclaim by the press and their peers alike. From the band’s inception they were invited to play bills in New York City, and, on the road, they toured with The Clash, The B-52s, The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks, 999, The Plasmatics, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and countless other legendary bands. The group went their separate ways in 1988. Unlike some of their contemporaries, the band's work has become somewhat more obscure as time has passed, although many Ramones fans continue to be fascinated by the work of Joey Ramone's brother. 2) The Rattlers was a rockabilly group of the 80s and 90s. Founded in 1984, they're perhaps most known today for their snarky snake logo as well as their their 1989 release 'Never Say Die', featuring a mix of jazz-like sounds as well as offbeat, psychobilly type tracks. Sadly, the three-piece only lasted several years in obscurity before breaking up.
