History & Biography Faster Pussycat, whose name was borrowed from the famous Meyer movie, was formed in L.A. by former Cathouse owner Taime Downe and others in 1985. Elektra snapped up the band and the debut revealed a ‘70s-influenced glam band. The touring took the band to Europe with Guns 'N' Roses and back to their native America with Motörhead and Alice Cooper. Michals was out after being arrested for drug reasons – apparently he was mailing himself heroin for use on the road - and Frankie Banali filled in for a tour. The band was featured in The Decline Of Western Civilization II documentary denying taking narcotics, talking about music, groupies and money. The band was being managed by Warren Entner who had earlier managed Faster Pussycat and would later manage Faith No More and Rage Against The Machine. The band was dropped in the midst of the grunge waste of time. The band had an EP called Live & Rare in 1990. This title would be recycled by Quiet Riot years later. The band toured with Mötley Crüe and Kiss with Bradshaw on drums. The band went its separate ways in 1993. They had Several samplers followed with 2001's Between The Valley Of The Ultra Pussy showing that the band had lost none of its Russ Meyer influences. 2001 also saw the band reform and tour America and Japan although Steele was forced to leave due to health reasons. The 2001 European tour was cancelled and the band was replaced by Tigertailz. The Newlydeads was a goth band. Guitarist Brent Muscat was diagnosed with oral cancer in late 2005.
In December of 2006, three former original Faster Pussycat members, namely Brent Muscat, Eric Stacy and Brett Bradshaw alongside The Underground Rebels vocalist Kurt Frohlich began performing under the name Faster Pussycat! They objected to the industrial-tinged version fronted by Downe. The Downe version, however, continued apparently with some assistance from the legal system. Muscat had attempted to reunify the band for naught. Faster Pussycat with Downe performed at Rocklahoma in 2007. Muscat decided to drop the legal process of keeping the name Faster Pussycat in 2007 and began focusing on Sin City Sinner. L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango came together for a US tour in the summer of 2008. Front Row For The Donkey Show was out in the summer of 2009 through Full Effect. Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat and John Corabi came together for The Triple Threat Tour, which ran from mid-July through late August 2010 in the USA and Canada. In the spring of 2010 Ace Von Johson had replaced Michael Thomas who was busy with Adler's Appetite. On November 26th, 2011 guest Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat joined Sin City Sinners and Brent Muscat on stage, which marked the first time original Faster Pussycat members Muscat and Taime Downe played together in six years. Apparently, all legal battles had concluded. The America Rocks tour with Jack Russell's Great White, Faster Pussycat, Bulletboys, Lillian Axe and Pretty Boy Floyd was touring the USA in the summer of 2012. Quiet Riot, Faster Pussycat, Bulletboys and Gilby Clarke would join forces for the Bang Your Head Tour of North America in the summer of 2014. Dates were initially being worked out. Riki Rachtman's Cathouse was organizing a ‘80s glam festival at Irvine Meadows in California on Saturday, August 15th 2015 at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater. Bands appearing included Tuff, Pretty Boy Floyd, Dokken, Faster Pussycat, Extreme and more. Guitarist Ace Von Johnson left after ten years in the band in 2020. The band was in the studio working on new music in 2020. Former drummer Brett Bradshaw died unexpectedly on March 26, 2021. Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z'Nuff were using the Straight Outta Quarantine monicker to tour in July 2021. The former band had a single called NOLA through Taime’s Little Dove Records. Xristian Simon left in 2021. Ronnie Simmons replaced him.
Golden Robot Records (L.A. Guns, John Sykes, etc.) signed Faster Pussycat in the summer of 2022. The band was on the road in the USA. The group was touring the USA, including concerts with Tom Keifer and Enuff Z’Nuff, in 2024. The band was booked for Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2024 and 2025.
Reviews
Interviews
|
