According to records kept by manager Phil (Pip) Hulme (R.I.P), Rat Patrol played their first gig on Tuesday 23rd November 1982 at The Mitre (soon to become the ill fated Mama Stone’s) in Mary Arches Street, Exeter, Devon.
Rat Patrol owe a debt of gratitude to both Pip (pictured) and also to Mike, Don and Jonny, aka Rockin’ Mike & The Thunderbirds for letting the Rats support them on their first two outings. We should also mention the inimitable John Bain (aka: Attila The Stockbroker) who gave the band a cracking write up in Sounds magazine and went on to help them do a short tour of the London pubs listed below.
Note that around 25% of Rat Patrol gigs were cancelled, often by the venue due to the somewhat over enthusiastic following enjoyed by the band
As you will see, Rat Patrol in its various guises were a very parochial band, and aside from a few brief forays into London, Cornwall and Bristol played most of their gigs in and around Exeter. This was not because the band were unwilling to travel, but simply because getting gigs away from home which paid enough to cover the petrol money was very difficult back in the day.
1982
23/11/1982 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
28/11/1982 – The Pit (now the Lemon Grove), Exeter University
14/12/1982 – Winstons (now The Chevalier), Exeter
17/12/1982 – The Carlton Theatre, Teignmouth (subsequently barred for foul language)
1983
16/01/1983 – The Pit (now the Lemon Grove), Exeter University
24/02/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
05/03/1983 – Atmospheric Railway, Starcross (called off because of the Teignmouth gig)
23/03/1983 – Tiffanys Nightclub, Exeter
02/04/1983 – The Builders Arms, Exmouth
23/04/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
12/05/1983 – The 400 Club, Torquay (Battle Of The Bands Competition)
02/07/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
10/07/1983 – The Riverside Club (Formerly Routes), Exeter
30/07/1983 – The Gaddon Festival, Uffculme
14/08/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
18/09/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
27/09/1983 – The Riverside Club, Exeter (formerly Routes)
01/10/1983 – Rolle College, Exmouth
06/10/1983 – Barton Hill Youth Club, Bristol (gig wrecked by NF skinheads – fast exit)
13/10/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
16/10/1983 – The Pit, Exeter University
18/10/1983 – The Riverside Club, Exeter (formerly Routes)
21/11/1983 – Oscars Nightclub, Exmouth
03/12/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
06/12/1983 – Hope Hall, Exeter University, Exeter
08/12/1983 – The Swan, Stratford, London
09/12/1983 – Engineers Club, Deptford, London
10/12/1983 – Lavender Hill, London
16/12/1983 – Old White Horse, Brixton, London
17/12/1983 – Cricklewood, London
18/12/1983 – Wood Green T/U Club, London
26/12/1983 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
1984
18/01/1984 – The Riverside Club, Exeter (formerly Routes)
22/01/1984 – The Pit, Exeter University (supporting New Model Army)
——- Band split —— Westway Gigs —————–
04/06/1984 – Timepiece (Now Old Timers), Exeter
10/06/1984 – The Pit, Exeter University
13/07/1984 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
04/08/1984 – The Beachcomber, Exmouth
——- Band reform —- Rat Patrol Gigs —————-
01/11/1984 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
15/12/1984 – The Clifton Hill Labour Club, Exeter
——- Band split —- Assault On Paradise Gigs —–
1985
20/08/1985 – L’Echelle Nightclub, Exeter
24/09/1985 – L’Echelle Nighclub, Exeter
01/10/1985 – The Arts Centre, Exeter (now The Phoenix)
——- Band split — A Fools Paradise Gigs ———-
1986
29/04/1986 – The Arts Centre, Exeter (now The Phoenix)
09/05/1986 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
18/05/1986 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
22/05/1986 – The Acorn, Exeter
26/05/1986 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
28/05/1986 – The Riverside Club, Exeter (formerly Routes) (formerly Routes)
17/06/1986 – The Arts Centre, Exeter (now The Phoenix)
19/06/1986 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
26/06/1986 – The Acorn, Exeter
28/06/1986 – The Mitre, Exeter (became Mama Stone’s)
——- Band split — Rat Patrol Reform —————
1987
01/04/1987 – Timepiece Club, Exeter
24/07/1987 – St Georges Hall, Exeter (organised by Satans Slaves MC)
08/08/1987 – Georges Drink & Food Factory, Exeter (aka The Jolly Porter)
16/08/1987 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
18/11/1987 – Timepiece Club, Exeter
21/11/1987 – Georges Drink & Food Factory, Exeter (aka The Jolly Porter)
27/11/1987 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
1988
23/03/1988 – Timepiece Club, Exeter
27/03/1988 – Vines (now John Gandy’s), Exeter
22/04/1988 – The Beer Engine, Newton St Cyres
08/05/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
27/05/1988 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
12/06/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
12/06/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
19/06/1988 – The Locomotive Inn, Exeter
26/06/1988 – Vines, Exeter
22/07/1988 – Barts Tavern, Exeter
24/07/1988 – The Locomotive Inn, Exeter
29/07/1988 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
07/08/1988 – The Bierkeller, Bristol
14/08/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
26/08/1988 – The Printers Pie (now a croc of shite), Exeter
02/09/1988 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
10/09/1988 – Clifton Hill Labour Club, Exeter
15/09/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
18/09/1988 – The Locomotive Inn, Exeter
20/10/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
28/10/1988 – The Printers Pie (now a croc of shite), Exeter
03/12/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
07/12/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
09/12/1988 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
22/12/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
24/12/1988 – The White Horse, Launceston
31/12/1988 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
1989
01/01/1989 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
15/01/1989 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
28/01/1989 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
24/02/1989 – The Printers Pie, Exeter
04/03/1989 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
30/05/1989 – The Arts Centre, Exeter (now The Phoenix)
16/12/1989 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
27/12/1989 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
1990
02/04/1990 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
20/10/1990 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
1991
02/02/1991 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
07/03/1991 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
03/04/1991 – St Annes Well Brewery, Exeter (now Starz Bar)
05/04/1991 – The Bystock Hotel, Exeter (Now called The Queens Court)
06/04/1991 – Garbo’s, Exeter (Now called The Angel)
07/04/1991 – The Station, Exeter (possibly cancelled)