The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music will be closed December 23, 2025 until January 2, 2026.

This photograph of the cover band Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets was taken for the band’s July 4, 2015 performance in Charleston, Illinois.  The band was formed in Champaign, IL in 1980, and continually entertained audiences throughout the Midwest, Chicago, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California until this past year.  Their performances included popular rock and roll tunes from the 1950s and 60s by such groups as The Monkees, Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Turtles, and The Ventures.  Past members of the band included (left to right) bassist Mark Rubel, drummer Jeff Evans (aka Buster B. Dordaun), guitarist Tim Vear (aka Timmy Ray), keyboardist Roger Prillaman (aka Todd Modern), and saxophonist Tary Powers (aka Bart Bartonia on the Saxophonia).

The song, The Fightin’ Illini in Pasadena was composed and recorded by Captain Rat to commemorate the University of Illinois’ participation in the 70th Annual Rose Bowl on January 2, 1984.  The song parodied the 1960s pop hit The Little Old Lady from Pasadena, which was originally made popular by recording artists Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys.  The song along with its recorded B-side Be True to Your School, was made available as a 7″ vinyl single and cassette audiotape produced by Mark Rubel’s Pogo Records.

For further information about Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets, Pogo Studio, and the Urbana-Champaign local music scene, email schwrtzs@illinois.edu.