by Pamela Ann Moye

Previously published in The Prague Post

The Stray Cats, in addition to being an integral part of the 80’s music scene, are somewhat of a phenomenon. Many know the songs, but not the significance of the band. While not dirt-dishing behind-the-scenes tabloid fodder, theirs is an interesting tale of three young men moving to another country with dreams of making it-all the while preserving a vital part of Americana. With instruments and image in hand, this band that resembled a mix of punk icons The Clash and a 50s street gang left New York in 1979 and headed for London, making it onto the charts a year later with the aptly named “Runaway Boys.” Other hits like “Stray Cat Strut” and “Rock this Town” are radio and juke box staples.

After over 25 years, the band members are still strutting as a sell-out concert draw and as solo artists. Drummer, Slim Jim Phantom, whose skill and style have inspired many, is touring Europe on his “Cat with Nine Lives Tour“. While nay-sayers try to claim this is an attempt to capitalize on a well-known band name, Slim Jim is an artist whose love of rock-a-billy music keeps him standing tall behind the drums, in a traditional style that he helped to revive. An artist, who keeps in contact with his fan base and seems to truly enjoy the chance to discuss his career and music, shares some insights on both.

Stray Cats are not a revival band, but evolutionists, taking the sounds of the 50’s and channeling them for new generations of listeners. According to Slim Jim, the Stray Cats never intended to be a cover band. Though renown for true to the roots covers of classics, they made them fresh and appealing to a wide audience. Rock-a-Billy music emotionally affected him at a young age and he and his band mates felt a compulsion to play and share the music.

Slim Jim says he still remembers the first time he heard Gene Vincent’s Be-Bop-A-Lula on a juke box. He began to explore this raw and powerful style of music whose influence upon bands like The Beatles was being overlooked. As he dug deeper he was touched by Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochrane, and Carl Perkins among others whose names may now be relegated to the annals of American music, but whose contributions will never be lost as long as the music is alive. He commented that “Rock-a-Billy is one of the true American art forms, like Jazz,” but is simultaneously universal and timeless.

Slim Jim is excited about playing in Eastern Europe because it is an opportunity to personally reach a new crowd with the music. The Stray Cats and The Slim Jim Phantom Band play to crowds composed of all ages and fans whose musical tastes are pulled from many genres. While commonly appealing, there is a subculture so devoted to the music that it has also become a lifestyle. Familiar with the rock-a-Billy scene in the U.S., Jim was surprised to find it so prevalent in places such as Budapest, noting that these kids are not just listening to the music, they are also sporting 50’s inspired hairdos, vintage clothes, and buying leopard couches.

When asked what he sees as the legacy of the Stray Cats, he immediately responded “We should be in the Rock and Roll Hall Fame.” Then explained he felt this not just for their contributions to rock, but to their role in the preservation of musical history. As for his personal legacy, he is just happy that he has been able to touch people’s lives.

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