Artist: TIGERTAILZ
Album: BEZERK 2.0 (CD)

Release date: 2005
Media type: CD

A quite infamous British Glam band with roots heavily entrenched in South Wales, although boasting an American drummer for the greater part of their career, TIGERTAILZ was able to build on the interest in American 80's Glam. TIGERTAILZ' original line-up, founded by guitarist John ‘Jay’ Pepper and bassist Pepsi Tate (a.k.a. Hugh Justin Smith), and drummer Ian Welsh came together during 1983. Rehearsals held at Church Hall in Whitchurch, Cardiff as a trio took place before Phil Harling was inaugurated to handle lead vocals and guitar. The band, christened STAGEFRIGHT, cut an opening demo comprising two tracks 'Finding Magic' and 'Actress Lost In The Snow'. At this juncture, at Tate's suggestion, the group adopted the title TIGERTAILZ. The band put in local gigs but in 1984 Harling exited, being replaced by Jim Dovey.

The revised version of the band crafted a three song demo, including the songs 'All Wrapped Up', 'Just 4 One Night' and 'High Tailin', at THE ENID's studios in Cambridge. Briefly, second guitarist Keith Tosh was also part of the line-up, featuring on the demo. However, following an appearance at the 'Hallifax Rock' festival both Dovey and Tosh were asked to leave, the latter staying on as guitar tech. In 1985 TIGERTAILZ acquired former TREASON, CHINA ROGUE, IDLE THREAT, TRANZZAM and CRASH K.O. frontman Steevi Jaimz (Real name: Steve Denham) after he responded to an advert in 'Sounds' Magazine. The new unit set about recording demos but these sessions resulted in the removal of Welsh from the drum stool.

The quartet released their 'Shoot To Kill' demo in 1986 which featured an early version of future single 'Living Without You' featuring ex-TOKYO BLADE drummer Steve Pearce. Jaimz soon enrolled his American born, former TREASON and TRANZZAM and CRASH K.O. colleague Stephen 'Ace' Finchum (who had returned to Denver, Colorado and was playing in a band called ROXX) into the band by sending him the demo in America. When the demo was distributed it featured a photograph of the band supposedely featuring Ace Finchum although in reality the person in the picture was in fact Steve Pearce.

The group premiered with a self-financed EP 'Shoot To Kill', in 1987 and began to pull in the crowds wherever they played within Britain. TIGERTAILZ also played a number of dates in Germany and Holland supporting TOKYO BLADE. The buzz led to a deal with Music For Nations and TIGERTAILZ would set to work on the 'Young And Crazy' album, which surfaced during November 1987. The album, recorded at Gooseberry Studios in London, was notably produced by Steve James, son of the legendary 'Carry On' comic actor Sid James. Gigs across the UK saw a mix of headline shows and supports to MAMAS BOYS and VOW WOW.

Unfortunately, Jaimz was by now getting a reputation for fighting in clubs and at gigs, leading to several feuds with other bands and succeeded in alienating the media. Some time after the release of the album Jaimz was fired as the band viewed his offstage behaviour too detrimental to their progress.

Wasting no time in announcing Jaimz' successor as Kim Hooker (actually Pontypridd native Andrew Jones and previously operative as bassist with RANKELSON) TIGERTAILZ began work at with noted producer Chris Tsangarides at Great Linford Studios, Milton Keynes on the ambitious, though successful, 'Bezerk' album. Released in March 1990, 'Bezerk' found the Cardiff based quartet touring throughout Britain and Europe, closing the year with a support to UFO at a 'Metal Hammer' magazine party at the London Astoria. The album, which hit number 36 on the national UK charts, spawned three high profile singles in 'Heaven', 'Love Bomb Baby' and 'Noise Level Critical'. Drums on the two B side tracks to 'Love Bomb Baby', namely 'For A Few Dollarz More' and 'Shes Too Hot', were supplied by a then TEMPER TEMPER and pre-FEEDER John Lee as Finchum was unavailable.

Following 1991 European gigs matched with LIZZY BORDEN and a UK trek supported by label mates BLUE BLUDD, the band split from Music For Nations to sign with an American label. This turn of events proved disastrous as, despite recording a costly 'Clockwork Orange' themed third album, the financiers, the giant Japanese owned Amuse America company, withdrew at the last minute, leaving the band high and dry with no deal.

TIGERTAILZ had recorded their proposed next album at the famous Rockfield Studios in Wales and Costa Mesa Studios in California at great cost but this outing was now shelved. During the hiatus Ace Finchum departed and was replaced by Andy Skinner as the band performed four low key gigs under the name of WAZBONES whilst they negotiated the rights to the third album. The Tim Lewis 'Banzai' album was released credited to WAZBONES in Japan and included five of the tracks from the now buried album.

