OVERKILL Founder RAT SKATES Revisits Thrash Metal's Old School In New Film

"Born in the Basement", a documentary from filmmaker/OVERKILL founder Rat Skates, will be released on May 12, 2007 by Kundrat Productions.

Written and narrated by Skates, this is an autobiographical journey that begins in 1980, when the East Coast of North America experienced a massive culture clash of punk, disco, stoner music, new wave and heavy metal. Frustrated by this suburban identity crisis and fueled by "The New Wave of British Heavy Metal," a small group of energetic youths was unknowingly creating the most extreme music ever to assault global eardrums — thrash metal.

Skates was one of the most recognized pioneers of the movement. This is a drive through his tunnel vision to success, and the philosophy that turned his dreams into reality...THE "DIY" MINDSET!

From milk-crate drum risers to toll-booth advertising and brain-washing girlfriends, this movie boldly goes well behind the scenes, deep into the New York/New Jersey cover band circuit and pre-digital tape-trading underground to candidly reveal the hidden hurdles that every young musician must jump in the quest for rock stardom, the passion of their vision, and dedication to their family...

Conquering the skeptics and obliterating the odds, this vivid recollection of creating OVERKILL as part of a groundbreaking culture in un-chartered territory is told in true down-to-earth "old-school" spirit. "Born in the Basement" is an inspirational story of perseverance, where his imagination met a desire that turned into obsession...the true, naked secrets of success are exposed, and the realities that eternally haunt it...

The film has been receiving noteworthy acclaim for its candidness: an open, honest, internal assessment of an overlooked time period that began the most significant pivotal point in metal. Recently, the movie was privately screened by some well-known personnel in the industry: Scott Ian (ANTHRAX) said, "This looks deep into the scene we came up in and should be required viewing for anyone starting a career in music," while Jay Jay French (TWISTED SISTER) agrees: "This exposes the deep inner-workings of a musician’s vision and dedication, and the dirty little secrets of success in this business for any band, from any genre." Fellow thrash pioneers Gary Holt (EXODUS) and Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) both "relived their past…very entertaining and 100% old school." In the resurfacing of his uninhibited style, David Ellefson (ex-MEGADETH) said, "Rat is a great MC for our community. This is a really ballsy retrospect." Skates and director Lori DeAngelis-Kundrat combined for an "affectionate and humorous" (Richard Bienstock, Guitar World magazine),"funny and compelling" (Steven Blush, "American Hardcore") combination that Cheetah Chrome (DEAD BOYS) sums up as "well told, with a lot of heart, and a hell of a lot of fun!"

"Born in the Basement" contains never-before-seen or heard video, music and photos from the personal archives of Skates and Lori DeAngelis-Kundrat; it is packed with a huge variety of rare material from the bands, people and places that are part of this story; never-before seen or heard, anywhere, including a television performance and interview (1985),rough cuts from an aborted documentary (1986),radio interviews (1986),and recent interviews with Riff Thunder (OVERKILL founding guitarist) and Billy Vector (vocalist of the LUBRICUNTS)

Read the full reviews, view the trailer, check out some amazing history and purchase the DVD exclusively at www.ratskates.com.

Rat has been professionally involved in the filmmaking industry since 1999, writing and producing a wide variety of projects from corporate advertising and television commercials to the performing arts. He has also been working with director Rick Ernst on the documentary "Get Thrashed" as associate producer since 2004. Lori DeAngelis-Kundrat is a writer and photographer and this film is her debut as a director.