Horrific pasts behind smiles of Piccadilly Rats
Life stories of legendary Manchester buskers told in new book
THE drummer wears a giant rat mask, the 78-year-old dancer’s got a policeman’s helmet on, while the guitarist occasionally dresses up as a monkey.
The Piccadilly Rats are without doubt Manchester’s most famous – and recognisable – buskers.
From their regular spot on the corner of Lever Street and Piccadilly Gardens the Rats entertain thousands of often bemused passers-by every weekend with their slightly skewed take on the Rock and Roll classics.
But behind the bizarre outfits and even more bizarre dance moves lies a story of addiction, abuse and tragedy, but also one of friendship, survival and finding redemption through music.
The band’s extraordinary life stories have been told in a new biography written by their friend, author and charity worker Martin Green.
Martin, who runs the Riff Raff charity in South Manchester, spent hours talking to the group during lockdown, collecting tales that are often as absurd as they are tragic. He said: “It’s a dark tale, but there’s a lot of gritty humour and a lot of positivity in there as well. It’s about surviving whatever life throws at you.
“The Piccadilly Rats light people up, just by walking past them. That’s their gift. They’re out here to earn a few quid each and just to fill people up with love.”
The book doesn’t pull its punches, with each band member opening up about the struggles they’ve faced.
Band leader and founder Garry Stanley said he found the process ‘quite therapeutic’. He said: “It’s been good to talk about it. I’m hoping that some people can find some inspiration in it – the people who are suffering the same things we did. There’s a lot of dark stuff in there, but there’s a lot of really funny stuff as well.”
The Rats’ Tales
Empire Publications.
Here’s a summary of some of the life stories from the book, alongside tales from fellow Rats members Tommy ‘Trouble’ Piggot, Buster Rabcat, Dave ‘the Rave’ Copeland and Alan Jones.
Garry Stanley
is published by
The famously dry-witted brains behind the outfit, Harpurhey-born Garry was an out-of-work, jobbing actor when he formed the Rats.
Following the death of his friend and fellow Rats founder Ray Boddington in April last year, Garry, who has long suffered from anxiety, started drinking heavily. He fell into depression and, engulfed by suicidal thoughts, attempted to take his own life.
Thankfully his daughter, concerned for his wellbeing, had followed him out of the house and managed to call 999 in time to save his life.
He’s now been sober for a year and tells the M.E.N. that while he’s taking it ‘one day at a time’ he’s feeling more positive than he has done for ages.
Ray Boddington
Ray’s death last year, after being hit by a tram near the Arndale, made headlines across the country. Tragically it took his death for him become what he always dreamed of – big news.
As a child he was in and out of the care system and people close to him believe he was abused physically and sexually.
From the age of 12 Ray taught himself the harmonica, and reportedly signed for the record label ACE Artists as a 16-year-old. He played on the same bill as John Denver and opened for the Everly Brothers and Herman’s Hermits at the now defunct Domino Club in Openshaw.
Ray is also said to have trained as a amateur boxer at Proctor’s Gym, in Hulme, and claimed to have fought all-comers for money as a member of travelling fair.
In 1963 he killed a 16-year-old boy in a disused public toilet in Middleton by repeatedly hitting him over the head with a stone. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Heath Dean
Heath was put up for adoption as a baby by his 13-year-old mother. He grew up in Cheadle, before his adopted family moved to Norwich.
A bright student, he earned a place at grammar school. But his Manc accent and the fact he was adopted made him a target for bullies who made his schooldays hell.
Aged 16 he joined the RAF as a trainee electrician, leaving to earn $3,000 a month working for a private airline in Central America.
Plagued by demons his drinking got out of control and he developed a taste for drugs. He moved to the States, then back to the UK and ended up on the streets of Manchester, where he slipped into heroin use, getting by on the few quid he earned from busking with a £25 guitar he bought from Argos, before he met Gaz and eventually joined the Rats.