Dave with Jim at the DMW Aldershot gig
Dave's tattoos inspired by Jim and the Stray Cats
Jim with Dave after DMW show on 23 September 2004
I was 12 years old in 1980 when the Stray Cats came onto the scene. I was just getting into music. A lot of my mates were into whatever was in at the time, which I think was Ska type stuff but this did not appeal to me. We had an Elvis LP at home and I had some Blondie records, apart from that I listened to whatever was on the radio at the time.
A mate of mine was heavily into Elvis. One day he said I ought to watch Top of the Pops, there was a new band on whose song sounded good on the radio. 'The band' was the Stray Cats (by watching Top of the Pops 2 I now have a recording of that first appearance). Setzer's quiff was piled high, this guy was playing a 'weird stand up bass thing' and the drummer was standing up!!! WOW! The song caught my attention, I was hooked, as was my mate.
I got hold of some hairspray and did my hair in a quiff. My mate did the same. We became a bit of a novelty I suppose, no one else our age looked like we did - we copied the Stray Cats as far as we could at that age; cut off sleeves, drainpipe jeans etc etc. I remember getting the first album for Christmas 1980. I played it over and over, I've still got it and it has been signed by Slim Jim. Gonna Ball soon followed, I made a special trip to town to get it.
After seeing the Cats on various TV shows I started to be intrigued by the drummer, Slim Jim Phantom. He was unlike any drummer I'd seen before, his stand up style and his whole image just appealed to me. I started to copy him more than the other Cats. Besides, my mate was blond and was a Setzer lookalike, so I had to copy one of the others! I also felt that Jim always had the best quiff and at that age that was enough for him to be my favourite.
So, I was 12/13 years old and totally hooked. No other type of music got a look in. I started to look back at what influenced the Stray Cats, and hence got into Cochran, Vincent etc etc. It occurred to me that all these rockers were American, so I then started to look at the British Rockers, of whom Billy Fury is my favourite. The Stray Cats were therefore the sole cause of me getting into Rock n Roll / Rockabilly music.
My obsession with the Stray Cats continued and has never stopped, although it has mellowed with age!! (Don't get this wrong, they are still the best, and always will be, but when you have a job and family, other priorities take over!!).
I never got to see the Cats live until about 1988, the Blast Off Tour, at Hammersmith Odeon. I then saw them every time they came to London, if they played 3 nights, I was there 3 nights - I seem to remember being at the Town and Country Club in Kentish Town a fair few times!!
When they split it was a shame but things have to move on I suppose.
Anyway, we all know what happened with the BSO and '68CBS, it was great to see the latter in London a few years back.
BUT, what about Jim and Lee. I had the Swing Cats CD's, 13 Cats CD's, but would I ever see them play again?
Fantastic news, Jim was to tour with a band called Dead Men Walking and they were coming to Aldershot, a driveable distance from where I live. I had been in contact with Faith via E-mail prior to this, but the expectation of seeing Jim play live again soon got better, she told me that at the gigs he did a signing session and posed for photos. Wow, I was excited! Not only was I going to see him play again but he was going to pose for photos in the interval - no hanging around at the end hoping to see him.
Faith knew I had a copy of Jim's shark tattoo and that I was a big fan of his, so told him I was going to see him at Aldershot. I got to the gig and couldn't wait for the interval. As soon as Jim got to the merchandise table he started signing autographs - I introduced myself and showed him my tattoo - he knew who I was then, and posed for photos and signed the "STRAY CATS" LP for me.
It is always a gamble to meet your hero. You could be disappointed. BUT not with Jim - he is a great guy, it was an honour to meet him, and a night I won't forget. After all, he had been my hero for 23 years AND turned out to be a great person. What more could you want? I have a picture of me and Jim in a frame, and am currently trying to find a suitable place to put it - maybe I'll wait until the wife is out and then put it up!!
Can't
wait for 2004, looking forward to some great gigs................. Dave.
Photos : Copyright Dave Moffatt