Tigertailz

Tigertailz are a glam metal band from Cardiff, Wales, active from 1984 to the present. Their sound sits within glam metal and metal, and they are associated with the glam rock and hair metal scenes.

Early years and first albums

The band first emerges in the mid-1980s and releases its debut album, Young And Crazy, in 1987. That line-up includes vocalist Steevi Jaimz, guitarist Jay Pepper, bassist Pepsi Tate, and drummer Ace Finchum. The album brings the band early attention and includes the single “Livin’ Without You”. During this period, the band tours the record and later parts company with Jaimz.

Bezerk and commercial peak

Tigertailz recruit vocalist Kim Hooker for their second album, Bezerk, which is released in 1990 on Music For Nations. The album becomes their best-known release, reaches the U.K. Top 40, and produces three singles: “Love Bomb Baby”, “Noise Level Critical”, and “Heaven”. “Love Bomb Baby” gives the band international exposure and receives major airplay in the United States. The album establishes them as a headline act and is associated with their highly theatrical public image.

The band also releases Banzai!, a collection of B-sides and re-recorded tracks, in Japan in 1991, and Wazbones in 1995. By this point, the Hooker-Pepper-Tate-Finchum line-up has fragmented.

Reformations and later releases

Tigertailz reform in 2005 with their classic line-up, joined by drummer Matt Blakout in place of Ace Finchum. They secure ownership of the Tigertailz name from a spin-off band fronted by Steevi Jaimz. The reunited band work on Bezerk 2.0, which is released through Demolition Records and draws on the original album’s larger-than-life style.

After touring the U.K. and playing festival dates in Sweden and Spain, Tigertailz sign to Sanctuary Records and release Thrill Pistol in 2007. The album is issued as a double release with the unreleased original version of the 1992 Wazbones album. Bassist Pepsi Tate dies later that year after fighting pancreatic cancer, and the band continues touring with Glenn “Nailz” Quinn on bass.

2010s activity

In 2010, Sarah Firebrand joins on bass and the band plays Bezerk in sequence at some shows, with performances recorded for a live album. They perform at the Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff for the Amser Justin Time charity in memory of Pepsi Tate, headline Stockholm Rock Out Festival, and release the live album Bezerk Live - Burnin' Fuel in December. Robin Guy later replaces Matt Blakout on drums, and Ace Finchum rejoins in 2011.

Kim Hooker leaves in 2012 and Tigertailz announce a new line-up with Jules Millis on vocals, Rob Wylde on guitar, and Jason Sims on bass alongside Jay Pepper and Ace Finchum. They re-record “Fall In Love Again” in memory of Pepsi Tate, but the line-up fragments in 2013. Jay Pepper then continues under the Tigertailz name with Matthew Blakout back on drums, Rob Wylde on bass, and new material prepared for release.

The EP Knives follows in 2013, with videos for “The Shoe Collector”, “One Life”, and “Punched In The Gutz”. Tigertailz tour Europe in 2014, make their U.S. debut, and support Kiss and Cheap Trick on the 2014 Kiss Kruise. In 2015, Rob Wylde becomes vocalist and Berty Burton takes over on bass. This line-up releases “Pipped It, Popped It” in 2016, and the track appears on the album Blast on the band’s own TT Records. In 2019, former vocalist Kim Hooker forms Bare Knuckle Messiahs with former Tigertailz members Cy Danaher and Andy Skinner.

Recent live activity

Tigertailz continue to perform and record into the 2020s. They headline Hard Rock Hell in Sheffield in 2021 and also play the festival in Great Yarmouth later that year.