From the depths of the mid 80s LA Glam rock scene, a bunch of attitude driven, misguided youth brought to the surface their brand of alley cat rock. Not glam, not punk but somewhere in between, with an attitude and swagger all their own. Fronted by the king of sleaze himself, Taime Downe, Faster Pussycat was his baby assembled piece by piece, that would, not unlike Frankenstein, rapidly grow into a monster and take the scene by storm, whether it was ready for it or not!

Before they knew it, this rag-tag team of miscreants consisting of Taime Downe (vocals), Greg Steele (guitar), Brent Muscat (Guitar), Eric Stacy (bass) and Mark Michals (drums) scored a record deal with Elektra Records and released their debut self-titled album produced by Ric Browde (Poison, Ted Nugent, etc.) who was also instrumental in securing the deal in the first place. The debut record featured instant classics "Babylon", "Bathroom Wall", "Cathouse" and "Don't Change That Song" , the latter of which, birthed their first music video directed by none other than "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" director Russ Meyer!

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  During this same time, the iconic documentary film, "Decline Of The Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years" was released and featured Taime and Riki Rachtman talking about their club the Cathouse and included Faster Pussycat performing "Cathouse" and "Bathroom Wall" live. The film, directed by Penelope Spheeris, was a dissection of the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 - 1988. The film also featured interviews with members of W.A.S.P., Motorhead, Aerosmith, Ozzy and more!). It, like it's predecessor, went down in history as an iconic, cult hit.
  
  Never really fitting the mainstream mold, and always following underground sensibilities, if there's such a thing, Faster Pussycat found themselves in their early twenties and touring with artists like; Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, David Lee Roth, Motorhead, Whitesnake, Guns N' Roses, Kiss and Ozzy!
  
  Faster Pussycat would soon release their second album, 'Wake Me When It's Over" produced by John Jansen (Lou Reed, Cinderella & Jimi Hendrix) which garnered their biggest hit of their career, the reluctant and out of character ballad "House Of Pain" which reached #28 on the US Hot 100 and #23 on US Main Rock charts. The single also lead to a video direct by Hollywood titan, Michael Bay! Wake Me When It's Over spawned a host of other memorable tracks such as "Poison Ivy" and "Where There's A Whip There's A Away" which saw them get more recognition and rotation on MTV.
  
  In between albums, and touring, Faster Pussycat was asked to contribute a track to the upcoming, limited edition release of "Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary", which featured current Elektra artists covering historic Elektra recordings. The compilation featured; Metallica, The Cure, The Sugarcubes, The Georgia Satellites, among others, and of course Faster Pussycat's recording of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain". The track was a sleeper hit, that saw a lot of attention and even spawned a killer music video directed by Rocky Schenck (Alice in Chains, The Cramps, Devo).
  
  With each album it was evident the band was adopting further darker imagery and themes, including Taime dying his platinum hair a midnight black. With the band all clad in black and leather they released their third album, "Whipped!" again produced by John Jansen. While darker in it's themes, Whipped! adopted a bit more of a streamlined, mainstream sound with it's signature hit "Nonstop to Nowhere" peaking at #35 on the US Main Rock chart and spawning a video also directed by Rocky Schenck. Another single off the album, "Body Thief" saw moderate traction with a video that would ultimately get banned from MTV. With all the attention Faster Pussycat was gaining, positive and negative, including appearances on talk-shows like The Sally Jesse Raphael Show (to which the track 'Cat Bash' refers) it appeared they were continually on the rise. But, ultimately, this would be the last album the band would record together with the current roster. After the Whipped! tour, Faster Pussycat disbanded....
  
  With music still coursing through his veins, Taime kept his music motor running and moved to Chicago to meet up with Martin Atkinson of Pigface (Ministry, Al Jorgensen, Skinny Puppy) which ultimately lead into contribution to a new Pigface record as well. Eventually, Taime moved back to LA where he formed industrial rock act, The Newlydeads.
  
  The Newlydeads was like Faster Pussycat's bitchy, insubordinate, no fucks left to give, bastard child. With moderate success in industrial and industrial rock scenes, the band featured Taime Downe (vocals, guitars & programming) and expanded with Kyle Kyle (Bass) and appearances by Tim Skold (Skold, Shotgun Messiah), Van Christie(KMFDM, Die Warzau) and Charles Levi(My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult).
  