They reverted back to TIGERTAILZ in 1994 with new drummer Greg Haber, having bought back the rights to the third album. The album was completely re-recorded for release in 1995. That year Cy Danaher took over the guitar role from Pepper. Ace Finchum, meantime, briefly linked up with old mucker Steevi Jaimz again in JAIMZ GANG.

The first TIGERTAILZ shows of 1994 unveiled the fact that learned Jay Pepper had left the group and had been replaced by Simon Donahugh. Haber was also ousted in favour of a returning Andy Skinner as the band toured Britain in early 1995 as support to TYKETTO. However, Skinner was to wind up joining VAN DAMNE. Ultimately, TIGERTAILZ suffered from the increasing disdain by the Rock media for anything connected to the 80s and splt up, Tate reportedly finding a new career as a TV scriptwriter. Hooker would go on to front STORMCROW.

Former drummer Ace Finchum would found a succession of bands including ACES HIGH, VANITY KILLS and UK KILLING MACHINE. He touted his trade in a covers band during the late 90s but would join NWoBHM legends ANGEL WITCH in August of 2001. By early 2003 it appeared a TIGERTAILZ reunion of sorts was underway. Frontman Steevi Jaimz and drummer Ace Finchum holding auditions for new members whilst a compilation album entitled 'Original Sin' was slated for release. New recruits would be announced as guitarist Joolz Routen and bassist Greg Wraith, the latter in fact being former WRAITH and DEUCE guitarist Greg Russell. The new look TIGERTAILZ debuted at Nottingham Rock City supporting ENUFF Z'NUFF on August 24th.

TIGERTAILZ added a brand new song 'King Of The World' to the Perris Records 2004 compilation 'Hollywood Hairspray III'. By this stage Jaimz, Finchum and Russell had been joined by new guitarists Darayus 'Dee Zee' Kaye of TATTOOED LOVE BOYS and THE UNLOVED together with Marcus Thurston of STRANGEFIRE and SIAM. Both new members also had spent a tenure with PAUL DIANNO's band KILLERS.

Somewhat confusingly another version of TIGERTAILZ sprang up that same year, vocalist, Kim Hooker, guitarist Jay Pepper and bassist Pepsi Tate being joined by new drummer Mic Hourihan, previously a member of STORMCROW, NECKBRACE and Death Metal band DESECRATION. Following a demo 'Demolition Mission' a brand new studio album, 'Berzerk 2.0', would soon be recorded.

The Jaimz fronted TIGERTAILZ would be the first to announce live action in 2005, headlining the Italian 'Glam Attack' festival in Turin during March. In May, Sanctuary Records re-issued both 'Bezerk' and 'Banzai' albums in re-mastered format. Pepsi Tate re-designed all new artwork for both releases, which featured extra tracks culled from the WAZBONES sessions.

The Kim Hooker fronted version of the band also included a newly recorded version of 'Dirty Needles' to the Perris Records compilation 'Hollywood Hairspray IV'. Not to be outdone, the Steevi Jaimz led troupe would be found to be working on new album material in collusion with SCRATCH, ANIMAL and ZAN CLAN guitarist Chris Laney. Meantime, Steevi Jaimz TIGERTAILZ saw a shift in line-up as Greggz "Karnage" Russell switched back to his more traditional guitar role, Thurston exited and Darayuz Kaye moved over to bass. Russell also made it onto the TV screens in the series 'Plastic Surgery Ruined My Wife', described as a "wannabe rock star who encouraged his partner, (porn star Lea Walker), to get the biggest implants in Britain, an astonishing 30M cup size only to discover he couldn’t cope with the attention she attracted."

The Hooker fronted TIGERTAILZ, having installed new drummer Matt Blackout, lent support to BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION in Germany. Later that year ex-TIGERTAILZ member Marcus Thurston assembled a covers band in union with former LIONSHEART man Eddie Marsh and ex-THE SHOCK drummer Pete Newdeck.

The Kim Hooker version of TIGERTAILZ signed to Demolition Records in January 2006. In September progress was interrupted when Pepsi Tate was hospitalised suffering from stomach pains diagnosed as an "internal muscle seizure". Glen Quinn of CITY KIDDS stepped in as substitute for live shows.

TRACKLIST:

1. Bezerk
2. Do It Up
3. One Beat Of Your Heart
4. I Believe
5. TVOD
6. Falling Down
7. Make Me Bleed
8. Get Real
9. Anniez Gone
10. For Hate'z Sake
11. Sugar Fever
12. Dirty Needlez

LINE-UP:

Kim Hooker (vocals)
Jay Pepper (guitar)
Pepsi Tate (bass)
Mic Hourihan (drums)