"[1][2] The name "Radio Rats" first appeared on an A4 poster drawn and put up in August 1977 in Springs up by fifth-year Wits University medical student, Jonathan Handley.

Dave Davies gave Parkin – also called David – the nickname "Herbie" because he didn't want a band with two men sporting the same name, and it stuck.

Cheryl van Blerk was the PRO for the Gramophone Record Company when she first heard the Radio Rats' demos, including an intriguing song titled "ZX Dan".

Patric van Blerk, remembering that he loved the band from when he first heard them, described them in these terms: "Jonathan is a wizard and Dave Davies the greatest undiscovered rock leader singer in the world (alongside Brian Davidson [of Freedom's Children]) !

[3] In his liner notes for the 2002 CD release of Into the Night We Slide, Brian Currin wrote: "'ZX Dan' is a wonderful piece of new wave space-rock whose similar lyrical theme is a nod to David Bowie’s 1972 hit, 'Star Man'.

"[1][2] In Patric van Blerk's words, Into the Night We Slide is "a lovely adventure, which never caught fire mainstream, but has enjoyed the sort of passionate niche-loyalty that made a treasure out of [South African band] Freedom’s Children’s Astra.

I always thought of it as the Jo’Burg Records equivalent to the other gems which took decades to go gold and platinum, such as Van Morrison's Astral Weeks.

"[1][2] Nonetheless, with the solitary exception of "ZX Dan", all tracks on the LP were banned from airplay by the South African Broadcasting Corporation because of their lyrical content.

[1][2] The Rats recorded "Crazy Caroline" and "Rocket Road" at Satbel Studios in Johannesburg during June 1979 using Pierre de Sade (born Vos) on drums and Lloyd Ross on guitar.

Duncan Gibbon reviewed for Music Maker magazine a double-header concert of The Radio Rats and Wild Youth held at Travolta's at the Killarney Hotel in Durban in April 1979.

"Radio Rats opened with a strong set that firmly established them as one of the most vital outfits to have emerged in South Africa in years.

Jonathan Handley looked happy as he led the band through the songs, playing some fine guitar and contributing the backing vocals.

Over the years, Davies and Handley and various friends (sometimes including Jonathan's brother Graham) have released music under various guises – as the Radio Rats, the Pop Guns, the Chauffeurs, Titus Groan and the Glee Club.

Herbie Parkin is living, working, and playing in Sweden, most recently with Men on the Border, while Leonard Dixon has settled in Germany where he is still drumming.