The Phantom Cowboys

The Phantom Cowboys

The Phantom Cowboys are a British group from the United Kingdom that forms in Norwich in 1994 and remains active. They release music on Diogenes Records and are associated with garage rock, psychobilly, rockabilly, surf and swamp rock.

Style and early years

From the beginning, the group takes in a wide mix of influences, combining rockabilly with jazz, punk and dark pop. This varied approach places them alongside psychobilly and gothabilly acts as well as surf and garage rock bands.

Releases and recognition

Their debut album, Down and Out at The Club Cruella, appears in 1998 and continues to be widely downloaded and played on alternative radio. After the band splits in 1999, it remains a favourite among listeners of dark, vintage-influenced music in the UK and the US. The group also appears on Anagram Records’ 2007 retrospective of the UK 1990s psychobilly scene and on Skully Records’ Gothabilly compilation series in the US.

Return and later activity

In 2015, The Phantom Cowboys announce a return with live dates, followed by the EP Dead Men's Clothes on their own Diogenes Records label in 2016.