Stray Cats

This article is about the American rockabilly band. For other uses, seeStray Cats (disambiguation).

Stray Cats
Stray Cats in Japan, early 1990s
Background information
Origin	Massapequa, New York,U.S.
Genres	Rockabilly rock and roll
Years active	1979–1984 1986–1993 2004–2009 2018–present
Labels	Arista,EMI America,Capitol,Surfdog
Members	Brian Setzer Lee Rocker Slim Jim Phantom
Past members	Bob Beecher Gary Setzer Tommy Byrnes
Website	straycats

Stray Catsare an Americanrockabillyband formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalistBrian Setzer,double bassistLee Rocker,and drummerSlim Jim Phantomin theLong Islandtown ofMassapequa, New York.The group had numerous hit singles in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. including "Stray Cat Strut","(She's) Sexy + 17","Look at That Cadillac "," I Won't Stand in Your Way "," Bring It Back Again ", and"Rock This Town",which theRock and Roll Hall of Famehas listed as one of thesongs that shaped rock and roll.

History

Formation and move to UK

The band first appeared in the New York Area in the middle of 1979 performing under a number of names includingthe Tomcats,the Teds, and Bryan and the Tom Cats.According toBrian Setzer(singer/songwriter and guitarist), they changed names to fool club owners (who would not hire the same band for consecutive nights), but kept the "Cats" moniker in their various names so the audience would know they were the same band.

Setzer joined up withSlim Jim Phantom(drums) and they soon added Phantom's schoolmate and friendLee Rocker(stand-up bass); all three of them came from the same neighborhood and were interested in punk and rockabilly music.

Since 1983, they have used only "Stray Cats" as their name. The band name "Stray Cats" had appeared in the 1973rock 'n' rollfilmThat'll Be the Dayand its 1974 sequelStardust.They also went to many concerts and enjoyed the punk scene. They metthe Clashand they used to seeSiouxsie and the Banshees,Charlie Harperand theUK Subs.

The group, whose style was based upon the sounds ofSun Recordsartists and other artists from the 1950s, was heavily influenced byEddie Cochran,Carl Perkins,Gene Vincent,andBill Haley & His Comets.The Stray Cats quickly developed a large following in the New York music scene playing atCBGBandMax's Kansas Cityas well as venues on Long Island. When the Cats heard a rumor that there was a revival of the 1950sTeddy Boyyouth subculture in England, the band moved to the UK.They spearheaded the nascent rockabilly revival, blending the 1950sSun Studiosound with modernpunkmusical elements. In terms of visual style, the Stray Cats also blended elements of 1950 rockabilly clothes, such as wearingdrape jackets,brothel creepers,and western shirts, withpunk clothes,such as tight black zipper trousers and modern versions of 1950s hair styles.

In the middle of 1980, the band found themselves being courted byrecord labelsincludingVirgin Records,Stiff Records,andArista Records.Word quickly spread and soon members ofThe Rolling Stones,The Who,andLed Zeppelinwere at their shows.
After a gig in London, Stray Cats met musician and producerDave Edmunds,well known as aroots rockenthusiast for his work withRockpileand as a solo artist. Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album,Stray Cats,released in Britain in 1981 on Arista Records. In addition to having three hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town",and"Stray Cat Strut",they also performed on the eighth day of theMontreux Jazz Festival.The UK follow-up toStray Cats,Gonna Ball,was not as well-received, providing no hits. Yet the combined sales of their first two albums were enough to convinceEMI Americato compile the best tracks from the two UK albums and issue an album (Built for Speed) in the U.S. in 1982. The record went on to sell a million copies (Platinum) in the US and Canada and was the no. 2 record on theBillboardalbum chartsfor 15 weeks.

In 1983, the Stray Cats began recording their third (second U.S.) studio albumRant N' Rave with the Stray Cats.Unlike their previous studio albums, half the album was recorded in London with the rest recorded in New York. Released in August 1983, critics generally viewedRant N' Ravefavorably, citing the band's tributes to 1950s rock 'n' roll legends such asGene VincentandBo Diddley.Commercially,Rant N' Ravefailed to achieve the success ofBuilt for Speed,although it produced the top-ten hit "(She's) Sexy + 17",and top-forty hit" I Won't Stand in Your Way "featuring thedoo-wopgroup14 Karat Soul.

The band playing in Gijon

Breakup and reunions

Musical and personal conflicts began to emerge in the ways that the individual members handled their new-found success; Phantom married actressBritt Ekland,while Setzer made guest appearances with stars likeBob DylanandStevie Nicksand became the concert guitarist forRobert Plant'sHoneydrippersside project. In late 1984, the band added former BMT's guitarist and Long Island native Tommy Byrnes on second guitar and harmony vocals, and after a European and US tour which ended at the 1984 Louisiana World Expedition, parted ways.

The decision to end the band was Setzer's, and it left the other members aggrieved.In an interview, Setzer pleaded restlessness as his motivation: "It's just that I didn't get that great feeling anymore... I had five good years of that, but then I got bored with it. In the last year I stopped getting that feeling, that great kick that twisted in my gut. "Looking back in 2012, Setzer regretted the decision to dissolve the group saying "it was silly to break up the Stray Cats at the peak of our success".

