Search - Rat Skates: Born in The Basement on DVD

Damian M. (ratchet)
Reviewed on 3/11/2009...

Before watching this I had no idea the importance Rat Skates played in the development and evolution of the band. He did nearly everything! From the logo designs, set designs, "Charly" design, promotion, etc etc etc. It was a great walk-through of Overkill's early history from their days as the Lubricunts until Rat's departure at the end of the "Taking Over" tour with Megadeth. It seemed as though he was just wore out and missed his ever supportive wife (who helped to make this documentary as well!). Some of it did come across as bitching and a purposeful effort not to recognize the next two or three albums as some of Overkill's finest work. Any Overkill fan should own this as there are amazing rare photos of Overkill doing the whole face-paint thing even before Slayer. Also, Blitz wearing a vampire cape on stage with an amazing stage design that Rat built to look like castle walls. The DIY ethic was amazing, and I hope he is forever remembered for his place in thrash metal history. I justr wish there were others from the band involved in this. Also, I got to hear an Overkill song I have never heard before, "The Beast Within." Watch this after you watch Get Thrashed.

Born in a Basement

Kevin T. Mahoney | 08/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been a huge Overkill fan since the Power in Black days, I always wanted to know what happened to Rat Skates, why he left the band and what it was like to be in a "ground breaking" band. When I saw that a DVD of the beginning of Overkill was available I wasted no time in Getting it. It doesn't disappoint, at times very funny, but very informative. The way Rat used anything he could find(milk crates!) to make the stage set deserves much respect and admiration. Kinda wish there was more live songs or some input from Blitz or DD, but that is nit-picking,it kinda paints a different picture of the band for me anyway, about who actually wrote what,designed what,BUILT what made the band Overkill. If you are a fan of the band or any of the bands from the Thrash era this DVD is ESSENTIAL to your collection. Many thanks to Rat and Lori for this and I CAN'T wait til the next one! BUY BUY BUY. Was this review helpful?"

Essential viewing for DIY metal bands!

Edmund Varuolo | Staten Island, NY | 08/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"rat has done a fine job with this disc! Valuable info on how to break a band, and market it on a do-it-yourself level! (gotta love those toll-booth stickers!) Details how bands in the pre-interweb days had to rely on underground fanzines, tape-trading with self produced demo cassettes, and college radio to gain recognition. Much of this is missing from today's bands - where all one seems to do is post/create a few websites and see what happens. Movie also provides a great insight into the seminal Ny/NJ thrash metal scene from it's very roots. & I know - I was part of that scene! Also: this makes a great companion piece to the excellent "Get Thrashed" (which rat also co-produced) and is worth getting!"

Very interesting DVD, but awful presentation.

P. Zambrana | 10/10/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I will make myself clear: this documentary is fantastic for the bands that are starting and gives a very clear insight of the ups and downs and the endeavours of a band like Over Kill to promote themselves since their beginnings until they got signed and became famous, all in the only viewpoint of their founding member Rat Skates. Pity the rest of the guys didn't have an opinion about this, but anyway a very good documentary for the old-school maniacs like me.

Now you will wonder why I only give 3 stars to this? THE SUBTITLES. The DVD presentation is not the best, that's ok, BUT I am Spanish, and there are Spanish subtitles available for the ones who don't get the English language wholly, which is not my case. Ok, this DVD hasn't the biggest budget, Rat's done his best, BUT who the heck (when I write this I cannot help being pissed off) was the `visionary' who put those subtitles? They make absolutely NO SENSE at all, and the translation is sometimes (or most of the times) so literal that it becomes ridiculous. An example: `rock and roll' is `rock and roll' everywhere, they even bother to translate it into Spanish literally, what the hell? Why did you include that in the DVD, Rat Skates? Why doesn't it get revised so that it makes sense by SOMEONE WHO KNOWS? If you don't, please don't put the subtitles, you will not become embarassed. That's a bit of common sense, and for this I give this a 3."