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48th out of 135 books
—
41 voters
Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail: Can a Punk Rock Legend Find What Monty Python Couldn't?
Christopher Dawes lives in a quiet English village. His neighbor is Rat Scabies, former drummer with the Damned, best noted for setting his drums on fire while still playing them at a live concert. Life with Rat as a neighbor isn't run-of-the-mill, but things turn even stranger when Rat announces that he (and Christopher) are going on a search for the Holy Grail. The saga...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
June 28th 2005
by Running Press
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In which Christopher Dawes, a mild-mannered music journalist, somewhat improbably discovers that he's been living across the street from one of his boyhood idols, Rat Scabies (real name: Chris Millar), the former drummer for the seminal English punk band, The Damned. Even more improbably (this is nonfiction, believe it or not), it turns out that Scabies' father, an antiquarian bookseller by trade, is something of an amateur expert on Rennes-le-Chateau, being both a crony of Henry (HOLY BLOOD, HO...more
I have a rather special book review for you today, Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail by Christopher Dawes. I read an article in the Fortean Times about this book about 5 years ago, and it has always been hanging around in the back of my mind until I finally looked it up and bought it a couple of weeks ago.
How to describe this book...well, looking at the cover, you'd think a colourblind teenager on acid, with inexplicable access to photoediting software must have been involved, but fortunately it ge...more
How to describe this book...well, looking at the cover, you'd think a colourblind teenager on acid, with inexplicable access to photoediting software must have been involved, but fortunately it ge...more
I loved this book but maybe that is because of my personal experience visiting the South of France, very near to Rennes-le-Chateau which is at the center of this punk rock mystery. As soon as my husband and I arrived there to visit a friend we were told emphatically to read this book as part of our homework as we would be visiting the mysterious church on the hillside town of Rennes-le-Chateau the following day. We stayed up nearly all night getting caught up in this story about Rat Scabies', fo...more
Good buddy adventures are few and far between, so I really enjoyed reading Dawes's take on how he happened to become very good friends with his quirky-odd neighbor, the legendary Damned musician Rat Scabies, and what prompted them to set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Their preoccupation with the legend of buried treasure and how it ties into several religious mysteries was refreshingly creative. This isn't a "man conquers mountain/sea/hurricane" tale of heroism, but an intriguing, somewhat...more
A fun book to read. If I could give it a 3.5 star review I would. I do feel that the book needed illustrations however. I know it's strange to rate a book down for such a thing but throughout the book Dawes mentions so many cool locations and so many historical figures that a photo section would really help you not only take it all in but keep track of of the lunacy as the drummer of the Damned leads you through "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" territory. Dawes also mentions that one of his fellow trave...more
Christopher Dawes, a fitfully employed Rock journalist, moves to suburban Brentwood, Sussex. He discovers that his neighbor is Christopher Millar, better known as Rat Scabies, drummer for the Damned, one of England's seminal, Year Zero punk bands. Amongst Scabies' manifold peculiarites is an obsession with the mysteries of Rennes-le-Chateau, a tiny village in the south of France which is central to the history of the Cathars, the Albigensian Crusade, and much in the way of Holy Grail speculation...more
An enjoyable and fairly swiftly read book which merges the worlds of Punk Rock and conspiracy theory rather neatly and makes for a fun read.
I am partialy aware of tales involving the 'priory of sion' and the Rennes Chateau mystery due to prior books such as 'The Templar revelations' and of course the Da Vinci code..some of the information within this book therefore I was aware of however Scabies and all do shed further theory onto the mystery.
It's a book much more about friendship in truth thoug...more
I am partialy aware of tales involving the 'priory of sion' and the Rennes Chateau mystery due to prior books such as 'The Templar revelations' and of course the Da Vinci code..some of the information within this book therefore I was aware of however Scabies and all do shed further theory onto the mystery.
It's a book much more about friendship in truth thoug...more
When my wife went into labor, I grabbed this off the nightstand and tossed it into the bag of stuff they told us to bring to the hospital. It turned out this was an amazing bit of foresight as I was to spend the next 30 hours or so propped in a very uncomfortable chair waiting for my daughter to be born. The story sucked me in and I literally consumed the book overnight. I finished the book just as my daughter was being born. I didn't put the book down, I just kept on reading and I will never he...more
This kind of thing is right up my alley, so I knew going into it that I'd probably enjoy it. I didn't expect it to be so funny!
Christopher Dawes gets drawn into the mystery of Berenger Sauniere and Rennes-le-Chateau (for those who aren't familiar with the story, there's supposed to be a treasure -- possibly even the HOLY GRAIL ITSELF! -- hidden somewhere in Renne-le-Chateau in France) by his neighbor, former drummer for The Damned, Rat Scabies.
Scabies himself seems like either the greatest neig...more
Christopher Dawes gets drawn into the mystery of Berenger Sauniere and Rennes-le-Chateau (for those who aren't familiar with the story, there's supposed to be a treasure -- possibly even the HOLY GRAIL ITSELF! -- hidden somewhere in Renne-le-Chateau in France) by his neighbor, former drummer for The Damned, Rat Scabies.
Scabies himself seems like either the greatest neig...more
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Oct 07, 2008
Vinnie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who liked the Da Vinci Code conspiracy
Rat Scabies is the drummer for British punk band, The Damned. And he happens to live in front of music journalist Christopher Dawes. He also happens to be a Grail hunter.
