Return of the Rat
Encyclopedia
"Return of the Rat" is a song by the punk rock
band Wipers
, and is the first track on Wipers' 1980 debut album Is This Real?
. Like much of the album, the song structure is circularly tight and catchy, containing a driving drum beat and choppy, distorted guitar riffs.
The song (and the band) grew in popularity after the grunge band Nirvana recorded a cover of "Return of the Rat" for a 1992 Wipers tribute record entitled Eight Songs for Greg Sage and The Wipers
on Tim Kerr records. A different mix of the same recording appeared on the 2004 Nirvana box set With the Lights Out
. For the tribute, Nirvana initially intended to include a cover of Wipers' song "D-7
" (which also appears on With the Lights Out), recorded in late 1990 for a BBC session. However, the song had already been released by their record label
, Geffen Records
on the Nirvana EP
Hormoaning
in 1992. The label did not allow the release of the song under a different record label, so Nirvana ultimately recorded "Return of the Rat" for the compilation. "D-7" was also later included in some versions of the "Lithium" single.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
, and is the first track on Wipers' 1980 debut album Is This Real?
Is This Real?
Is This Real? is the 1980 debut album of the punk rock band the Wipers. It was digitally remastered by Greg Sage in 2001, and released as a part of the Wipers Box Set, with the songs in a slightly different order, along with some previously unreleased tracks.The album was later re-issued on Sub Pop...
. Like much of the album, the song structure is circularly tight and catchy, containing a driving drum beat and choppy, distorted guitar riffs.
The song (and the band) grew in popularity after the grunge band Nirvana recorded a cover of "Return of the Rat" for a 1992 Wipers tribute record entitled Eight Songs for Greg Sage and The Wipers
Eight Songs for Greg Sage and The Wipers
Eight Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers is a Wipers tribute album released on Tim/Kerr Records in 1992. The album was first released as a box set of 4 colored 7-inch records....
on Tim Kerr records. A different mix of the same recording appeared on the 2004 Nirvana box set With the Lights Out
With the Lights Out
With the Lights Out is a box set, containing three CDs and one DVD, of previously rare or unreleased material, including b-sides, demos, rough rehearsal recordings and live recordings, from the American rock band Nirvana. It was released in November 2004...
. For the tribute, Nirvana initially intended to include a cover of Wipers' song "D-7
Is This Real?
Is This Real? is the 1980 debut album of the punk rock band the Wipers. It was digitally remastered by Greg Sage in 2001, and released as a part of the Wipers Box Set, with the songs in a slightly different order, along with some previously unreleased tracks.The album was later re-issued on Sub Pop...
" (which also appears on With the Lights Out), recorded in late 1990 for a BBC session. However, the song had already been released by their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
on the Nirvana EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Hormoaning
Hormoaning
Hormoaning is an EP by the American grunge band Nirvana. It was released on February 5, 1992 through DGC Records and Geffen Records. It was released in Australia and Japan only, during the band's tour there.-Songs:...
in 1992. The label did not allow the release of the song under a different record label, so Nirvana ultimately recorded "Return of the Rat" for the compilation. "D-7" was also later included in some versions of the "Lithium" single.