Inspired by THE RAT PACK
The coolest cats ever to embrace the business. Iconic illustration of The Rat Pack.
A Brief History Of The Rat Pack
Cool cats rarely come in packs, and few were smoother than Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin – principal members of the Rat Pack.
A supergroup in every sense of the word, together they performed in concert venues, on film sets, at nightclubs... you name it, they played it. Always a glass in hand, always amid a cloud of smoke and forever entertaining.
While they toured the country extensively, the clan also made the Copa Room at Las Vegas’ Sands Hotel their preferred watering hole. Here, they’d take to the stage most nights, telling jokes, singing songs, doing impressions, generally causing a stir. For a few years at least, the Copa Room became the hippest joint in the universe.
But before these heady heights, it was in fact Hollywood legend Humphrey “Bogie” Bogart who was responsible for wrangling the pack together against the backdrop of 1950s New York. Back then it was Bogie, not Frank, who claimed the title of undisputed leader. Only until his health deteriorated in the latter half of the decade did Frank fill the shoes of head honcho.
From there on out, Frank and co. were untouchable. Sure, they occasionally caught a bad rep in some people’s eyes for promoting a lifestyle of excessive drinking, debauchery and womanising. Few realise the on-stage slurring was a well-timed gag more often than not, only there to add to the on-stage electricity.
And as Joey Bishop once explained: “Do you believe these guys had to chase women? More like they had to chase 'em away!"
Selected cuts…
- Frank Sinatra – Goody Goody (1962)
- Dean Martin – Memories Are Made Of This (1955)
- The Rat Pack – Live in Chicago
Words - Daniel Jones