The Rat

The Rathskellar Johnson Hall (Academic Advisory Center) Opening in January 1969, the “Rat” was the first campus facility to serve beer. With a German beer hall theme, the first group to play the venue was “My Father’s Moustache,” a singalong banjo and ragtime act. The Ewing Street Times, from Miami, played regularly the first few months. Later the venue began booking a remarkable variety of acts: Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, Mudcrutch, Dion, Celebration, Riff, Blackfoot, RGF, Lynard Skynard (as they spelled it back then), Oliver, Bette Midler, Archie Bell and the Drells, Swingin’ Medallions, The Box Tops, Homer, Goose Creek Symphony, Road Turkey, Blues Image, and a version of the Allman Brothers without Duane (who was busy recording “Layla” at that time down in Miami) all played the Rat. In the early ‘80s U2 played the Rat on their first world tour in support of the album “Boy.” Johnson Hall burned down December 1987 from a grease fire in the kitchen.