  With his finger on the pulse of the scene, Taime then opened The Pretty Ugly club with longtime best friend, JD Terziu. Come Christmas '99, The Pretty Ugly club would have it's grand opening, which would ultimately set the stage for the first ever Newlydeads show. The Newlydeads were an instant hit with a loyal fanbase that continues to grow to this day. Time would see the band release 3 more albums. During The Newlydeads rise to fame, Taime was approached by Cleopatra Records to do a Faster Pussycat remix album featuring industrial remixes of original Faster Pussycat hits. The album titled "Between The Valley Of The Ultra Pussy" featured remixes of classic Pussycat tracks like; Bathroom Wall, Little Dove, Poison Ivy, House of Pain, Cathouse & more! It was the best of both worlds, having classic hits while flexing an industrial muscle not seen before.
  
  In 2001 someone threw out the idea to Taime about a new Faster Pussycat tour. With The Newlydeads running at full steam, after a bit of tweaking, Taime agreed and pulled together a relaunch and re-brand of Faster Pussycat with a darker vibe, harking to the Whipped! era, but stripping what was left of the glam look and replacing it with a more raw, spooky, dark-wave image.....which became painfully clear, was the true Taime Downe and the true core of Faster Pussycat.
  
  Taime, in his laboratory, assembled a new band for Faster Pussycat's live show, consisting of original members; Greg Steele and Brent Muscat and Newlydeads members, Chad Stewart, Danny Nordhal and Xristian Simon. Faster Pussycat was back with a new jaded attitude to tackle an exhausted industry. A full tour with LA Guns was launched in 2001, during which, Greg left the band due to personal reasons. A popular 2002 summer tour with Poison and Cinderella saw the band sporting a new all black look and new skull branding armbands. Faster Pussycat continued touring in the coming years.
  
  The next couple years would be some of the most exhilarating, raunchy, provocative and productive. Taime began to put together the pieces that would later become the first Faster Pussycat album in almost a decade. Consisting of late night sessions, sleepless recording binges, nights at the Pretty Ugly club and an atmosphere full of naked porn stars, drug fueled highs and booze laden jam sessions, the journey to the new album was a wild one to say the least. In 2006, along with friend and bassist, Danny, Taime put together "The Power And The Glory Hole". The album, an instant classic, was riddled with appearances from Taime's friends such as; CC Deville (Poison), Dregen (Backyard Babies), Ed Mundell (Monster Magnet) & Mark Diamond (The Dwarves) to name a few, who just so happened to partake in the debaucherous jam sessions. "The Power And The Glory Hole" was released on Full Effect Records, owned and operated by Taime's good friend, Anthony Srock of industrial dance legends The Final Cut fame, whom he met in Detroit on the Pigface tour in '94. The album would spawn epic tracks such as "Number 1 With A Bullet", "Pornstar" & "Disintegrate", and also included covers of Betty Blowtorch's "Shut Up & Fuck" and Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'". Taime then closed the album with a song titled "Bye Bye Bianca", a tribute to his close friend, the late Bianca Butthole (Betty Blowtorch).
  
  This new music saw a now seasoned Faster Pussycat extremely comfortable in it's skin and scars and not holding back anything. In 2007, Faster Pussycat saw it's soft-more classic 'Bathroom Wall' selected to be included in Activision's phoneme video game franchise, "Guitar Hero", specifically on the "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s" release.
  
  Having toured nonstop since 2001, Taime decided it was time to release a live album and try to capture the raunchy, dark vibe from the shows. In 2009, again on Full Effect Records, Faster Pussycat released "Front Row For The Donkey Show", which was an expertly record and produced live album spanning Faster Pussycat's career from front to back and even spawning the single for "Bathroom Wall (Live)".
  
  In 2010, Faster Pussycat was rounded out with the addition of charismatic lead guitarist, Ace Von Johnson (U.S. Bombs, Unwritten Law, The Generators). Ace fit in immediately with the FP style. Now, no longer the "new guy", Ace continues to bring his talented guitar playing and utter lack of demure, to every Pussycat show!
  
