Every story begins somewhere. Some place. Some time. The story of Egan's Rats begins in the middle of everywhere, a post-industrial wasteland called Rockford, Illinois, which is the second biggest city in the state if you don't include Aurora. The Rats formed out of the ashes of recently defunct local outfits, each them products of the thriving local punk scene that existed in 1990s Rockford: Jason played guitar for ska/dub legends the Shizams. Keelan was the singer for local punk rock disaster squad, the Stellas, who also produced the Rats' original drummer, Punk Josh, who also played guitar for late-90s punk stalwarts, the Fightbacks. Chris and Mark joined up on guitar and bass, respectively. And Scott ended up hopping behind the drums after PJ left. They called themselves Egan's Rats after a turn-of-the-century Irish street gang from St. Louis, because it sounded cool, and they decided that they were a punk "gang" instead of a punk "band", which hadn't been done since Crime, San Francisco's most dangerous band. The Rats existed as a working band - I mean gang - from about 2001-2006, playing countless shows and with countless acts. You were either there or you weren't, and if you weren't, whether or not you missed much might be up for debate. But you'd have also missed brawling skinheads, potential stabbings, backyard punk picnics, the Last Great Rockford Punk Summer (2003), the last Screw City Scooter Ralley, punk rock bicycle mobilizations, lots and lots of drinking, long-lost Rockford clubs, all ages venues (RIP the P.I.T., Lion's Club, Divine Cup), more drinking, homeless gutterpunks, out of town bangers, FoodNotBombs rallies, and so much more that either shouldn't be mentioned, or has been conveniently forgotten. You'd also have missed a little thing called idealism. In 2007, the Rats played one last show, opening up for the Misfits at the historic Coronado Theater in downtown Rockford. In 2008, the Rats played one last show at Mary's Place, down by the river. Mark says he'll never play another show again ever, so stop asking.
Screw City Sewer Punks 'til death.