This book is basically about the author and drummer running around France and visiting all the hot spots in the Mystery of Rennes le Chateau which consists of slightly more than just the town itself. The Rennes thing, and I won't get too into it, has something to do with the Knights Templar, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, Pr...more
This book is basically about the author and drummer running around France and visiting all the hot spots in the Mystery of Rennes le Chateau which consists of slightly more than just the town itself. The Rennes thing, and I won't get too into it, has something to do with the Knights Templar, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, Pr...more
I strangely LOVED this book, strangely because it is nothing I would ever really think about reading, and in fact only picked it up because it was about Rat Scabies, and I can never resist a book about a rockstar. While I never read the Da Vinci code, the movie didn't hold my interest and the only attention I've ever paid to secret societies was that episode of the Simpsons when Homer joins the Stonecutters. Somehow this book though drew me in right away. The author, Christopher Dawes (who used...more
A buddy road trip flick (except for the fact that the main characters keep gallivanting back home every couple of sections), with The Crazy Friend Who Attracts All The Weirdos and the Normal Friend Who Just Goes Along For The Ride, mixed with a healthy dose of esoteroticism (we-ell, there has to be a word for folks who get off on this sort of thing, right?). A bit weak and rambling in places, it is nevertheless bolstered by a crew of colorful characters, weird happenings, and sheer silly. Frankl...more
A fast, funny read. Adroitly combines history, theology, conspiracy theories, and music fandom and journalism into an interesting buddy adventure that is all true. But it's more than that. Dawes questions what he believes and why. It's a look at male friendships and our relationships with our heroes. It spoke to me as punk rock fan, history buff, Anglo and Francophile, and general geek. Dawes approached a very dry subject with wit and humor. It put the Dordogne on top of my travel bucket list. I...more
What did I learn from this book? That good ol' Ratty isn't the bastard that I thought he was. ;) Well, as a person, anyway. Maybe as a musician/businessman, he still is, but that's besides the point.
Chris Dawes is a great writer. His style is quite personable; he knows how to spin a yarn, too. Rat, I'm sure, helped with that.
Being a slight Grail nerd, I really got into the factoids that Dawes was discovering. You truly do get bit by the bug.
Some of those bits weren't new to me, but it was like l...more
Chris Dawes is a great writer. His style is quite personable; he knows how to spin a yarn, too. Rat, I'm sure, helped with that.
Being a slight Grail nerd, I really got into the factoids that Dawes was discovering. You truly do get bit by the bug.
Some of those bits weren't new to me, but it was like l...more
Mar 20, 2010
Val Wineyard
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
every one
Recommended to Val by:
Fortean Times magazine
Written by a music journalist about a rock legend, describing their trip to Rennes-le-Chäteau, it seems at first hilarious and then hidden depths emerged; the concept the the "red mini phenomenon" - terrific! The book says a lot, in its light-hearted way, about how and why we "believe" - and the book says a lot about male friendship, too.
I got this book when Rat was in town producing my bands second album. Uncle Rat autographed and all. In all honesty, I'll give it another shot, 'cause upon the initial reading I didn't finish it. I haven't much interest in the scavenger and the places their searches took them. So, I will update my review in the near future.
Now this was great fun ; it's the tale of how 2 good mates (1 of whom is Rat Scabies , former drummer with The Damned) decide to try & solve the mysteries of Rennes-le-Chateau , a small French village which some say holds the secret of the Holy Grail.....
They look at a lot of the theories surrounding Rennes , together with trips to Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh , Paris & Lyon . However , what comes across is the story of 2 blokes (both occasionally herbally over-refreshed....)enjoying ea...more
They look at a lot of the theories surrounding Rennes , together with trips to Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh , Paris & Lyon . However , what comes across is the story of 2 blokes (both occasionally herbally over-refreshed....)enjoying ea...more
Oh my god, it was fabulous! Way more fun than The daVinci Code. And it had Rat Scabies in it. And the fact that Scabies was apparently using the cover of the Dan Brown book to roll joints just made it all that much more hilarious. This one made me happy.
Until I was about 50 pages in, I didn't think I'd finish it. However it really was a fun story, well written and full of interesting and allegedly real people.
The most entertaining read about the Rennes Le Chatteau mystery. A good laugh, especially if you're into music etc.
I was really peripherally interested in Rennes. After reading this, I am not.
Oh well.
Oh well.
very funny, very entertaining.......................lots of info regarding the grail theories and rennes le chateau.
Fun and hilarious.
May 19, 2008
Katherine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in The Holy Grail with a sense of humor.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was not as funny as I had hoped, but it certainly had its moments. It was very informative, however you should be interested in the subject at hand or it may bore you to tears. Luckily I was, yet I was still left waiting for the story to the pick up pace thoughout a good portion of it. It is basically a good book, but not much more.
If you're into the mysteries of Rennes le Chateau, or you remember the Damned, or both, you might have fun with this one. It's an easy read, full of anecdotes and gossipy experiences.
fun for a one-joke wonder
perfect airplane fare
luckily my memory is rotten
so even though I read the Da Vinci Code
I could not remember the details
this book, unlike Dan Brown's made me go online
and I'm going to look into book on
Merovigians
any recommendations?
perfect airplane fare
luckily my memory is rotten
so even though I read the Da Vinci Code
I could not remember the details
this book, unlike Dan Brown's made me go online
and I'm going to look into book on
Merovigians
any recommendations?
LOVED this book. It's a perfect antidote to too much heavy Manly Hall and Holy Blood, Holy Grail type stuff, especially if you're also into early punk/the Damned/Rat Scabies anyway.
Like The Da Vinci Code, except true, and funny, and factually accurate, and sweet, and not shit. Nothing like The Da Vinci Code.
Funny and insightful. It makes me wish I could meet Rat Scabies and go treasure hunting.
Dammit I left this on the airplane...now i gotta get a new copy! to be continued.......
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