The Rave-Ups

Roots-rock quartet the Rave-Ups was shaped in 1980 by frontman Jimmer Podrasky, a Pittsburgh local who founded the group even though studying English in Carnegie-Mellon University. The initial incarnation from the music group briefly relocated to LA before dissolving, prompting Podrasky to come back house and accept employment as a residence painter; then traveled back again to Southern California, recruiting drummer Timothy Jiminez to record the Rave-Ups’ 1984 debut EP, Course Tramp, using session music artists Chuck Wada on acoustic guitar and Douglas Leonard on bass. Guitarist Terry Wilson and bassist Tommy Blatnik cemented the lineup ahead of slicing 1985’s acclaimed City + Nation. A year later on, in the behest of avid lover Molly Ringwald, the group made an appearance in the celebrity’ film, Fairly in Red (Podrasky later on fathered a kid with Ringwald’s sister, Beth, aswell). All of the press exposure led to a significant label agreement with Epic, and in 1988 the Rave-Ups released The Book of the Regrets. Despite high industrial expectations, the recording didn’t make a lot of a chart effect, nevertheless, and after completing 1990’s Opportunity, the group disbanded, producing their last appearance on television’s Beverly Hillsides 90210. Podrasky later on shaped the Lovin’ Miserys with ex-Concrete Blonde drummer Harry Rushakoff, liberating Happy as Hell in 1996.