Stray Cats, the band that put Rockabilly music back on the record charts in the early-’80s, scored several big hits on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a striking visual 1950Â’s style brought “up to date” with over-the-top pompadours and colorful tattoos, as well as genuine musical chops that evoked the best players of rockabilly’s original heyday. The music had a rhythm that was rock solid yet loose, the singer could croon or shout and the guitar playing demanded respect. It was elegant yet hard, jazzy yet completely rocking. Their music and style were like nothing happening in pop culture at that time. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, NY, in 1979, the trio shared a love for Rockabilly music and after banging around New York and Philadelphia for a few months, in the summer of 1980, they were persuaded by a mutual friend to hop a plane to London where a rockabilly revival movement was just beginning to emerge.
They were popular right out of the box with the release of their self-titled album in 1981 that scored three straight hits with “Runaway Boys,” “Rock This Town,” and “Stray Cat Strut.” Deciding to test their luck in America, they signed with EMI America and in 1982 released their U.S. debut, Built for Speed, which compiled the highlights from their two British LPs. Helped by extensive airplay on MTV at the height of the anything-goes new wave era, “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut” both hit the American Top Ten, over a year after their British chart peaks. As a result, Built for Speed was a smash, and the Stray Cats were seen as avatars of retro style. Their second American album, Rant n’ Rave With the Stray Cats, appeared in 1983 and produced another Top Ten hit in “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” as well as a Top 40 entry in the doo wop-styled ballad “I Won’t Stand in Your Way.”
The Cats had clawed their way all over the globe from 1981 to 1984 when they decided to go their separate ways for a while. In mid-1988, the three felt the time was right to bring it back again and reunited until 1992 when they split a second time. A one-off reunion show in
Now for the first time in 15 years, Stray Cats are coming together one more time for a full-scale
Thursday, July 19th
Saturday, July 21st 1st Mariner Arena
Sunday, July 22nd
Monday, July 23rd
Wednesday, July 25th Freedom Hill
Thursday, July 26th
Friday, July 27th Oneida Casino
Saturday, July 28th
Sunday, July 29th Scottrade Center
Tuesday, July 31st Uptown Theatre
Wednesday, August 1st Arena
Friday, August 3rd Zoo Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 4th Nokia Amphitheatre
Sunday, August 5th AT&T Center
Tuesday, August 7th Camel Rock Casino
Wednesday, August 8th Jobing.com Arena
Friday, August 10th
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Monday, August 13th Red Rocks Denver, CO
Wednesday, August 15th USANA Amphitheatre
Thursday, August 16th Grand Sierra Casino
Friday, August 17th Save Mart Center
Saturday, August 18th Verizon Amphitheatre
Sunday, August 19th Coors Amphitheatre
Tuesday, August 21st ARCO Arena
Thursday, August 23rd General
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