There are at least four bands called The Bats.

1. The Bats are an influential New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Christchurch by Paul Kean (bass), Malcolm Grant (drums), Robert Scott (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards) and Kaye Woodward (lead guitar, vocals). Though primarily a Christchurch band, The Bats have strong links to Dunedin and are usually grouped in with the Dunedin Sound musicians that emerged in the early 1980s. The band has retained the same four members from 1982 to the present day.

Approaching a quarter century of recording and performing, Christchurch, New Zealand's The Bats have survived seven albums and five world tours with the original line-up of Kaye Woodward, Malcolm Grant, Paul Kean and Robert Scott intact. With a sound at the jangle/indie end of the pop spectrum, the band made significant headway in the States in the 80s alongside Flying Nun label-mates The Chills and The Clean. The 90s saw tours of the US and Europe, supporting the likes of Radiohead, Belly, and R.E.M.. Paul, Kaye, and Malcolm form side-project Minisnap; Bob has released solo work and can also be found in The Clean and The Magick Heads.

2. The Bats was an American band, formed in the early 1980s and featured Jon Brion, Don Riff and Bill Murphy. They released the album How Pop Can You Get? on Gustav records in 1982. They disbanded after critical acclaim, but little commercial success.

3. Dubbed South Africa's answer to the Beatles, the pop group The Bats was formed in October 1964 and consisted of group members Eddie Eckstein (drums/vocals), Barry Jarman (guitar/trumpet/concertina), Jimmy Dunning (guitar) and Paul Ditchfield (keyboard/guitar/bass/vocals). Paul, Barry and Eddie knew each other well and had wanted to form a group for a long time, but had been prevented from doing so by their respective contracts with various bands.

Barry suggested they form a beat trio with the express purpose of making records. Jimmy Dunning, who had played with them before, was unanimously nominated to fill the gap of lead guitarist. After finally getting together, they arranged an audition with Matt Mann, then A & R Manager at G.R.C. (and later owner of RPM Record Company), who signed them to the CBS label and produced their first single, All I Got. The group were quibbling with each other about an appropriate name. In an attempt to restore order, Matt Mann yelled "You're All Bats!" and so "The Bats" was born.

4. The Bats were an Irish beat band of the 1960s. They were regulars at Belfast's Maritime Club. Only a few of the band's recordings were released, on a 1966 compilation LP called 'Ireland's Greatest Sounds: Five Groups from Belfast's Maritime Club' and one single of their own, 'Accept It', on Columbia Records (a cover version of a Burt Bacharach song).
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