The Swamp Rats were an American garage rock band from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, active from 1966 to 1967. They evolved from The Fantastic Dee Jays, formed in 1964, who released their first single, “Apache” b/w “Fight Fire,” in March 1965. After reformation and the addition of Bob Hocko, the band was renamed The Swamp Rats and signed to St. Clair Records. Their debut single, “Louie Louie” b/w “Hey Joe,” featured a heavier, more punk‑oriented sound. Hocko returned as lead vocalist for their next release, “Psycho” b/w “Here, There, and Everywhere,” both covers that showcased his scream-singing style. They released several more singles and performed regionally in Pittsburgh, but personal disagreements, limited distribution, and a lack of original material led to their breakup. Newton left in early 1967, replaced by Joe Guido, who later fled to Canada to avoid the draft, and the band performed their final gigs before disbanding mid‑1967. In 2007, their song “I’m Going Home” was sampled by Black Lips for “Veni Vidi Vici” on the album Good Bad Not Evil.
