In the basement of this address, Dave Ratcage (a.k.a. Dave Parsons) ran Rat Cage Records, a popular record store/hang-out for the hardcore scene in the early 80's. The editor of Mouth Of The Rat 'zine and a NY contributor to MRR, Dave would keep the shop open until 4 in the morning for the kids.
In August of 1981, Dave went to the see the Beastie Boys first show. He approached the Beasties about recording, they were enthusiastic, and he arranged for them to record at Studio 171-A for their first release, the Polly Wog Stew EP on Ratcage Records.
Later, he released the Beastie Boys Cooky Puss 12" on Ratcage Records. This was a departure from the hardcore punk sound for the B-Boys; it was an experimental hip-hop(ish) release that was a crank call over a series of beats. The track started to get played in discos, and the Beasties had something of a hit on their hands...
A transexual, Dave later became Donna, moved to Europe, and died of cancer in 2003.
