The Go-Katz
Encyclopedia
The Go-Katz are a British psychobilly
band formed in Loughborough
, Leicestershire
in 1986. The original members were Howard Raucous (real name Howard Piperides) on vocals, Beaker (real name Giles Brett) on guitar, Andy Young (guitar), Moff (real name Mark Moffat) on Double Bass, and Wolf (real name John Basford) on drums. The band members have formerly made up Loughborough bands The Exorcists and The Go-Go Dakotas.
The original line-up recorded a vinyl 7" EP called "The Go-Katz EP" released on Raucous Records
in 1987. They also issued several tracks on psychobilly compilation albums from Raucous, Kix 4U Records (Netherlands) and Rockhouse Records (Netherlands).
The original lineup disbanded in 1988, when Beaker and Wolf departed, and new drummer Dave Fawkes was brought in. Under this line-up, which lasted until 1990, they released tracks on Raucous Records (UK) and Fury Records (UK).
Meanwhile interest in 1980s psychobilly bands increased, leading to a UK reformation in 2005, again with Howard Raucous being the only original member, with musicians from rockabilly trio The Top Cats drafted in. This lineup lasted until 2008 to play psychobilly events around Europe.
The revised Go-Katz line-up was finally settled in May 2009 and is now Howard Raucous on vocals, Steve Clark (ex-Top Cats) on drums, Dan Clark (ex-Hangmen) on Double Bass, and Janson Diamond (ex-Hellrazors) on guitar.
Psychobilly
Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly...
band formed in Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
in 1986. The original members were Howard Raucous (real name Howard Piperides) on vocals, Beaker (real name Giles Brett) on guitar, Andy Young (guitar), Moff (real name Mark Moffat) on Double Bass, and Wolf (real name John Basford) on drums. The band members have formerly made up Loughborough bands The Exorcists and The Go-Go Dakotas.
The original line-up recorded a vinyl 7" EP called "The Go-Katz EP" released on Raucous Records
Raucous Records
Raucous Records is a British record label focusing on rockabilly, psychobilly, rock and roll, and surf music. The label has released albums such as "Between The Polecats" by The Polecats, "Rock 'n' Roll Fever" by Jay Chance, "Rockabilly Express" by Gary Setzer and Barry Ryan, "The Lost Album" by...
in 1987. They also issued several tracks on psychobilly compilation albums from Raucous, Kix 4U Records (Netherlands) and Rockhouse Records (Netherlands).
The original lineup disbanded in 1988, when Beaker and Wolf departed, and new drummer Dave Fawkes was brought in. Under this line-up, which lasted until 1990, they released tracks on Raucous Records (UK) and Fury Records (UK).
Reformation
After more than a decade of inactivity, the Go-Katz resurfaced in 2003 in St Petersburg, Russia, with founder member Howard Raucous backed by members of Russian surf/psychobilly band The Bombers. With this line-up they occasionally gigged in St Petersburg and recorded "When A Stranger Calls", a cover of a Meteors song for the tribute album "Sympathy For The Devil".Meanwhile interest in 1980s psychobilly bands increased, leading to a UK reformation in 2005, again with Howard Raucous being the only original member, with musicians from rockabilly trio The Top Cats drafted in. This lineup lasted until 2008 to play psychobilly events around Europe.
The revised Go-Katz line-up was finally settled in May 2009 and is now Howard Raucous on vocals, Steve Clark (ex-Top Cats) on drums, Dan Clark (ex-Hangmen) on Double Bass, and Janson Diamond (ex-Hellrazors) on guitar.
Discography
- The Go-Katz EP – Raucous Records RAUC001 1987
- Real Gone Katz CD – Raucous Records RAUCD100 2004
- Maniac CD – Raucous Records RAUCD215 2008
- It's Not Fair CD – Raucous Records RAUCD241 2009