Jimmy Harold
Jimmy Harold went from working security at the door of a Kenmore Square bar to owning the club across the street, The Rathskeller – “the Rat,” as it was and will forever be known – from 1974 to 1997. In that role, he became globally renowned for his support of the punk scene when it first exploded in Boston, which happened to be at exactly the time he bought the Rat.
In the ‘60s, the future Rat was called TJ’s, a restaurant/bar catering to college students that hosted music occasionally and featured local acts like The Remains, The Mods and The Lost (with Willie Alexander). The Remains were so popular in 1965 that the owner had to open up the basement to handle the crowds for what TJ’s started billing as “Remains Nights.” Music was phased out soon after and they just served food until Jimmy Harold came back with different ideas – and what turned out to be a much better plan of action. His seriously dank, dark and dirty club was an elemental part of the Boston scene for 23 years and had a reputation for arrogance and attitude, both inspired by the owner’s far-reaching vision and larger-than-life personality.
PRE-RATHSKELLER EXPERIENCE, LIVE AT THE RAT
By the time Harold bought TJs in 1974, he had plenty of experience working in clubs, but he’d never owned one. Before he took ownership of TJs, he was a staffer there for a brief time, managing the downstairs. “After the Kenmore Club, I went to work at TJ’s which is what The Rat was called back in those days,” he said, “Then I had disagreements with management and I was fired. I moved on and managed a couple of clubs and then after my contract ended I went back to TJ’s and I ran the downstairs area. Then I bought out the other guy, my business partner, and my foot was in the door and now I was in the business.”
Seeing the rise of punk as more than just a passing trend and wanting to use the momentum to promote his new punk-centric club, Harold released the double album Live At The Rat on 1976 on his own label, Rat Records, and it accurately documented the local punk scene and the club itself, putting the club on the map far outside of Boston and New England. “The album was my idea and John Kalishes produced it,” Harold says. “I saw something was happening with all these groups and their original music so I had all the bands come in one Sunday afternoon and we discussed what was happening. I thought about doing an album and everybody was on board. I’ll never forget saying to myself ‘I need my head examined!’ but it turned out to be a brilliant move. It put the Rat on the map big time.”
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUMBLE, HOODOO BBQ, NOTABLE APPEARANCES
The WBCN Rock ‘n’ Roll Rumble was held at the Rat for its first three years (called “The Rumble at the Rat”) and from 1980 to 1987 chef James Ryan ran his Hoodoo BBQ out of the kitchen and fed everyone, including the many hungry and broke musicians who dropped by, for free. Esquire magazine called it “one of the hundred best restaurants in America.”
Long before they were well known, bands like The Cars, Metallica, Pixies, Powerman 5000, Dinosaur Jr., Tiny Tim, Dead Kennedys, The Ramones, The Motels, Talking Heads, R.E.M. and The Police played now-legendary gigs at the Rat. In the mid-‘80s, the venue became important for its role in promoting hardcore, which became huge in Boston with bands like Dropkick Murphys, Gang Green and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones leading the way. Harold says one of the best nights was when The Runaways played because David Bowie, Blondie and Iggy Pop showed up. “They were all in my office along with the people in The Runaways: Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Curry and Sandy West,” he remembers with a smile. “I introduced Iggy, Blondie and Bowie to them. Then, in no order, The Police, The Ramones, Thin Lizzy and The Jam.”
CLOSING, RETIREMENT, DEATH
The Rat closed in November 1997 and was torn down in October 2000 to make way for The Hotel Commonwealth, a 148-room luxury hotel with a Rat Suite full of club memorabilia and photos hanging on the walls. Asked what he liked best about owning the Rat, Harold’s reply was simple; “It wasn’t a job,” he said. Asked what advice he had for young musicians trying to follow their dreams, his reply was equally simple: “Keep rockin’!”
In retirement, Harold spent a lot of time fishing before his death on July 31, 2022. Condolences and reflections on his life and legacy flooded print and online media following his death, among them the ones below:
Elliot Easton (The Cars): “Jimmy was a great friend to the young musicians of Boston. He gave all the bands the crucial chance to perform in front of an audience (even if it was just a Monday night), such a crucial aspect in developing a band. I can’t think of many other clubs at that time where you could play an entire set of original material without being pressured to play top 40. Jimmy was always kind and fair to what were basically a bunch of kids with stars in their eyes. I know I can say with confidence that The Rathskeller was a crucial step in the progress of The Cars and we owe Jimmy a great debt of thanks. Those were such great days!”
Willie “Loco” Alexander (The Lost / The Boom Boom Band): “After Jim Harold opened up the Rat to rock ’n’ roll again, beginning with Mickey Clean & The Mezz in 1975, it became a hot house or greenhouse for musical growth and community. It became mecca for rock ’n’ roll fans from all over the world. We have got to thank and give credit to Jim Harold for making it possible for a lot of rock ’n’ roll dreamers’ dreams to come true.”
Robin Lane (The Chartbusters): “Most of what I know about Jimmy from the past comes from Asa Brebner’s reminisces. I know, according to Asa, that the Rat had cover bands and Asa came in with Mickey Clean & The Mezz and asked if they could play there. They played for him, I think, and he thought they were soooooooo bad that if he gave them a gig once a week or something, tons of people would come in just to laugh at them; and so it started, but not with laughter, people were genuinely liking the band and others that came after; and those bands were playing the type of music that made the Rat and Jimmy Harold history. I lived in Cambridge at the time and had no idea what was going on at the Rat. I had met Alpo from Real Kids who took me there and introduced me to Asa, Scott Baerenwald and Leroy Radcliff. I already had some kind of record deal with Private Stock and asked these boys if they wanted to be in a band. I was cute and they said “yes.” I never really met Jimmy at this time. He was larger than life and to me, a bit intimidating. Mitch was my entre to the Rat and my introduction to Jimmy too. Jimmy is the sweetest of men and I love him dearly. Love to be around him and listen to his stories. Jimmy, thank you for all you’ve given me and so many other musicians. You and the Rat are legacy to Boston town.”
(by AJ Wachtel)
