Press

The Rock Magazine (Germany)
The Rock Magazine
Rockats “Rockin Together” review, 5 out of 5 stars!
http://www.rockmag.info/
The Rockats: "Rockin' Together"
Lanark Records
* * * * *
Denne skiva har jeg venta lenge på! At hitbesetningen i The Rockats skulle komme sammen
igjen var lite sannsynlig ettersom bandets medlemmer bor såpass spredt som New York,
Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles og på Island.
Neo-rockabilly bandet The Rockats herja tidlig på ‘80-tallet og var på topp med albumet "Make
That Move" i 1983. At de ikke ble like store som Stray Cats er for meg en gåte.
Ta en titt på liveopptak på YouTube fra den perioden. Det finnes ikke et mer vitalt og tøft
liveband enn dem. Platen "Live at the Ritz" er legendarisk og ble spilt inn, pressa og gitt ut i
løpet av 48 timer! På den er nå norskbosatte Tim Scott (Ledfoot) med på gitar også.
Rockats' forrige studioalbum "Wild Love" kom i 2003. Denne gang er som sagt hitbesetningen
igjen samla, eller mer korrekt, de har fått med seg begge trommisene fra "Live At The Ritz" og
"Make That Move" – Lewis King og Mike Osborne – ellers er besetningen Dibbs Preston på
vokal, Barry Ryan på gitar, Danny B Harvey på gitar og Smutty Smith på bass. Live spiller
Lewis King trommer.
"Rockin' Together" inneholder tolv egenskrevne låter. "Reckless Rebel" var en livefavoritt (ikke
spilt inn i studio før) den gang bandet var på høyden og finnes på liveplaten "The Last Bop" tatt
opp på Rockats’ siste konsert før de tok navnet Secret Hearts og ble enda mer moderne i soundet.
Begge liveplatene til Rockats er et must, hvis du digger neobilly vel å merke.
"Pink and Black Caddillac" er riktignok med på platen "The Good, The Bad, The Rockin'"
(1995) og er ganske lik som da, borsett fra et nytt og røffere gitarriff. Tøff låt og den eneste
"nye" de framførte på konserten i Las Vegas i påsken.
"The Doubt" og "Why Do You Love Me (If I Don't Treat You Right)" er tunge og tøffe
midtempo rockere, mens "Old Hickory Road" er fin countrybilly som like gjerne kunne vært på
Dibbs solo skive. På balladen "Sweet Charlotte" går tankene til Roy Orbison, selv om Dibbs
stemme ikke på noen måte kan sammenlignes.
Alt i alt er dette en knall rockabilly skive. Bandet spiller like bra som i gamle dager og det er
moderne og bra lyd. Noen flere kjappe låter hadde imidlertid gjort seg; "Make That Move" og
"Never So Clever" viser at de kan.
Linernotes er skrevet av ingen ringere enn Brian Setzer. "We're mates you know", som vokalist
Dibbs sa under konserten på Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Festival, hvor de var en av headlinerne
på bilutstillinga. Skal ikke si så mye om den konserten her, annet enn at, for en Rockats-fan, var
det alene verdt turen over havet. Bandet er fortsatt vitalt og shower som bare det. Favorittlåtene
kom som perler på en snor: "Make That Move", "Go Kat Wild'", "Don't Treat Me Like A Dog"
osv osv.
Frank Reiten

Brian Setzer
Rockats “Rockin’ Together” Reviews:
From the liner notes of the new Rockats Cd, “Rockin’ Together”
The Rockats burst onto the music scene in the late 70’s like a breath of fresh air. Rockabilly
music had laid dormant since the 1950’s, until a group of young brash Brits brought back a
revitalized and reenergized version to the US.
The Rockats were no mere revival act or retread, they were putting a modern spin on the classic
rockabilly sound, much like Stevie Ray Vaughn or the Fabulous Thunderbirds were putting their
modern spin on the blues. No one had seen a standup bass in 1978 being played the way Smutty
Smith played it! Slapping it! Spinning it and dancing with it! With Dibbs Preston’s great rockin’
vocals, Barry Ryan and Danny Harvey twin rockabilly guitar attack, The Rockats were poised to
Make That Move into the US.
I remember seeing The Rockats first show in New York. I couldn’t believe there were other
people like me. The spirit of the Rockats captivated the audience that night and left a great
impression on me. I guess we were swept away to our different paths in life and never really got
to know each other well until later.
Here are twelve great new tracks from the original Rockats. Still with the same spirit and savvy
as they had back in 1981!
Rock on, Kats, Rock on!
Brian Setzer