  Today, Faster Pussycat continues to tour extensively all over the world. And when not touring, each members is busy with respective side projects. Taime is hard at work writing new material for the next Faster Pussycat album as well as penning his memoirs for a possible future book release.
  
  

 

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TAIME DOWNE

// Vocals

The charismatic Faster Pussycat vocalist, Taime Downe is no stranger to the Hollywood rock scene. Taime was born in Seattle, Washington in 1964. Having co-owned the infamous Cathouse niteclub with media juggernaut, Riki Rachtman (former MTV's Headbangers Ball host) during the heyday of the "sleaze rock" and "hair metal" era, to also being a prominent staple figure in the music scene as a DJ. Taime has made his mark on the scene and continues to do so wherever he goes. Having lived through the rise and fall and rise again of the hard rock music roller-coaster, Taime and the boys continue to take Faster Pussycat to new levels with the promise and ultimate delivery of a Faster Pussycat that transcends generations! Somewhere along the way Taime has still found time to share his musical talents with industrial phenom, Pigface, and even within his own raunchy, industrial side project, The Newlydeads, having notable genre successes of their own. Today, Taime is constantly touring with Faster and in his off-time, what little there is, he can be found developing custom leather goods & motorcycle bags under the aptly titled Facedowne Leatherworks.

SAM "BAM" KOLTUN

// Guitars

Sam "Bam" Koltun, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, first picked up the guitar when he was 10 years old. By the tender age of 12, he was playing all the local clubs in his hometown. Sam packed up and moved to Los Angeles in 2013 to attend the Musicians Institute, where he was awarded Musicianship and Development scholarships. He successfully completed his Bachelor’s Degree while touring the country with various bands. Sam has had the pleasure of playing with groups like; Budderside, Gabbie Rae, Knee High Fox, and Evol Walks. In his spare time, Sam likes to take part in local Los Angeles events such as Soundcheck Live, Ultimate Jam Night, The Sunset Jam, & more.

DANNY NORDAHL

// Bass

The somewhat illusive, "Slim Tender", also known as Danny Nordhal, has been playing bass for Faster Pussycat since 2001. Danny grew up on the East Coast and relocated to New York to work as a roadie for The Ramones. His early years saw him playing with the legendary Stiv Bators And His Evil Boys, he then started The Throbs (Geffen Records) with Bob Ezrin (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple) producing. Slim Tender, is an accomplished musician with a one-of-a-kind swagger and no matter what style he plays, his punk roots are undeniable and infectious . He is charmed with the ability to effortlessly genre-hop, crossing punk, rock and industrial styles, to chisel out a style and sought after sound all his own. A few fun Facts; Danny doesn't know how to drive a car and loves horror movies and pizza. Danny is a veteran in the music industry, having also played with the likes of the Newlydeads, L.A. Guns, Mötochrist, The Throbs & NY Loose.

CHAD STEWART

// Drums

The hard hitting drums for Faster Pussycat that keep us all moving can only be achieved by the one and only Chad Stewart. As the drummer, backing vocalist and tour manager for Faster Pussycat, Chad makes his mark on the Faster Pussycat brand both up front and behind the scenes. Born in Zanesville, OH in September 1971, Chad actually got his start playing in clubs, 4 sets a night, at age 14. At the Tender age of 19, Chad began his touring career, moving between Nashville and NYC, and ending up in LA where he joined up with Coyote Shivers(Empire Records). He began playing for a few different bands that happened to be performing at Taime's Pretty Ugly Club, when Taime approached him and said "You're my guy." Chad responded with, "Yup, I'm your guy." This exchange brought forth the turn of events that would see Chad joining The Newlydeads. About 6 months later, Chad was asked to join the reformed Faster Pussycat for their first big tour in years. Touring all over the world with Faster Pussycat, Chad has played in front of some large and diverse crowds. A self-proclaimed 'drum gear nerd', Chad has lent his drum stylings to bands such as; The Newlydeads, L.A. Guns, Mötochrist and more. When not on tour or in the studio recording, you can find Chad creating culinary wonders and Instagram-worthy Bloody Marys at St. Felix Hollywood and West Hollywood. Follow him at: https://twitter.com/thechadstewart.