DESCRIPTION:
Thrash Metal, 1980: "Back in the day" secrets revealed in this pioneering Musician's story of poverty, stubbornness and D.I.Y. spirit of "The Old School" on their garage-to-global journey. Hailed as "Mandatory Viewing" by members of The Big 4, Multi-Platinum Recording Artists and Music Historians. http://ratskates.com

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SYNOPSIS: In 1980, 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 were unknowingly creating the most extreme music ever to assault global eardrums: THRASH METAL.

One of the movements' most recognized pioneers was RAT SKATES. 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 NY/NJ 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. This is an inspirational story of perseverance, where imagination met a desire that turned into obsession...the true, naked secrets of success are exposed, and the realities that eternally haunt it...

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

"Oh I really liked it!...but I really don't write reviews"...
-Penelope Spheeris, Director "Waynes World" / "Decline of The Western Civilization"

"This film is a hell of a lot of fun to watch, and really brings back the early NY/NJ metal scene....It's all here, the big hair, the shredding guitars, thundering bass and drums, and of course, the milk crates! This story is well told, and with a lot of heart."
-Cheetah Chrome, The Dead Boys

"Born in the Basement exposes the inner workings of a band and serves as a primer not just for erstwhile metal-heads but for any band from any genre that cares to really want to know the dirty little secret of success in this business.
-Jay Jay French, Twisted Sister

"Watching this film brought back so many memories for me...from the whole "Old School" thrash scene that I totally grew up as a part of...to the whole DIY mentality that was so important to building a band in those days...This is mandatory viewing for anybody in a band!"
-Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater

"I had to watch this movie twice!!! I found the story very informative, and detailed in the manner of how it was... it took me right back to the days of that era, that has never felt the same since! Cool that this untold story is told...Overkill was his dream that he never should have walked away from."
-Robb Reiner, Anvil

"Much respect for your honesty Rat...the new school guys are really going to learn a lot from this!"
-Ross The Boss, Manowar

"Rat Skates is a great MC for the Thrash metal community! In "Born In The Basement", his attention to detail and resourcefulness shows that getting to the top of metal stardom is not merely a random luck of the draw but rather living and breathing metal every moment of your waking days. This is a wide-open, ballsy retrospect!"
-David Ellefson, Megadeth

"When I watched "Born in The Basement" I kind of relived my past, and remembered a time when all that mattered was METAL. I really like this, I think everyone will as well."
-Charlie Benante, Anthrax

"I get asked all the time how we made it... What did you do? How did you do it? What was it like back then and how was it different than now? Now I have a great answer to those questions...Watch "Born In The Basement". This is an in-depth look into the scene we came up in and should be required viewing for anyone starting a band."
-Scott Ian, Anthrax

"Great! Totally cool look at the very start of the Thrash scene and Overkill. I learned a lot of things, such as I was not the only one making lighting rigs out of patio lights! Very, very good stuff, very entertaining, and 100% metal, in the most DIY sort of way!"
-Gary Holt, Exodus

"Rat did a great job of showing the passion, dedication and sheer hard work it takes to get a band up and running - he certainly has that in spades! This film truly captures all the DIY ethic and the beginning of the Thrash scene in the USA back in the early 80's...I'll never write off the lowly milk crate ever again!"
-John Gallagher, Raven

Produced by Kundrat Productions LLC (2007)