Rat Skates

Quick Facts

Full Name	Rat Skates
Occupation	Film Producer
Date Of Birth	May 17, 1961(1961-05-17)
Age	63
Birthplace	Summit
Country	United States
Birth City	New Jersey
Horoscope	Taurus

Rat Skates Biography

Rat Skates is one of the most popular and richest Film Producer who was born on May 17, 1961 in Summit, New Jersey, United States. Rat Skates, born Lee Kundrat on May 17, 1961, in Summit, New Jersey, is a musician, writer, and filmmaker. Most well-known for his work as a director and musician, and as the founding member and original drummer of Overkill, Skates is also known for his contributions to thrash metal.

Skates composed five songs from scratch for Power in Black, a demo tape that was released in March 1983 and September 1983. To sell cassette tapes and solicit for a recording deal, he used a Xerox photocopier to create a double- sided cover. He also shrink-wrapped copies using plastic film that was used to make fruit baskets. Overkill offered him to be on two compilation LPs: Metal Massacre V and New York Metal’84. He also accepted an offer from Azra/ Metalstorm Records for a four-song EP. This was contingent upon the delivery of self-financed recordings as well as print-ready mechanical artwork.

From 1985–1987 Skates arranged and co-wrote two full-length studio LP records: Feel the Fire (Megaforce) and Taking Over (Megaforce/ Atlantic), which debuted at number 191 on the Billboard Top 200 on April 11, 1987. He implemented the song “Fuck You!” by The Subhumans that was embodied in a live/ studio EP of the same name. He toured for these records in North America, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Great Britain, Poland, France, Holland and Austria as thrash metal bands experienced exponential growth during these years. Skates became inundated with touring and recording commitments, and stated that the close-mindedness of some band members was suppressing Overkill’s success, and the inability to satisfy his work ethics resulted in deep depression, excessive sleeping and alcoholism. He refused to meet the commitments required by a recording artist employed within the recording industry, and he announced his departure in Los Angeles, California in the fall of 1987 while completing a tour with Megadeth.

Skates freelanced for the Suburban Cablevision television network as an audio engineer, live mixer and cameraman from 1988 to 1992; departing due to creative conflicts. In 1999, he studied digital audio production and non- linear editing from Trish and Chris Meyer, Jay Rose, and Adam Wilt, and designed and wrote advertising media for television, radio, print publications, performing arts societies, Fortune 500 companies, record labels and recording artists. As an independent filmmaker, he co-produced, edited and animated designs for the documentary Get Thrashed (2008, Lightyear/Warner Bros. Entertainment) and Born in the Basement (2007, MVD Entertainment Group), receiving twenty-one screenings in eight countries, winning six awards and pay-per-view broadcasting.

Skates and Verni created and implemented Overkill’s theatrical and horror- oriented theme using visual elements taken from Alice Cooper, Twisted sister, and a Pennsylvanian unsigned band called The Dead End Kids. He was part of the underground new wave in British heavy metal cassette tape trading circuit from 1981 to 1984. This was shared between North America, Europe and was the basis for Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth and Twisted Sister to develop into the genre we know as thrash. Skates promoted Overkill by designing the components that he considered essential for the success of national recording artists. These included creating stage name banners using slide projectors or magic markers, altering Halloween costumes into stage clothing and props, silkscreening T-shirts and a castle-dungeon stage design with hand-textured Styrofoam walls supported by milk containers. Rubber stamping the Overkill logo onto guitar picks and drum sticks to make fan souvenirs, as well as advertising with rubber-stamped stickers at highway toll booths

Rat Skates Net Worth

Rat Skates is one of the richest Film Producer from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Rat Skates 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He began studying jazz drumming with Jack Robertello at the age of 15. He also learned how to play the drum parts for songs by Joey Kramer and John Bonham. Skates met Carlo Verni, later known as D.D. Blaze, then D.D. Verni) was a student at New Providence High School in 1976. They formed the punk band The Lubricunts. They were 17 years old when they started playing nightclubs such as CBGB, Great Gildersleeves and Max’s Kansas City. Trudy Heller’s, Bottany Talk House and The Mud Club.

Skates mentions Will Smith, Jerry Seinfeld and John Cleese as his influences. He married Lori DeAngelis, a photographer and merchandiser who he had dated back in 1980. She is the third cousin of director Brian De Palma. Both are Christian conservatives and they currently live in New Jersey.

Skates established a relationship with Jon and Marsha Zazula in 1982 by mutual acquaintances of the Old Bridge Militia, an assembly of heavy metal fans and roadies who were providing their home for musicians Dave Mustaine, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Cliff Burton to live. The Zazula’s were proprietors of Rock ‘n Roll Heaven, an import specialty record store located within the Route 18 Flea Market in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Assisted by band photographer and merchandiser Lori DeAngelis, he sold one thousand Power In Black cassette tapes from Rock ‘n Roll Heaven on a consignment basis in eleven months. In 1982, the Zazulas formed Megaforce Records, which debuted L.P. record albums from Metallica, Raven, Anthrax, Exciter, Manowar and Talas. The Zazulas recognized the unit sales of Power in Black through Rock ‘n Roll Heaven and by Skates’ international marketing, and they presented him with a four-album recording contract offer that Skates accepted and was signed by the members of Overkill on April 10, 1985.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Rat Skates height Not available right now. Rat weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Rat Skates Dating?

According to our records, Rat Skates married to Lori DeAngelis. As of December 1, 2023, Rat Skates’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Rat Skates. You may help us to build the dating records for Rat Skates!

Skates placed an advertisement in The Aquarian Weekly newspaper to locate new heavy metal musicians that was answered by guitarist Robert Pisarek (who became known as Riff Thunder), bringing with him bassist/vocalist Robert Ellsworth (who became known as Bobby Blitz) who were members of a cover rock group known as D.O.A. They temporarily named themselves Virgin Killer, after the Scorpions’ record of the same name, and permanently changed their name to Overkill which Pisarek selected from the title of a Motörhead record of the same name.

Facts & Trivia

Rat Ranked on the list of most popular Film Producer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Rat Skates celebrates birthday on May 17 of every year.