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THE STRAY CATS—all three original members Brian Setzer (guitar, vocals), Lee Rocker (upright bass, vocals), and Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals)—are today (October 24) rolling out two tracks via Surfdog Records ahead of their fall tour that launches this Saturday, October 25 (see the tour dates below). Loud, upbeat, and unmistakably THE STRAY CATS, “Stampede” and their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven” mark the iconic multi-million selling band’s first new music in six years. Listen to both tracks HERE.
Both “Stampede” and “Teenage Heaven” were produced by The Stray Cats, mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, and recorded at The Terrarium in Minneapolis, MN & Laguna Sound in Laguna Beach, CA. “Stampede” was written by Brian Setzer, Peter B. Antonio, Wally Zober and Bert Salmirs, while “Teenage Heaven” was penned by Jerry Capehart and Eddie Cochran.
“Jim and I cut both songs in Minneapolis at Terrarium Studios,” Brian Setzer says. “‘Stampede’ was an instrumental that I wrote lyrics for. I basically copied the guitar part, which was pretty ahead of its time to begin with, and ‘Teenage Heaven’ is one of the few Eddie Cochran songs that has not been covered to death.”
“The recording of “Stampede” was a gas!” Slim Jim Phantom says. “We went to a studio in Minneapolis and I stayed with Brian—I had my own room this time, not three to a bed! The playing came very easy and I tried to come up with a drum part that conjured up the idea of a jailbreak. We’re doing a Bo Diddley Tom Tom beat that switches into a swing rhythm with a little punk rock for good luck.” He adds: “‘Teenage Heaven’ is a natural for The Stray Cats—it has always been one we wanted to do but hadn’t. Sir Mick Jagger suggested we do that one in 1980. It took a little while, but we listened to Mick! Eddie Cochran was the best rock star ever and has always been a big influence. He looked great, he played great, he sang great. He was way ahead of the curve with studio technique and left behind an unbelievably big catalog.”
“’Stampede’ has the drive and intensity that brings me back to our first album,” Lee Rocker says. “It’s got a direct line to ‘Runaway Boys’ and ‘Rumble in Brighton.’ ‘Teenage Heaven’ is a classic Eddie Cochran song that we put our Stay Cats magic on. The Cats are back and better than ever.”
For the tour, THE STRAY CATS are once again bringing their legendary explosive live show and red-hot rock & roll to audiences nationwide. Their setlists will include massive hits such as “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town,” “Runaway Boys,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and more. Tickets are available HERE. Read the full tour release (with quotes from the band and more) HERE.
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