Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom has known his band mates — guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer and stand-up bassist Lee Rocker, since they were kids growing up in Long Island, N.Y.
The band officially formed when Setzer was 17 and the other two were 15. Although it didn't hit the Billboard Top 100, the group's first single, "Runaway Boys," was heard all over the United Kingdom in 1980 and 1981.
"I do remember hearing 'Runaway Boys' on the radio for the first time when we were in a friend's car in England," said Phantom (born Jim McDonnell) during a phone call from Nashville, Tenn. "It was one of those moments when you can't believe it, but you know that it's there."
The first Stray Cats charting single in the United States was a little number called "Rock This Town," which hit the Top 10 in 1982. From there, with help from MTV and a budding rockabilly audience, the Stray Cats began to see the world change.
"One of the biggest memories for me was touring with the Rolling Stones in 1981," said Phantom. "I mean six months earlier we were just kids playing music and listening to the Stones in our families' basement. And there we were touring across the country with them. It was amazing."
With the idea of keeping the three instruments — guitar, stand-up acoustic bass and drums — equal, the band decided not to put Phantom's drums on a riser but brought him up front to stand alongside the others.
"I have always wanted to play the drums," he said. "There was never a doubt in my mind what I wanted to do. I listened to the radio and watched musicians when they were on TV and decided that the drums were for me. And when we decided to move my set (a bass drum, a snare drum and a cymbal) to the front of the stage, it changed how we looked at who we were."
The band was unique in the fact that it was reviving rockabilly and bringing it to a younger audience. Then again, having rockabilly pioneer Dave Edmunds, who was then known for his work with the band Rockpile, produce their self-titled debut album, didn't hurt the group's reputation a bit.
"We were all into that type of music," said Phantom. "It just came naturally to us. We love roots rock and we wanted to play it."
Although released nearly three years earlier in the U.K. (like "Rock This Town," the band's biggest single), "Stray Cat Strut" hit at No. 3 in 1983. From there, the whirlwind began. The band headlined that year's Us Festival with the Clash and Men at Work, and the follow-up single, "Sexy and 17," stood strong at No. 5. And the other two singles, "I Won't Stand In Your Way" and "Look at that Cadillac," both landed in the Top 100.
"Then we just got tired," said Phantom. "We did our own things."
Setzer embarked on a solo career, Phantom married actress Britt Ekland and teamed with Rocker (whose real name is Leon Drucher) and former David Bowie guitarist, Earl Slick, to form Phantom, Rocker and Slick.
Both Phantom and Setzer appeared in movies — Phantom playing Charlie Parker's drummer (who was a composite of different characters) in the movie "Bird," and Setzer playing Eddie Cochran in "La Bamba."
Subsequent reunions confirmed to fans that the Cats still enjoyed playing together.
Fast-forward to now. Setzer, Phantom and Rocker are touring the United States — the first tour in 15 years.
"The biggest challenge for me is to keep up with the other two," said Phantom. "Brian, man, he is one of the best guitarists in world. And there is Lee who is one of the best flat-bassists I've ever seen. It's amazing that I'm up there playing with these two incredible musicians. We start playing and I look at these guys, who I have known since we were kids, and it floors me."
While on the tour with ZZ Top and The Pretenders, Phantom says the Cats and The Pretenders take turns playing the second slot.
"We all know ZZ Top is the headliner, and they are incredible," said Phantom. "But both us and Chrissy have about 45 minutes to shake things up. For us, that means we play all the hits. And there is a lot of energy in doing that.
"I was nervous the first show we did, but after the first song, it all went away."
If you go
What: ZZ Top, The Pretenders, Stray Cats
Where: USANA Amphitheatre, 6200 W. 5400 South
When: Wednesday, 6 p.m.
How much: $28-$70
Phone: 467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com