The Head Cat is an American rockabilly supergroup formed by vocalist Lemmy (of Motörhead), drummer Slim Jim Phantom (of The Stray Cats) and guitarist Danny B. Harvey (of Lonesome Spurs and The Rockats). As of 2017, former Morbid Angel member David Vincent took Lemmy's place as vocalist and bassist.
History
Head Cat was formed after recording the Elvis Presley tribute album Swing Cats, A Special Tribute to Elvis in July 1999 to which the future band-mates all contributed. After recordings were finished they stayed at the studio and Lemmy picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing some of his old favorite songs by Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. The rest of the guys knew them all and joined in. The name of the band was created by combining the names Motörhead, The Stray Cats and 13 Cats, which resulted in The Head Cat, similar to what Lemmy did in 1980 with Headgirl, a collaboration between Motörhead and Girlschool.
In 2006, the band released their first studio album on Jun 27, Fool's Paradise, which was a re-release of an earlier album titled Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B recorded in September 1999 but Fool's Paradise doesn't include 3 songs from first release and track list is in different order, sleeve is different as well and they used name The Head Cat for first time. It included cover songs from artists such as Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker, Lloyd Price, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. On the recordings Lemmy played acoustic guitar in live performance too like on "Rockin' At Cat Club" only live album they had, on live performances Lemmy uses his signature Rickenbacker bass in later years saying "I'm just not that good on guitar". Live album "Rockin At Cat Club" have almost all different songs from other two studio albums. Before that re-release, a DVD of a live performance was released on 25 April 2006, album was recorded in on Tuesday Jan 13 2004 and was released in 2006 on limited Vinyl 322 copies too. Filmed at the Phantom's Cat Club on Los Angeles Sunset Strip and which included 13 live songs and interviews with the band.
The band's second studio album (or third altogether), Walk the Walk...Talk the Talk, was recorded by the Niji Entertainment Group in June 2010, released in 2011. This was the first new material by the band in eleven years, following up from the Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B album in 1999. It has two original songs "American Beat" and "Eagles Fly On Friday". First album was all acoustic, Lemmy was on rhythm guitar, harmonica and vocals. Second album, live album, was half acoustic, Lemmy was on acoustic guitar but Danny B was on electric guitar. Third album (second studio) was all electric, Lemmy played bass like in Motorhead. In 2016 Cleopatra Records re-released live album "Rockin At Cat Club" on vinyl with different sleeve from original release and for first time on CD three panel digipak.
Line up
- David Vincent: bass, vocals
- Slim Jim Phantom: drums, percussion, vocals
- Danny B. Harvey: double bass, guitar, keyboard
Former Line up
- Lemmy Kilmister: vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica
Discography
Albums
- Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B (Recorded September 1999. Released in 2000)
- Rockin' The Cat Club: Live from the Sunset Strip (DVD + LP in 322 copies) (Recorded Tuesday January 13, 2004. Released in 2006)
- Fool's Paradise (2006)
- Walk the Walk...Talk the Talk (Recorded in June 2010. Released in 2011)
- Rock 'N' Roll Riot On Sunset Strip (2016 re-release of "Rockin' The Cat Club" on vinyl and first time on CD with different sleeve)
Singles
- "Tell Me How / Take Your Time" (No Balls Records / Cleopatra, Germany 2007. NBR 008. 5 Testpress copies on black vinyl small centerhole, 528 copies on crystal-clear vinyl (large centerhole), Testpress sleeve (#1-5) handscreened on red paper Reg.ed. sleeves (#1-400) handscreened + stamped inner-sleeves, the first 5 sleeves with "3D like" misprint. Digital-print sleeves (1-10) handstamped / 5 copies with label-error (double paper) 5 copies w. light black spots Digital-print sleeves (1-18) for the overpressed vinyl (All these copies for Band, Crew & Friends)Lemmy sleeves (#1-100) handscreened + stamped innersleeves only available from Black Cat Records / France.
- "The Head Cat / Lonesome Spurs: Tell Me How - Take Your Time - Lovesick - Trouble" No Balls Records â€" NBR 013, Limited edition of 50 copies (#1 - #50) out of a total pressing of 100 hand-numbered copies.
- "The Head Cat / Wanda Jackson â€" Well Alright / Riot In Cell Block 9" Muddy Roots Music â€" MRMR-0713008, USA 2013. 100 copies, white vinyl
Compilation albums
- Fools Paradise / Rockin At Cat Club Cleopatra Records â€" CLP5367-2, deluxe edition CD+DVD, USA 2011. Limited to 500. Includes poster and DVD in cardboard box. CDs are packaged in 2 slim CDr cases.
References
External links
- Official Head Cat website
- Official Head Cat MySpace