Setzer embarked on a solo career, exchanging his rockabilly focus for a more wide-rangingroots rock/Americanasound on the 1986 albumThe Knife Feels Like Justice.He dubbed his new band Brian Setzer & the Radiation Ranch, drawing the name from the title of one of his new songs.They played their first major concert at the 1985Farm Aidbenefit festival.

Rocker and Phantom formed a trio calledPhantom, Rocker & Slick(the "Slick" being formerDavid BowieguitaristEarl Slick) whose debut album contained the single "Men Without Shame"; guest musicians on this record includedKeith Richardsof The Rolling Stones and pianistNicky Hopkins.

In 1986, the Stray Cats reunited in Los Angeles, and recorded thecovers-heavyRock Therapy.A lengthy hiatus followed, but in 1989 they reunited once again for the albumBlast Off!,which was accompanied by a tour with blues guitaristStevie Ray Vaughan.No longer with EMI America, they entered the studio withNile Rodgersfor another album,Let's Go Faster,issued byLiberationin 1990. After 1992's Dave Edmunds-producedChoo Choo Hot Fish,and the cover albumOriginal Cool,the group called it quits again.

In 2004, the Stray Cats reassembled for a month-long tour of Europe. A live album culled from those concerts,Rumble in Brixton,included one new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'". In 2007, they reunited once again for a US tour withZZ Topandthe Pretenders.This was their first North American tour in over 15 years. In the 2000s, the band toured Europe as part of theirFarewell Tour.

In 2008, for the first time in 18 years, the Stray Cats visitedAustraliaandNew Zealandwhich included several consecutive sold-out shows of their Farewell (Australia) Tour. In April 2009 the band reunited for a single show to celebrate Brian's 50th birthday at the Fine Line Music Café inMinneapolis, Minnesota.

On January 2, 2018, Setzer announced via hisFacebookpage that the band would reunite for a show inLas Vegason April 21, 2018.The Stray Cats also performed two shows at the Pacific Amphitheatre inCosta Mesa, Californiaon August 16 and 17, 2018.

On October 16, 2018, the band announced they would reunite in 2019 for a new album (first in 25 years), record inNashville,and tour to commemorate their 40th anniversary.On March 26, 2019, the video for the album's first single, "Cat Fight (Over a Dog Like Me)", was released, with an announcement of a May 24 release for the album, titled40.This was released in time for the European legs of their 40th Anniversary tour.

At the conclusion of the tour and in early 2020 the band announced that an album, a collection of songs recorded at various locations whilst on the 40th Anniversary tour would be released, entitled "Rocked This Town: From LA to London". It was released on CD and Vinyl and also on a number of streaming platforms.

In 2024, the band announced a three-week summer U.S. tour, their first tour in five years.

Band members' follow-up careers

Brian Setzer at a concert

The Stray Cats have reunited periodically for live performances. Setzer is still part of his 1990sswing-revival bandThe Brian Setzer Orchestra.Setzer also worked as executive producer onDrake Bell's rockabilly revival albumReady Steady Go!Rocker continued recording and touring throughout the 1990s and on to today. His albums includeBlack Cat BoneandRacin' the Devilon Alligator Records, as well asBulletproof.

In addition to the Stray Cats, Rocker has recorded or performed with Carl Perkins,George Harrison,Ringo Starr,Willie Nelson,Leon Russell,Scotty Moore,Keith Richards, and numerous others. Rocker and wife Deborah Drucker have two children and have been married since 1989. Slim Jim Phantom plays the drums in the bands Slim Jim's Phantom Trio,The Jack Tars,13 Cats,Kat Men,andThe Head Cat.He is also an active member of theLove Hope Strength Foundation,a charitable organization which was co-founded byMike PetersofThe Alarm,and which raises funds forcancerunits.

The band was inducted into theLong Island Music Hall of Fameon October 15, 2006.

Members

Current members

• Brian Setzer– lead vocals, guitar (1979–1984, 1986–1993, 2004–2009, 2018–present)
• Lee Rocker– double bass, acoustic guitar, vocals (1979–1984, 1986–1993, 2004–2009, 2018–present)
• Slim Jim Phantom– drums, percussion, backing vocals (1979–1984, 1986–1993, 2004–2009, 2018–present)

Past members

• Bob Beecher – double bass (1979)
• Gary Setzer – drums (1979)
• Tommy Byrnes – guitar (1984)

Discography

Main article:Stray Cats discography

• Stray Cats(1981)
• Gonna Ball(1981)
• Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats(1983)
• Rock Therapy(1986)
• Blast Off!(1989)
• Let's Go Faster!(1990)
• Choo Choo Hot Fish(1992)
• Original Cool(1993)
• 40(2019)

Tours

• European Tour (1980)
• Stray Cats Tour (1981)
• Gonna Ball Tour (1982)
• Built for Speed Tour (1982–1983)
• Rant n' Rave Tour (1983–1984)
• Blast Off US-Tour (1988)
• Blast Off Tour (1989)
• Let's Go Faster Tour (1990)
• Murphy Tour (1991)
• Choo Choo Hot Fish Tour (1992)
• European Tour (2004)
• North American Tour (2007)
• Farewell Tour (2008–2009)
• 40th Anniversary Tour (2019)

External links

• Official website