The Good Rats are a rock band from Long Island, New York. Their music mixes elements of hard rock with jazz and pop. Although they have had some success both nationally and internationally, it's on their native Long Island that they have always been best known. History Formed in 1964, the original group consisted of 5 students from St. John's University...Ted Haenlein, Frank Stapleton, Eric Crane, Denny Ryan and Peppi Marchello. The group was originally called the U-Men and played most of their gigs in the Rockaways (Peyton Place & McNultys) & Long Island (The Attic, Tiger's Tail etc.). In 1966, Frank Stapleton's brother, John, arranged for the group to play at a club in Queens, New York (The John Doe Room) where a record company executive heard them and eventually signed the band, but suggested a name change was in order. After kicking around several names, it was agreed the band would be called the Good Rats. The band continued to