King Rat (band)

King Rat
OriginDenver, Colorado
GenresPunk rock
Years active1994–present
LabelsAMP Records, Fivecore Records, Unable Record, Hotshot Locksmith Records
MembersLuke Schmaltz, Anthony DeLilli, Doug Hopper, Mike Makkay
Past membersMykel Martinez, Todd Daigle, Todd Schlueter, Tony Luk, Zeth Pedulla

King Rat is a punk rock band based in Denver, Colorado. The band was formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Luke Schmaltz, and has remained active since, with Schmaltz acting as the band's frontman and chief songwriter.[1][2][3] King Rat has released nine full-length studio albums, two EPs, and a "best of" live album, issued through various independent music labels.[4] The band is regularly featured in Denver publications such as Hybrid Magazine[5] and Westword.[6][7][8][9][10]

Discography

Studio albums

  • No Apologies, No Regrets (2017)
  • Buy The Ticket Take The Ride (2014)
  • Everything Burns (2010)
  • Duct Tape and Dreams (2007)
  • Beautiful Songs for Ugly Children (2001)
  • Big Plans (2000)
  • Knockin' Up Heaven's Whore (1998)
  • The Towne Liar (1995)

Singles and EPs

  • Sacred Things (2012)
  • King Rat (2001)

Live / "best of" albums

  • 20 Years A Million Beers (2015)

Music videos

  • "EMT - A Punk Rock Parable" (2016), directed by Kenneth Woodard

Schmaltz routinely performs as a solo singer/songwriter act, often playing acoustic versions of King Rat songs.[11][12] Schmaltz is a staff writer and regular contributor to Modern Drunkard Magazine,[13][14] and King Rat has performed at several of Modern Drunkard’s conventions in Denver and Las Vegas.[15] Schmaltz is also the author of the novel The Belcher,[16][17][18][19] as well as a sometime actor in independent films.[20] He often gives interviews in which he discusses both King Rat's music and his personal life.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

References

  1. ↑ Ferguson, Emily (July 2, 2024). "King Rat Has Ruled the Denver Punk Scene for Thirty Years". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  2. ↑ Heller, Jason (March 18, 2010). "King Rat". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  3. ↑ "King Rat Returns: Why August 1st Is a Must-See Night for Colorado Punk Fans". Blo Back Gallery. Pueblo, Colorado. July 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ Steininger, Alex (July 1998). "Review: King Rat, 'The Towne Liar'". In Music We Trust.
  5. ↑ Wadharmi, Ewan (October 11, 2001). "Review: U.K. Subs / King Rat / 8 Bucks Experiment". Hybrid Magazine. Denver, Colorado. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ Criado, Justin (February 2, 2023). "Denver '90s Punk-Rock Band King Rat Plays the Crypt". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  7. ↑ Krumpholz, Karl Christian (August 29, 2017). "LSD, Night Rider and Mad Max: The Story Behind Denver's Own King Rat". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  8. ↑ Heller, Jason (March 25, 2010). "Punk rock literally saved Luke Schmaltz's life". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  9. ↑ Mayo, James (August 12, 1999). "Rodent Rock". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  10. ↑ Bear, John (July 21, 2021). "Thirteen Denver Punk Bands That Don't Suck". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  11. ↑ Criado, Justin (January 17, 2023). "'Acoustic-ish' night of punk and poetry". The Telluride Times. Telluride, Colorado.
  12. ↑ "Peach Street Revival with Luna Sol, Dirty Kings, and Luke Schmaltz". Happening Next. Denver, Colorado.
  13. ↑ Bond, Laura (November 2, 2000). "Backwash". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  14. ↑ Wenzel, John (October 19, 2012). "Bender's Tavern closing Oct. 31; Quixote's True Blue to take over lease (news)". The Denver Post. Denver, Colorado.
  15. ↑ Seabaugh, Julie (May 20, 2004). "FEATURE: Invasion of the Bottle Snatchers". Las Vegas Weekly. Las Vegas, Nevada.
  16. ↑ Froyd, Susan (July 13, 2020). "Colorado Creatives: Luke Schmaltz". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  17. ↑ Gomez, Adrian (December 6, 2020). "Battle royal: A crew of outcasts must stop the advancing forces of evil in the novel, 'The Belcher: Overserved Underdog'". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020.
  18. ↑ Teague, Bohlen (December 1, 2020). "Colorado Bookstores Recommend Local Authors for 2020 Gift Giving". Westword. Denver, Colorado.
  19. ↑ "King Rat's Front Man Luke Schmaltz, New Book, 'The Belcher'". Colorado Punk Rock Army. September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Luke Schmaltz". IMDb.
  21. ↑ Crosier, Daniel (October 15, 2020). "Cafe Crash w Luke Schmaltz". YouTube.
  22. ↑ "Special Episode with Luke Schmaltz (The Belcher, King Rat)". Punk Rock Horror Podcast. Sweden. October 22, 2021.
  23. ↑ D'Anna, Watson. "Luke Schmaltz ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico, Punk Rock, Catholic School, Surviving. Being an author and a musician". Looking Back with D'Anna Watson - Apple Podcasts.
  24. ↑ Tanski, Peter Thomas (October 18, 2024). "Book III - Chapter XXVIII : Luke Schmaltz of King Rat". The Book of Very, Very Bad Things - Apple Podcasts.
  25. ↑ Rich, Frank Kelly; Plumber, Nick (2014). "Episode 7: Old Crow and Miller Lite with Luke Schmaltz". The Modern Drunkard Podcast.
  26. ↑ "Healing Through Wonder: Luke's Story of Awe". YouTube. March 26, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Laxin' at the Lair. Episode 45 - Luke Schmaltz". YouTube. November 15, 2025.
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