Photo : Copyright Mike Strafford
I had been a Cats fan since 1980. I was brought up on a cocktail of Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, and my dad was a keen Buddy Holly fan too, so when the Cats came out, there was an immediate interest.
My mates and I in school decided to form a band, and I wanted to play the drums standing up, cos of Jim. Later, during lessons, I actually taught stand up bass drum techniques to Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor of Motorhead (true story). Drummers don't seem to realise that standing up and playing has a totally different technique. It's the difference between playing cello and violin. Same instrument completely different technique.
So, I was now a fully qualified stand-up drummer. I got work in London with a country band called the Hollywood Wives and with a Psychobilly band called the Highliners. We toured with King Kurt and Guana Batz etc. Then I got the chance to meet Jim thru a bass player friend of mine called Pete. But I was sick and couldn't make it. My friend at the Man In The Moon (pub in Chelsea) told Jim and he left me a note - RLRR LRLL from one drummer to another keep rockin SJP!
That filofax ripped note is in my archive folder of the Stray Cats, along with a T-shirt that Jim wore at the Manchester Academy. --- story again --- I watched the Cats in London at the Town and Country club, which, incidentally was the fastest ever selling show at the T & C and my band, Wicked Whisky had the Jack Daniels design t-shirt replacing Jack Daniels with Wicked Whisky and 100% alcohol fuelled rock n roll in the design. I threw it on stage in London and Jim told his drum tech / roadie to save it. Of course I told my mates about this on the way to the Manchester show and they didn't believe me. However, Stonewall Phantom wore the shirt at the encore and then even threw it back to me.
There are many perks to being a fan since '80. One of them is to have the best memories of the greatest rock n roll band of all time (opinion).
I am a musician and have met many famous people in my time. All of which unfazed me. But for some unknown reason, I go gaga when I meet the Stray Cats!
If she'll stay just one more day, no more will I be hiding in the marshland runnin from the hounds.
Jim .... You rock!!! Mike