Now Dig This 5/13 Review
Now Dig This 5/13 Review
THE ROCKATS
Rockin’ Together
Lannark LNR079
The Doubt / Rockin’ Together / Why Do You Love Me (If I Don’t Treat You
Right) / The Road To Hell / Kitten With A Whip / Olde Hickory Road / Pink
And Black Cadillac / Red Headed Rockin’ Gal / Sweet Sweet Charlotte / Tear
The Roof Off / Bad Love / Reckless Rebel (Playing time: 36:13)
The Rockats are a well-travelled combo with an impressive track record,
originally emerging from the late ’70s UK rockin’ Teds scene to take
their music to the States to remind the Americans about where it came
from. Stateside, they found a kindred spirit in Brian Setzer, who
confirms this in his praiseworthy sleeve notes. Out in the States and
following a line-up change, the band also caught the ears of such
‘illustrious’ names as Tina Turner, Iggy Pop, Kiss and David Bowie
(well, not that illustrious) who were all equally impressed and rocked
with the band. They’ve also appeared on several prime US TV music shows
and even had a hit single to boot with ‘Make That Move’. All this
experience has contributed towards a tight and powerful combo as shown
on this latest and excellent set by the boys, namely vocalist Dibbs
Preston, guitarists Barry Ryan and Danny B. Harvey, slap-bassist Smutty
Smiff and drummers Lewis King and Mike Osborn.
All the songs are original and Quentin Jones’ strong production really
compliments the band’s delivery, kicked off by the moody opening
rocker, ‘The Doubt’. With Dibbs’ authoritative vocals and some hot
playing from the band, the songs also benefit from some great hooks
such as the title track, which could be their anthem. The brooding
rocker ‘Why Do You Love Me (If I Don’t Treat You Right)’ is a real
standout and, dare I say it, very ‘commercial’. The delightfully titled
‘Kitten With A Whip’ is a surfin’ instrumental twang-fest featuring
Danny and Barry battling it out, while ‘The Road To Hell’ is a lengthy
rockabilly jump tune with the two guitar pickers again playing off each
other most admirably.
Changing the mood from menacing rock n roll, ‘Olde Hickory Road’
demonstrates the band’s leanings towards hillbilly music, embellished
with some neat harmonies, honky tonk piano and backing vocals, although
the guitar solo is a bit messy. On ‘Pink And Black Cadillac’, the
drummer sounds like he’s comin’ through the bass-drum on a storming
rocker. ‘Red Headed Rockin’ Gal’ is a slinky bluesy number with cool
fingersnaps to help the song along and comes complete with another
great hook.
Slowing things right down, ‘Sweet Sweet Charlotte’ is an echo-laden
Vincent-styled ballad and for me the weakest cut on the album. ‘Tear
The Roof Off’ picks the tempo up again and features another snappy
arrangement with tough guitar and drums pounding away, plus some
effective harmonies. ‘Bad Love’ is another straightahead rocker with
more subtle harmonies. With a title like ‘Reckless Rebel’, it’s another
rampant rocker with a catchy chorus and a wild guitar solo to close the
set.
With some dynamic playing and singing, together with some great
arrangements, this is a solid, powerful and, more importantly; rockin’
set - musically akin to that of The Stray Cats and Robert Gordon. Get
the picture?
John Firminger

