Billy Rath’s Street Pirates

Bassist Billy Rath disappeared from the music scene after leaving Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers in the mid-1980s. After a successful period of rehab, Rath studied for a degree in psychology and a postgraduate qualification in theology. He also embraced religion and worked as a counselor for people with drug and alcohol problems.

Joey Kelly and Billy Rath reunited at the first Max’s Kansas City reunion in NYC in 2010. After the reunion Joey and Billy stayed in close contact, jamming and discussing Billy’s new band vision called “The Street Pirates.”

Joey Kelly and guitarist Johnny Rao (David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain, Helen Schneider) were recording original demos for a totally different project when Joey invited Johnny to join The Street Pirates.

That left finding a drummer suited for The Street Pirates. Billy requested Sesu Coleman (The Magic Tramps, Alan Vega) for the gig; however Sesu was teaching percussion at the University of Chicago at the time and could not make immediate rehearsals in New York City. Sesu and Joey stayed in touch as the project progressed but Billy was looking to move quickly. Joey reached out to drummer friend Bill Tello (The Hudson Dusters). Bill agreed to give it a go and so rehearsals began.

Shortly thereafter Bill Tello decided The Street Pirates gig was not for him, bowing out of the project. Joey then called Sesu and asked him again if he would like to be part of the band. This time Sesu said yes and arrangements were made for Sesu to come to New York City and join The Street Pirates for rehearsals. Billy ran into some problems making it impossible to continue rehearsals at the time so Sesu returned to Chicago. The Street Pirates project seemed to be in trouble.

A few weeks later Joey received a call from Rath asking if he and Johnny would come on tour with him in Europe and the States. Joey and Johnny decided to do some gigs with Billy in the northeast first before committing to the European shows. Joy Ryder and drummer Frank Fradella Jr were also added to the shows.

The Original Street Pirates (Joey, Billy, Johnny, Joy, and Frank) did a few gigs together in the northeast but it was at this time that Billy decided to move back to Massachusetts. With Billy relocated and no firm budget in place, Joey and Johnny decided not to move forward with the band, although Billy and the Street Pirates continued with new personnel.

Billy Rath died August 16th, 2014 at age 66.