Rock Hard Forever: Faster Pussycat

Faster Pussycat was formed out of the streets of Hollywood, California, with Taime Downe (vocalist), former co-owner of the Los Angeles club, The Cathouse, Brent Muscat and Greg Steele (guitarists), Eric Stacy (bassist), and Mark Michals (drummer). With their name derived from Russ Meyer's movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, the band signed to Elektra Records in December 1986.

The band released their debut album Faster Pussycat in 1987, the same year Guns N' Roses released Appetite for Destruction. Although Guns N' Roses would overshadow Faster Pussycat in album sales, the band managed to build a cult following and put out several promotional videos from the first album for songs such as "Cathouse", "Bathroom Wall" and "Don't Change That Song". In the United States the band toured with Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth and Motörhead in support of the album.

Also in 1987, Faster Pussycat appeared in the Rockumentary film, The Decline of Western Civilization part 2 - The Metal Years. The band were interviewed at some length and performed live versions of Cathouse and Bathroom Wall.

Faster Pussycat (1987), was recorded on a low budget, with Poison producer Ric Browde, and was an infectious collection of Aerosmith/Rolling Stones influenced material, with the band's sense of humor shining through in "Bathroom Wall," "Don't Change That Song" and "Babylon."

A UK tour with Guns N' Roses and U.S. dates with Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth and Motorhead helped to build respectable album sales, and the band had matured considerably by the time they recorded Wake Me When It's Over (1989), with John Jansen. The album received gold status; its sales being largely boosted by the hit single, "House of Pain". Music videos were also produced for "House of Pain" and "Poison Ivy". While the band were touring for the album in 1990, drummer Mark Michals was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska for trying to mail heroin to his hotel room and was subsequently kicked out of the band. Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot filled in as drummer for the remainder of the tour, before Brett Bradshaw became Faster Pussycat's new long-term drummer.

This buried the "glam" image under a heavier sound and greater lyrical depth, with "Pulling Weeds," addressing the abortion issue, while the emotive "House of Pain" examined the trauma of divorce through a child's eyes. The humor still permeated through, however, on "Slip of the Tongue" and "Where There's A Whip There's A Way." Michals left in disgrace, jailed on drug charges, on the eve of a European tour with the bands Almighty and Dangerous Toys, and Frankie Banali filled in before Brett Bradshaw assumed the drum stool for further U.S. touring with Kiss and Motley Crue.

In 1990, they recorded a cover of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" for a compilation called "Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary". A video was also filmed for this track. It featured Taime for the first time with dark hair. The song was also later included on the 1992 Belted, Buckled And Booted EP, which served as the single for "Nonstop To Nowhere" and also included two unreleased tracks.

Whipped (1992)which peaked at No.90 in the charts, showed further progression and a different approach, but emerged into a much-changed musical climate. Despite the quality of the album, Faster Pussycat fell victim to a combination of the recession and the success of the Seattle bands. Ironically, Downe was a Seattle native. Elektra dropped them while they toured America with Kiss.

After selling well over a million records worldwide, and an eight-year career, the band played its final show together on July 6, 1993 in Japan. In the years ahead, Taime would work with PIGFACE and, eventually form his own band 'The Newlydeads.' Brent Muscat made records with Phil Lewis and joined L.A. Guns on guitar for a summer tour.

Fast forward to 2001: Faster Pussycat reformed for a summer tour with original members Taime Downe, Brent Muscat and Greg Steele in tow. The summer tour also marked the introduction of three new members, who did double duty playing in Taime's project 'The Newlydeads.' Bassist Danny Nordhal (The Throbs, NY Loose, Motochrist), Chad Stewart on drums (Coyote Shivers, Motochrist), and Xristian Simon on guitar, rounded out the new line-up. Before the tour was complete, Steele left the band, and they continued on as a 5 piece.

In May 2002, the newly revamped Faster Pussycat will tour this summer with Poison and Cinderella on the "Hollyweird World Tour 2002."

On April 21, 2007, Muscat circulated via MySpace an open invitation to Taime Downe and Greg Steele to reunite with him, Stacy and Bradshaw. There was no response from Taime. Brent's version of Faster Pussycat toured Europe in Spring 2007 with Kurt Frohlich replacing Taime on vocals along with Todd Kerns on guitar

In July 2007, Brent Muscat decided to drop the battle to use the name Faster Pussycat. Brent Muscat has since started a band called Sin City Sinners. Brent has stated in an interview "Faster Pussycat is dead".

Taime has continued on with the name 'Faster Pussycat.' and this band performed at Rocklahoma July 2007. During their set, Taime Downe went on a tirade to the crowd referencing Brent Muscat's cancer, wishing he would die, which received a poor reception from both the crowd and journalists. He then cut their set short and left the stage without playing several of their biggest hits.

Faster Pussycat is set to tour for the Summer of 2008 with Tracii Guns' version of LA Guns. They will be touring across the U.S.

Current Members

Taime Downe - vocals
Michael Thomas - guitar
Danny Nordahl - bass
Xristian Simon - guitar
Chad Stewart - drums

Former Members

Brent Muscat - guitar, backing vocals
Kelly Nickels - bass
Greg Steele - guitar, piano, backing vocals
Brett Bradshaw - drums
Mark Michals - drums
Walter Adams
Frankie Banali - drums
Eric Stacy - bass

Discography

Faster Pussycat (1987)
Wake Me When It's Over (1989)
Whipped! (1992)
Between the Valley of the Ultra Pussy (2001)
The Power and the Glory Hole (2006)

Official Website: http://www.fasterpussycat.com/

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House Of Pain