Eddie the Rat is the pseudonym for composer and multi-instrumentalist Peter J. Martin (aka Pete Rat) and the musical group who execute his compositions. Martin calls his music "head music for your feet." Inspired by everything from Indonesian gamelan, American music styles (Jazz, Blues, rock), and modern orchestral music, Eddie the Rat tries to bridge the gap between ritual, roots, and concert music.
"Food for the Moon Too Soon" was the first CD to document Martin's journey from a solo electro-acoustic artist to the leader of a large performing group. Recorded live in 2001 at Artist's Television Access in San Francisco, the performance showcases a 12-piece ensemble in a nine-track song-cycle about death, consciousness, and insanity which masquerades as normality. The piece uses composed cyclical patterns which are conducted by Martin in an on-the-fly cut & paste performance.

Peter J. Martin - (aka Pete Rat): conductor, lead vocals, sermonizing, piano, moog, guitar, birdcage, magazine rack, assorted odds 'n ends
Ronnie Camaro - electric bass, sparklers
Bill O' Mahony - electric guitar
Jesse Hix - contrabass, xylophone, jews harp
Warren Huegel - percussion, wine glasses
Brandon Foust - percussion, wine glasses
Heather Bradley - lead vocals
Molly Tascone - vocals
Floyd Labar - vocals
Jeanette Labar - vocals
Dione Ardania- vocals
Vonn Scott Bair - vocals



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"Martin's methodology is largely unclassifiable yet firmly nestled within the avant-garde spectrum, with the opening "Metabolize" conjuring strange illusions of John Cage meeting Pink Floyd and world music artists, all performing under the watchful eye of a twisted spiritual advisor."
- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

"Blessedly weird, cyclical structures form sort of a rib cage which the ensemble populates with all the usual biological ephemera– drunken chimes, ringing guitar… it’s the land of forms, as brought to you by the nightmare circus metaphor division. Recommended, especially for persons who need to wring a lot of listens from a single purchase."
- DaveX, Startling Moniker