Professor Ratbaggy
Encyclopedia
Professor Ratbaggy is a sometime four-piece band based in Melbourne
, Australia
. Sometimes thought of as a side-project of iconic Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly
, the band is in fact its own entity: Kelly is one of the four members (song writing generally shared).
The band's name is derived from the 1960s Australian TV character "Professor Ratbaggy", who was a bumbling but kind-hearted scientist, a comical character, performed by Ernie Carroll
on GTV-9 on Melbourne television.
Steve Hadley, Bruce Haymes and Peter Luscombe would frequently play as The Casuals, as well as being members of Kelly's regular band.
Professor Ratbaggy's songs are often instrumental and purely groove-based with reggae, dub and funk influences.
Professor Ratbaggy members and Shane O'Mara provided the original music for Lantana
(2001) and are featured on the EMI soundtrack of the same name. The band's song, "Love Letter" (from their self-titled 1999 album) was used on ABC-TV
series Fireflies
(2004) together with songs by Paul Kelly (alone and with other bands) and by other artists.
With Kelly often busy with his solo career and work in film and TV composition, Professor Ratbaggy's live shows have all but ceased and their recorded output remains low; this is not to say that the concept has died and there remains a strong possibility of further playing and/or recording.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Sometimes thought of as a side-project of iconic Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, the band is in fact its own entity: Kelly is one of the four members (song writing generally shared).
The band's name is derived from the 1960s Australian TV character "Professor Ratbaggy", who was a bumbling but kind-hearted scientist, a comical character, performed by Ernie Carroll
Ernie Carroll
Ernie Carroll is an Australian entertainer and television personality most recognised for his role as the man behind Ossie Ostrich on Hey Hey It's Saturday....
on GTV-9 on Melbourne television.
Steve Hadley, Bruce Haymes and Peter Luscombe would frequently play as The Casuals, as well as being members of Kelly's regular band.
Professor Ratbaggy's songs are often instrumental and purely groove-based with reggae, dub and funk influences.
Professor Ratbaggy members and Shane O'Mara provided the original music for Lantana
Lantana (film)
Lantana is a 2001 Australian film, directed by Ray Lawrence and featuring Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey. It is based on the play Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell, which premiered at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company...
(2001) and are featured on the EMI soundtrack of the same name. The band's song, "Love Letter" (from their self-titled 1999 album) was used on ABC-TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
series Fireflies
Fireflies (TV series)
Fireflies is an Australian television show which aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia and RTÉ One in Ireland. It debuted on 7 February 2004 and screened as 22 episodes. The series was set in the fictional country town of Lost River, population 487...
(2004) together with songs by Paul Kelly (alone and with other bands) and by other artists.
With Kelly often busy with his solo career and work in film and TV composition, Professor Ratbaggy's live shows have all but ceased and their recorded output remains low; this is not to say that the concept has died and there remains a strong possibility of further playing and/or recording.
Personnel
- Steve Hadley – bass, backing vocals
- Bruce Haymes – keyboards, organ, backing vocals
- Paul KellyPaul Kelly (musician)Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
– guitar, vocals - Peter Luscombe – drums
Track listing
- "Coma" (Wicked BeatWicked Beat Sound SystemWicked Beat Sound System is a Sydney based group whose sound is best described as a mixture of electronica, dub and soul. The group formed in 1992, following a series of live "jams" instigated by DJ Dave Carnovale in collaboration with Damian Robinson and other DJ's Scott Pullen and Mark Walton...
version) - "Coma" (album version)
- "Oh, Death" (FF5 version)
- "White Trash" (album version)
Albums
- Professor RatbaggyProfessor Ratbaggy (album)Professor Ratbaggy is the debut eponymous album by Australian rock/pop band Professor Ratbaggy and originally released on EMI Records in 1999...
– October 1999 - LantanaLantana (film)Lantana is a 2001 Australian film, directed by Ray Lawrence and featuring Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey. It is based on the play Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell, which premiered at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company...
(soundtrack) – September 2001