Dubbed as “one of the great lost, eclectic underground rock n’ roll bands” by the L.A. Weekly, you can find the original members of Andy and the Rattlesnakes today making some of the greatest music of their careers, combining their classic sound with the musical influences they 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.
Their audiences quickly understood that a Snakes performance was not going to be just another rock n’ roll evening. Whether politically charged, strikingly imaginative or sweetly romantic, their songs covered an expansive musical and lyrical territory. The band’s sound combined twisted punk overtones, reggae dubs, ska skanks, and spontaneous jazz and blues improvisations, into a mixture held together by the heart and soul backbone of solid R&B. Since the self-release of their first single in March 1980, a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man”, the Rattlesnakes have always believed in the importance of the DIY ethic Their single “Third World Wives” was included on 1981’s The D.I.Y. Album: Ten of America’s Best New Bands.
The Rattlesnakes’ musicianship provided the perfect accompaniment for New Jersey singer/songwriter Andy Krikun’s poignant lyrics and soulful singing style that bring to mind both Otis Redding and Joe Strummer. Keyboardist Morley Bartnoff combined the raw energy of Jerry Lee Lewis with the jarring harmonies of Thelonious Monk, guitarist Paul Lacques mixed Chicago Blues and Chuck Berry with metallic space age atonality, while saxophonist Jeff Hollie moved from soothing full-bodied warm tones to ominous caterwauling. The rhythm section of Rob Hasick on bass and John Lacques on drums provided the solid foundation for the Rattlesnakes’ musical explorations. Together, Andy and the Rattlesnakes devised a musical melange that still resonates over three decades later.
Since Andy and the Rattlesnakes disbanded in 1981, the members continued to lead active musical lives. Dr. Andy Krikun is currently Professor of Music at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey, where he guides the careers of future musicians and music business professionals. When not leading his own band Cosmo Topper, keyboardist Morley Bartnoff can be found lending a hand to many contemporary musical acts. Guitarist Paul Lacques recorded three albums with his highly acclaimed country rock combo I See Hawks in L.A. as well as Double Naught Spy Car and the Earthworm Ensemble. Bassist Rob Hasick was active both as a musician and as a visual artist. Living in Amsterdam since the early 90s, saxophonist Jeff 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.
Last Summer to Dance, the band’s first full-length album, consisting of twelve re-mastered tracks compiling studio sessions, demos, and live performances at the Taurus Tavern recorded in 1980 and 1981, was released on Fellaheen Records in 2006. The band’s original 1981 lineup reunited in 2012 to write and record new material for the first time since breaking up in 1981. The Snakes performed one show at the Trip in Santa Monica in December 2012 and continued to work on their album, recording tracks in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Amsterdam. They were invited 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, 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-awarded 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. The album is available on vinyl and the major streaming services.
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 2026.