The Kat Men

Event information

The Kat Men

Featuring Stray Cat drumming legend, Slim Jim Phantom and UK Rockabilly guitarist, Darrel Higham & ace bassist, Al Gare (Both from Imelda May) - Rock ‘n’ Roll Heavan!!!

A fiendish plan has formed to start a touring band for Europe and last year saw them record their first CD – entitled simply ‘Kat Men’. Produced and recorded by Gilby Clarke in Los Angeles, this smokin’ 12 track Rockabilly powerhouse added to a set that fairly shook up the audiences that would flock in their droves as the Kat Men deftly bopped from one European city to another.

Black Kat Boppers

Southampton's Finest Rockabilly Rebels

Just back from closing the Olympics at Hyde Park - and recently seen hob-knobbing with Damon Albarn (Blur) and Paul Simonon (The Clash)

Gamblin' & Smokin'... The Kat Men

The Kat Men started life back in 2007 when Stray Cat drumming legend, Slim Jim Phantom and UK Rockabilly guitarist, Darrel Higham, met at a jam session at The Oneida Casino, Wisconsin, in the good ‘ol US of A during a week-long Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival.

A fiendish plan was formed to start a touring band for Europe and the next year saw the two record their first CD – entitled simply ‘Kat Men’. Produced and recorded by Gilby Clarke in Los Angeles, this smokin’ 12 track Rockabilly powerhouse added to a set that fairly shook up the audiences that would flock in their droves as the Kat Men deftly bopped from one European city to another as their following grew.

Much of 2008/09 was spent performing long tours of Europe and Australia before Higham left to pursue the role of lead guitarist for his wife, Imelda May while Jim toured the world with a highly successful reunion of the Stray Cats and continued playing drums with another project, Headcat, featuring that Titan of Rawk, Motorhead’s Lemmy.

In late 2011, the lure of the Kat Men could no longer be contained and Jim and Darrel were re- united to record another CD. This was recorded at Embassy Studio in Hampshire, UK during March/April 2012, and from there a record contract with Decca Records followed. 14 tracks running the full gamut of Roots music; Rockabilly boppers, strollers, Hep Cat rhythms, Country shufflers, Blues ballads and laid-back groovers make this the essential ‘Beat for the Feet’ release of 2013!!

The Kat Men Cometh… Along with ace bassist, Al Gare (Mike Sanchez, Imelda May) Jim and Darrel will be performing their unique and highly contagious blend of modern Bop at a town or city near you soon.

Be Prepared and Be Aware!

The Black Kat Boppers

The Black Kat Boppers have been together just two years but things continues to peak as this summer they were invited by Blur to play at Hyde Park on Sunday Aug 12th as part of THE Olympic Closing Ceremony alongside Blur, The Specials, New Order, Bombay Motorcycle Club, The Bots & Zulu.This is a great honour and reflects the crazy journey the Boppers have been on since forming! The Black Kat Boppers are 4 fellas from Southampton who share a love for rockin' roots music. They played music together in the streets as teenagers then all met up again and formed as The Boppers just 2 years ago playing their own brand of jump up, bebop, skankin', rockin' music & people everywhere seem to be lovin' it!

They Played 3 storming shows at Glastonbury last year having been invited to play by legendary DJ/musician Gaz Mayall of Gaz's rockin blues fame. They then found themselves playing a late night set with Florence and the Machine at Bob & Pixie Geldof's joint birthday party after they'd seen the band at Notting Hill carnival. In recent weeks the band have been in the studio with Damon Albarn working on tracks, having initially been asked by Damon to play at a party at his house where Damon performed with them also.

This year at the Port Eliot festival The Boppers were joined on stage by Clash ledgend Paul Simonon guesting on bass, he has been a great help and advocate of the band since he first saw them last year. He said "I was sitting on a hill and their music literally grabbed the lapels of my jacket and pulled me in" . Paul is also scheduled to play with the band again at this years Notting Hill carnival. They have been invited to play Bestival this year where they will play 3 times.

There are also plans to release a record. "Since working with Damon we are now looking to make an album and get a record out". The band have met some great people and had some great support from the likes of Gaz Mayall, Natty Bo, Jarvis Cocker, Mark Lamarr, Jamie Hewlett, Sam Taylor Wood, Bob Geldof, Don Letts & even Bono who described them as "totally rebel rousing" and 007 Daniel Craig who said they were "awesome".

They are currently playing regular shows all over the place and documenting everything they do to produce a short film about their adventures. It should be available to see by the end of this year.