Rakatan, as a planet and science fiction race, became a popular name in 2003 in the highest selling Star Wars Game, The Knights of the Old Empire. The Artists Guitar Songstress Melanie Ray has wowed audiences with a unique, rather hypnotic, style. "..a range of rock feel featuring the entrancing vocals of Melanie Ray...recommended by Dr. Feel Good..." - Online Rock Noel Redding, bassist and vocalist, played and sang back ups in the Jimi Hendrix Experience, live in the and on the recordings for most of their major hits . Among the numerous songs of great popularity are " Purple Haze ", " Electric Lady Land ", " All Along the Watch Tower " , and " Foxy Lady ". After quitting the band he went on to form Fat Mattress, The Clonakilty Cowboys, and The Secret Freaks. His last album was a live performance for the president of the Czech Republic. He died in 2003. Mick Taylor was the lead guiatrist in The Rolling Stones from 1969 -1975. He played live in the band and on the recordings for numerous hits of The Rolling Stones including " Honky Tonk Woman ", " Brown Sugar ", " Sympathy for the Devil ", and " Gimme Shelter ". His role as session guitarist may be heard on the recordings music greats including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Bob Dylan. Currently, he is sought after as guitar soloist and adds voice to his guitar playing in his own blues band, with several releases of it's credit. Reviews "..A real song bird . Finally ! Love Rock with a love of nature... neo psychedelic,bluesy,rootsy rock...Vocals are enchanting..representative of modern consciousness..Catches the spirit of the times." - Bigo Magazine, Singapore " A GREAT show everytime! From the wonderful vocals and jamming guitar of Melanie, to the thunderous drums and bass, the band is in sync with each other and the audience. I have seen them several times, and I always look forward to the next time I'm in NYC to see them! " - Brother Wolf, webtunes.com "Better Living through Rock and Roll! Top Secret Line...A great compilation of the best stuff from ten years of Melanie Ray and company.... this band is the word rock from square one. Touching on the style of the Pretenders at times the backing band is always excellent and creative in style. Don't expect an over production here either, the songs are kept rockin' raw at all times with every bit of human feel left in the songs. A crying blue note and pop overtones make this good time nature loving band. Something very magical transpires on the CD in that making good songs for ten years you get good at it. Good rock sounds about " life in the wild"...Better Than That.....the girl power of Melanie Ray with an all star cast of musicians....More straight forward rock in the company of legends. Pounds of raw talent and song writing ability inside the wall of rock and roll." - D Day Records " Rakatan is a commodity you won't want to miss out on.." - Kay Raybar, TV hostess " ..Hard Rock...bands that are the scions of such greats as Led Zeppelin..." - Sam Kennedy, freetunes.com "...Rakatan, you can't get any better than that..." - Kathleen Gerritsen, Hostess, Manhattan Lifestyles TV