Lee Rocker and Stray Cats to Release First New Album in 26 Years

Stray Cats are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2019 with a new album and a tour that's hitting the U.S. and Europe

Lee Rocker and Stray Cats to Release First New Album in 26 Years

Stray Cats are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2019 with a new album and a tour that's hitting the U.S. and Europe

The STRAY CATS will release 40–their first new album in 26 years–this Friday, May 24 on the heels of three singles they’ve recently issued from the album: “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” “Rock It Off” and “Cry Danger.”

Brian Setzer (guitar, vocals), Lee Rocker (bass, vocals) and Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals)–original founding members of the iconic and acclaimed American rock and roll trio–are celebrating their 40 anniversary in 2019 with 40 and a tour that’s hitting the U.S. and Europe (*see tour dates below). The album is being released by Surfdog Records and distributed by BMG (CD, vinyl, digital), with an exclusive indie-store edition of the album–colored vinyl, with a double-sided 24×12 poster–arriving on May 24.Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me),” “Rock It Off” and“Cry Danger” are available now as instant grat tracks with a pre-order of the album.

The all revved up and red-hot STRAY CATS recorded 40 at Blackbird Studios in Nashville in late 2018 following their first North American shows in 10 years, with four concerts including sold-out headlining shows in Las Vegas and the PacificAmphitheatre in Costa Mesa, CA before wildly enthusiastic audiences. Still buzzing from the thrill of playing together again and the crowd response, they went into the studio with producer Peter Collins (Rush, Bon Jovi, The Brian Setzer Orchestra) and engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Arctic Monkeys). There are a dozen original songs that comprise the album. Read the first press release about the album here, which includes quotes from the band and the track listing. Watch the band and album producer Peter Collins in the studio discussing the making of the album here.

The STRAY CATS begin their select U.S. dates presented by SiriusXM on August 3on the heels of June and July overseas shows. Tickets for the shows are on sale now.

DAY DATE CITY/STATE VENUE 

Friday 6/21 Vitoria, Spain Azkena Rock Festival 

Sunday 6/23 Birmingham, United Kingdom Birmingham O2 Academy

Tuesday 6/25 Manchester, United Kingdom Manchester O2 Apollo 

Wednesday 6/26 London, United Kingdom London Eventim Apollo

Thursday 6/27 London, United Kingdom London Eventim Apollo

Saturday 6/29 Tilloloy, France Retro C Trop

Monday 7/1 Amsterdam, Netherlands AFAS Live

Wednesday 7/3 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle

Thursday 7/4 Cologne, Germany Palladium

Saturday 7/6 Tours, France American Tours Festival

Sunday 7/7 Belfort, France Les Eurockeennes

Tuesday 7/9 Stuttgart, Germany Killesberg

Thursday 7/11 Munich, Germany Zenith

Saturday 7/13 Aix-Les-Bains, France Musilac Festival

Thursday 7/18 Pori, Finland Pori Jazz Festival

Saturday 7/20 Falun, Sweden Summer Jamboree-Falun

Saturday 8/3 Atlantic City, NJ Ocean Resort Casino-Ovation Hall

Tuesday 8/6 New York, NY Pier 17 at South Street Seaport

Tuesday 8/13 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap

Wednesday 8/14 Huber Heights, OH Rose Music Center

Thursday 8/15 Grand Rapids, MI Meijer Garden

Sunday 8/18 Welch, MN Treasure Island Casino

Monday 8/26 Salt Lake City, UT Red Butte Garden

Wednesday 8/28 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

Saturday 8/31 San Diego, CA Humphrey’s

Sunday 9/1 San Diego, CA Humphrey’s

About The STRAY CATS:

The STRAY CATS, the band that put Rockabilly music back on the record charts in the early ’80s, scored several big hits on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a striking visual 1950’s style brought “up to date” with exaggerated pompadours and colorful tattoos and as well as genuine musical chops that evoked the best players of rockabilly’s original heyday. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, NY, in 1979, the trio shared a love for Rockabilly music. After banging around New York for a few months, in the summer of 1980, and seeing a pompadoured kid on the cover of UK magazine NME, they hopped a plane to London where a rockabilly revival movement was just beginning to emerge. Their massive hits and videos include “Runaway Boys,” “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and “I Won’t Stand in Your Way.”

For more information on The STRAY CATS, visit:

Official Website  

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Bass Magazine   By: Bass Magazine