Faster Pussycat

Faster Pussycat is an American hard rock and glam metal band from Los Angeles, active from 1986. The group forms in the mid-1980s Hollywood glam metal and glam punk scene and takes its name from the film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins with vocalist Taime Downe, guitarists Greg Steele and Brent Muscat, and bassist Kelly Nickels. Downe remains the only constant member through numerous line-up changes. After early personnel shifts, the group’s line-up includes Downe, Steele, Muscat, Nickels and drummer Mark Michals. Before the first album is recorded, Nickels is temporarily replaced by Eric Stacy because of an injury, and he later joins L.A. Guns.

Recording and success

Faster Pussycat releases its debut album, Faster Pussycat, in 1987 on Elektra Records. The album is supported by videos for “Bathroom Wall” and “Don’t Change That Song,” and the band tours with Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth and Motörhead. It also appears in the rock documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II – The Metal Years.

The band’s biggest commercial success comes with Wake Me When It’s Over in 1989, which receives RIAA gold certification. The single “House of Pain” becomes a hit, and videos are made for “House of Pain” and “Poison Ivy.” During the tour for the album, Michals is replaced first by Frankie Banali and then by Brett Bradshaw. Tours with Kiss and Mötley Crüe follow.

Later releases and activity

In 1990, the band records a cover of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” for the Elektra anniversary compilation Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary; it later appears on the 1992 EP Belted, Buckled And Booted. Faster Pussycat releases the studio albums Whipped! in 1992 and The Power and the Glory Hole in 2006. The group breaks up in 1993 and reforms in 2001.

Line-up and style

Over time, the band includes members such as Kelly Nickels, Greg Steele, Taime Downe, Eric Stacy, Brett Bradshaw, Danny Nordahl, Chad Stewart, Eric Griffin, Ace Von Johnson and Brent Muscat, and performs under the name The Party Ninjas as well. Its music spans glam metal, glam punk, hard rock, heavy metal, industrial rock and punk rock.

Recognition

Faster Pussycat sells more than two million records worldwide and is later named in a list of the 20 greatest hair metal bands of all time.