Original OVERKILL Drummer Named Associate Producer Of 'Get Thrashed' Documentary

Saigon1515 Productions has officially announced Rat Skates as the associate producer and graphic designer of "Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal", the much-anticipated documentary profiling the thrash metal scene of the early Eighties and its impact on the music scene.

Commented "Get Thrashed" director Rick Ernst: "Rat is well known in the thrash community for his drumming and the forming of OVERKILL in addition to being a key player in the evolution of thrash culture. His motivation helped inspire the growth of thrash metal in the early '80s and he brought that same energy and attitude to the film. His incredible drive, infectious enthusiasm, insight and perspectives proved invaluable to 'Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal'."

Rick and Rat hooked up via the GetThrashed.com web site in January 2004. What followed was a year of exchanging information and ideas about the project.

"I had the storyline in place and had been adding photos, videos and other elements to 'Get Thrashed' when I met Rat," said Ernst. "A few months went by and then I started sending him sections of the film and asked him to show me what he could do with it. And what he did kicked ass! At that point, I knew we were both in this for the long haul." Rat added: "My role started with creating visual graphics, mainly animating photo sequences. From the first rough cut Rick sent me, I just let my enthusiasm and love of this music drive my creative decisions. We're both metalheads so I knew what would blow him away."

Rat continued, "The greatest thing about 'Get Thrashed' is that it covers every aspect of what thrash means. It's a great look at what we were doing back then as well as a truthful and factually driven overview of the scene and its huge impact on the evolution and relation to other genres that followed. It's cool to hear what 'the new guys' have to say about us 'old guys' and the film explains the most significant events to the younger and current descendants who 'carry the torch' and are directly responsible for the modern-day interpretations of the original movement. The documentary has really made me think about how fortunate I was to be 'holding one of the shovels' that helped break new ground back then. It puts a smile on my face and will do the same for everyone who experiences it."

"Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal" is the documentary about the evolution and impact of thrash metal on the hard rock and heavy metal scene. Rick Ernst is directing for Saigon1515 Productions. The film will world premiere on October 3 at the 2006 Raindance Film Festival in London.

For more information, go to www.GetThrashed.com.

Rat Skates is a music personality known around the world for being one of the few, true leaders of the thrash metal movement. His drumming, composing, and relentless motivation broke new ground in the early '80s when he formed OVERKILL. He has since devoted his creative efforts to filmmaking and writing. His latest project, "Born in the Basement" (scheduled for release in December 2006),is an uninhibited journey back through the "pivot point of 1980" music and culture that molded the thrash mindset. Rat also owns and operates Kundrat Productions, a post-production/recording studio that has produced a wide variety of projects from corporate advertising to the performing arts.