In 1980, a three-piece rockabilly band from New York, based on the original Sun Studios recordings of bands such as Bill Haley & The Comets with a large slice of post-punk attitude and hairdos, came to the UK to make their fortune.
The Stray Cats were formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York.
The Stray Cats had three top 20 UK hit singles – Runaway Boys (1980), Rock This Town (1981) and Stray Cat Strut (1981) and a self-titled debut album.
In 1980 The Stray Cats sounded so different, so fresh compared to other music sounds around at the time; and they were miles ahead of British rockabilly bands that sprung at the time in a mini rockabilly revival.
Further singles missed the Top 40 and The Stray Cats returned to the USA with their tales between their legs.
In late 1984, Brian Setzer broke up the band amid much bad blood and worked as a solo artist and successful session guitarist with the likes of Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and Robert Plant.
The European leg of The Stray Cats 2008 Farewell Tour will be coming to the UK in September with dates already confirmed in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin.
10 September – Brixton Academy, London
11 September – Manchester Academy
12 September – Glasgow Academy, Scotland
14 September – Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland
They will also be visiting Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France and Belguim.
Visit Brian Setzer’s official website for a full list of 2008 European tour dates.
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