The Tomcats

The Tomcats are a United Kingdom group name used by several different bands. The best-known entries under the name include an early 1960s beat band from Perivale, a mid-1960s English beat and proto-psychedelic group that works in Spain, and Brian Setzer’s first rockabilly group, which later develops into the Stray Cats.

Early-1960s beat band from Perivale

One Tomcats line-up appears in the early to mid 1960s as a beat band from Perivale, in the United Kingdom. The founder members are Tom Newman, Pete Cook, Allan James and Chris Jackson. Newman later helps found Virgin Records with Richard Branson and produces Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. Cook later works as a luthier for John Entwistle and creates the Ned Callan guitar range with Newman. Allan James later plays bass in the psychedelic group July with Newman and Jackson. Chris Jackson plays drums in the group.

Spanish-based beat and proto-psychedelic group

Another Tomcats line-up appears in the mid to late 1960s as an English beat band with proto-psychedelic leanings. The group is associated with Spain and releases four Spain-only EPs before returning to the United Kingdom in 1966. Their recordings include versions of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” and “19th Nervous Breakdown”. This line-up is produced by Stones bassist Bill Wyman and is influenced by Brian Jones’ interest in Eastern instrumentation.

Brian Setzer’s first rockabilly group

The Tomcats name is also used by Brian Setzer’s first rockabilly group before he forms the Stray Cats. This trio features Brian Setzer on guitar and vocals, Gary Setzer on drums and Bob Beecher on bass. The group begins playing clubs on Long Island in 1979. At the same time, Brian Setzer and Bob Beecher also play in the Bloodless Pharaohs, an art rock group described by Gary Setzer. Brian Setzer’s main interest is rockabilly, and that focus leads to the break-up of The Tomcats. Afterward, Brian Setzer works with Jim McDonnell, later known as Slim Jim Phantom, on drums, and Lee Drucker, later known as Lee Rocker, on bass. The trio later moves to London and adopts the name Stray Cats.