The Stray Cats Pounce on ‘Rock This Town’ For Late-Night TV Return: Watch
The Stray Cats are a very rare breed.
Hailing from Long Island, schoolmates Brian Setzer (vocals, guitar), Lee Rocker (double bass), and Slim Jim Phantom (drums) smashed their way into the British mainstream in the early ‘80s, a glorious time of musical freedom when post punk, new wave, and electro-pop acts could slot into rotations alongside some of the country’s sharpest protest artists.
The Stray Cats did it in style, with their rockabilly ways, great hair and hits — five of them crashed the U.K. top 40, and two entered the top 10.
None went higher than “Rock This House,” which peaked at No.
9 on the Official U.K.
Singles Chart in 1981.
Setzer and Co. stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a performance of that classic hit.
The trio remain tight as a balloon stretched over a bowling ball, Setzer’s hair piled proper, his hands in fine fettle.
What a difference 18 months can make.
In the early stages of 2025, Setzer revealed an auto-immune diagnosis, a disease that left him unable to play guitar.
He sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic, and stayed optimistic.
“I know I will beat this,” he wrote at the time , “it will just take some time.” Time helped and healed .
There’s a lot of love for the Stray Cats in their homeland, too.
The rockers wrapped up a summer tour on Sunday, Aug.
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