MUDKISS MAGAZINE—U.K.
MUDKISS MAGAZINE—U.K.
May 2013 issue (online)
Rockats - Rockin Together
This is the new album from the Rockats who were one of the key influencers of the modern
Rockabilly scene back in the Eighties. The band have reunited and now bring out this excellent
new CD, courtesy of Lanark Records. Full credit must go to Lanark records, who have a stated
goal to introduce fans to the styles of music that major labels and media ignore, so more power
to them!
This album opens up with "The Doubt" which is a good opening straight up rock n roll song,
with the vocals demonstrating, that dark n edgy sneer which works so well for Rockabilly. This
is followed up with "Rocking Together" which is a does what it says in the title kind of song. It
has a real rock n roll 50s sound and is designed for getting people up and dancing. This style is
repeated on tracks such as " Pink & Black Cadillac", "Bad Love" and "Road To Hell" which
bring to mind the classic early Sun Records sound.
The album really hots up with "Kitten With A Whip" (what a title!), which is actually an
instrumental but has a darker tone built on a swaggering guitar line. It would have been good to
have had some lyrics to match up to the title, but as it stands it would be a great accompaniment
to a burlesque performance. This theme is maintained with "Red Headed Rockin Girl" which
actually opens with a strip tease esque style with finger clicks and shivers. If ever a song was
written for a girl to shake her tassels to then this is it, it’s a great song.
The quality and experience of the band is really clear to see throughout the album. On "Sweet
Sweet Charlotte" they are able to slow things down which really brings out the warmth in the
vocals. Whilst "Tear The Roof" with its refrain of "My heart thumping to the music, we're going
to dance all night" sums the band up. This is a group with Rockabilly in their veins and not one
just playing up to stereotypes, they clearly love and enjoy the music they are making.
The album concludes with "Reckless Rebel", a good time, dancing rock n roll song. It again has
a tone and quality which prevents it having the throw away feel to it that many similar songs
have.
The whole album is one of timeless rock n roll which highlights the bands considerable
experience. Credit is also due to Lanark Records, where the quality of production means it still
has a contemporary shine to it. Overall, it is an album that has everything that you would hope
and expect from a straight up Rockabilly band. Review by Paul Hastings

The Rockats Pre Release Quotes
“I just listened to the new Rockats Cd, “Rockin’ Together” and I am loving it! This is great stuff.
It is loaded up with enthusiasm like music is supposed to be. Sign me up to the Rockats fan club right
now, when can I buy this stuff????” Peter Noone lead singer of 60’s band Herman’s Hermits

“Twelve tracks of rollercoaster-riding-rockabilly is what you get when you throw this disc on and there is
no doubt that when track one starts to play that you have got yourself a fresh sound of rockabilly
history,” Toronto Rockabilly Magazine
“Here are twelve great new tracks from the original Rockats. Still with the same spirit and savvy as they
had back in 1981!” Brian Setzer, legendary member of The Stray Cats.

“The Rockats are in fine form here, presenting twelve tracks of driving rock...and they all pretty much hit
the target dead center. Our favorites include "The Doubt," "Kitten with a Whip," "Sweet Sweet
Charlotte," and "Rockless Rebel.", BabySue.com

“I first met The Rockats in 1980 in Washington, DC at the Psychedelly Niteclub. I was playing with Tex
Rubinowitz & the Bad Boys. I remember how we loved their show, it was so exciting and fun, Smutty
running around the stage with his upright bass, his arms covered in tattoos, Dibbs dancing the bop and
charming the girls with his Billy Fury looks. What I didn’t know ‘til years later was how much they had
influenced The Stray Cats. Over the last 20 years as I’ve played rockabilly festivals around the world, I
wondered why The Rockats weren’t on the bill…..so it made me extremely happy to find out they played
this year’s Viva Las Vegas and then find out they have a new recording coming out! And here it is, 12
new songs and The Rockats sounding fresher and better than ever. Rockabilly fans around the world
need to take notice,” Eddie Angel, guitarist with Los Straightjackets.

"I was very influenced by the rockabilly revival scene at the time, including bands like the
Rockats and the Stray Cats. The Fifties stuff was very cool and we all wore 'big hair', jeans
and biker jackets. Johnny Depp from a recent BBC Press interview.