Rabies Babies make fast, fun and angry songs about crashing the party and smashing the patriarchy. We are anarchic garage punk born from the DIY squat scenes of the 1980s & 90s New York and London. Our sound is raw and dirty, with a feel of early Black Flag, Kleenex and The Slits.
Even though we’ve been playing since 1999 we were always more bothered about making bizarre costumes than making records. Rabies Babies were more concerned with having a shout and having fun than getting a record deal, so our mini-album on Damaged Goods is our first release. When Ian asked us if we would record for Damaged Goods we said yes because we love so many of the great records on the label, and could not pass by the opportunity to share a catalogue number prefix with some of our favourite musicians.
Our mini album is a fab white vinyl 10″ with hand screenprinted sleeve, 20 page lyric zine, postcard and sticker.
Side one is songs of anger…
‘Rape is Rape, Even If The Rapist Is In A Band That You Like’ is comprised of comments made on social media when men in punk bands are accused of sexual assault and the victim is blamed: They say “I heard she was a flirt, I heard they were kissing, it must have been her fault, did you see what she was wearing?”
‘On Your Bike’ is about casual sexism in cycling. All three of us cycle to work so we recalled our experiences and made them into the song. ‘I just want to ride to work, I don’t remember asking you, so don’t tell me about my bike. No, I’m not an uptight bitch’.
‘Madhouse’ is about knowing when it’s time to leave.
Side B is the fun side…
‘Party’ is a story of a 3-day bender. ‘La La La’ is a song for everyone to sing along. This song is most popular in France and is our only song that is swear-word free. ‘I Fought the Floor and The Floor Won’ is a Monday morning dialogue after a lost weekend. ‘Waking up on Monday with bruises on my knees, I wish I could remember what I said or where I’d been’.
