NASHVILLE ||
DT: MAY 22, 2019
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN
 THE STRAY CATS
TO RELEASE ’40,’
THEIR FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 26 YEARS,
THIS FRIDAY, MAY 24 ON SURFDOG RECORDS
BRIAN SETZER, LEE ROCKER AND SLIM JIM PHANTOM
RETURN TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR
WITH NEW ALBUM AND CONCERT TOUR
 (Album cover)
The STRAY CATS will release 40–their first new album in 26 years–this Friday, May 24 on the heels of three singles they’ve recently issued from the album: “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” “Rock It Off” and “Cry Danger,” the latter of which was premiered this past Friday at Guitar World.
Brian Setzer (guitar, vocals), Lee Rocker (bass, vocals) and Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals)–original founding members of the iconic and acclaimed American rock and roll trio–are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2019 with 40 and a tour that’s hitting the U.S. and Europe (*see tour dates below). The album is being released by Surfdog Records and distributed by BMG (CD, vinyl, digital), with an exclusive indie-store edition of the album–colored vinyl, with a double-sided 24×12 poster–arriving on May 24. “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” “Rock It Off” and “Cry Danger” are available now as instant grat tracks with a pre-order of the album.
The all revved up and red-hot STRAY CATS recorded 40 at Blackbird Studios in Nashville in late 2018 following their first North American shows in 10 years, with four concerts including sold-out headlining shows in Las Vegas and the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA before wildly enthusiastic audiences. Still buzzing from the thrill of playing together again and the crowd response, they went into the studio with producer Peter Collins (Rush, Bon Jovi, The Brian Setzer Orchestra) and engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Arctic Monkeys). There are a dozen original songs that comprise the album. Read the first press release about the album here, which includes quotes from the band and the track listing. Watch the band and album producer Peter Collins in the studio discussing the making of the album here.
Early critical acclaim for 40 is rolling in:
“The album brims with bracing, stripped-down rockers like ‘Cat Fight (Over a Dog Like Me),’ ‘Mean Pickin’ Mama’ and ‘Devil Train,’ and every track boasts a widescreen riff and virtuoso guitar solo. But the band also serves up some new sounds with the riff rocker ‘Cry Danger’ (co-written with Mike Campbell) and the punk-like ‘I’ll Be Looking Out for You.'”
“Four decades later, Stray Cats are ready to ‘Rock It Off’ with the same three basic ingredients they’ve always used: Setzer’s twangy Gretsch guitar, drummer Slim Jim Phantom’s elemental thumping and Lee Rocker’s expertly slapped upright bass…On the standout ‘Cry Danger,’ the Cats venture out of their ’50s comfort zone and move boldly into ’60s garage-rock territory. The track features an intro guitar riff that’ll make any Beatles fan instantly think of ‘Day Tripper.'”
The STRAY CATS begin their select U.S. dates presented by SiriusXM on August 3 on the heels of June and July overseas shows. Tickets for the shows are on sale now.
 The Stray Cats from L-R: Lee Rocker, Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom
By Russ Harrington
About The STRAY CATS:
The STRAY CATS, the band that put Rockabilly music back on the record charts in the early ’80s, scored several big hits on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a striking visual 1950’s style brought “up to date” with exaggerated pompadours and colorful tattoos and as well as genuine musical chops that evoked the best players of rockabilly’s original heyday. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, NY, in 1979, the trio shared a love for Rockabilly music. After banging around New York for a few months, in the summer of 1980, and seeing a pompadoured kid on the cover of UK magazine NME, they hopped a plane to London where a rockabilly revival movement was just beginning to emerge. Their massive hits and videos include “Runaway Boys,” “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and “I Won’t Stand in Your Way.”
For more information on The STRAY CATS, visit:
MSO Press Releases + Assets:
For press inquiries, contact MSO PR:
Mitch Schneider│mschneider@msopr.com
Marcee Rondan│marcee@msopr.com
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