NASHVILLE ||
DT: APRIL 26, 2019
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN
 THE STRAY CATS
RELEASE NEW SONG AND VIDEO
“ROCK IT OFF”
FROM UPCOMING ’40’ ALBUM
OUT MAY 24 ON SURFDOG RECORDS
BRIAN SETZER, LEE ROCKER AND SLIM JIM PHANTOM
RETURN TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR
WITH FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 26 YEARS AND CONCERT TOUR
 The STRAY CATS–all revved up and red hot–have released “Rock It Off,” a new song and video from their upcoming album 40, out May 24 via Surfdog Records and distributed by BMG (CD, vinyl, digital). The blazing feel-good song, now available as an instant grat track, is spinning at Spotify and other platforms (listen here at Spotify), and the video can be viewed here. The behind-the-scenes video, capturing the band in the Nashville studio where they recorded the album, was premiered yesterday (April 25) at Billboard with a feature story. Noted the publication: “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.”
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, their first new album in 26 years, and a tour that’s hitting the U.S. and Europe (*see tour dates below).
The album’s song titles alone–including “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” “Rock It Off,” “Mean Pickin’ Mama” and “Devil Train”–instantly let listeners know they’re in for a non-stop rocking time. Watch the band and album producer Peter Collins in the studio discussing the making of the album here.
Like “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” the album’s first instant grat track, “Rock It Off” is available now with a pre-order of the album: http://smarturl.it/StrayCats. “‘Rock It Off’ may be my favorite track on 40,” Slim Jam Phantom says. “When the guitar riff comes in, I stand up a little straighter and imagine a peacock strutting. It’s got a shuffle groove that’s tailor-made for me to do the bop-bop-a-bop. The video captures the fun and good vibes we all shared while making the whole album.” In addition, an exclusive indie-store edition of the album–colored vinyl, with a double-sided 24×12 poster–will arrive on May 24.
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 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.
 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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