Levi and the Rockats

Levi and the Rockats are a British rockabilly revival band originally from Essex but currently based in New York City.[1] They are recognised as one of the pioneering neo-rockabilly groups of the 1980s.[2]

Levi and the Rockats
OriginSouthend on Sea, England
GenresRockabilly, cowpunk, new wave
Years active1977–present
LabelsRAK Records
Associated actsThin Lizzy, Kiss, Smutty Smiff
Websitewww.racey.net www.raceyweb.com/history.htm
Past membersLevi Dexter, Dibbs Preston, Smutty Smith, Danny B. Harvey, Lewis King

History

Levi & the Rockats were founded in 1977[3] by Levi Dexter, a Teddy Boy from Southend on Sea.[4][5] His main influences included Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Elvis Presley, musicians popular among the 1960s British rocker subculture.[2] In December 1979 Levi & the Rockats disbanded and the Rockats continued under that name. Levi Dexter went solo and is still performing rockabilly music and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame.[6]

In the 1980s, the Rockats opened for groups like Kiss, Iggy Pop, The Clash, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Thin Lizzy, and The Pretenders.[7] After Levi Dexter left the band, it was re-formed with Dibbs Preston on vocals.[8] This band is notable as one of the first rockabilly groups to incorporate punk rock and new wave influences to appeal to both punks and Teds, influencing later groups like Brian Setzer's Stray Cats and Dave Alvin's The Blasters, while retaining the raw authenticity of pre-British invasion Rock and roll.[9]

Awards

The Rockats toured the UK, Japan and US.[10] They also appeared on Andy Warhol's TV show in 1979 and were interviewed by Deborah Harry.[11] Their most successful single was "Make that Move"[12] which charted on the MTV charts in 1984, shortly after the band was signed on with RCA records.[1]

Discography

Studio recordings
  • "Room to Rock/All Thru the Nite" (Peer Communications 1979)
  • "Rockabilly Idol/Note from the South" (Peer Communications 1979)
  • "Rockabilly Doll" 7" (Kat Tale Records, 1980)
  • Make That Move EP (RCA, 1983)
  • Downtown Saturday Night LP (Jimco Records Japan, 1994)
  • The Good, the Bad, the Rockin' LP (Fury Records, 1997)
  • True Hearted Woman EP (Downer Records Japan, 2000)
  • Rollin' Thunder LP (Downer Records Japan, 2001)
  • Wild Love LP (Blue Leaf Records, 2003)
  • Rockin' Together LP (Lanark Records, 2013)

Live recordings
  • Live at the Ritz LP (Island Records, 1981)
  • Live at the Louisiana Hayride LP (Posh Boy Records, 1981)
  • Raw in Japan LP (Jimco Records Japan, 1992)
  • The Last Bop - Farewell 1984 LP (Revel Yell Music Japan, 2003)

Members
  • Levi Dexter - lead vocal
  • Dibbs Preston - lead vocal
  • Smutty Smiff (Stephen Dennis Smith) - standup bass
  • Mick Barry - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Barry Ryan - lead guitar
  • Dean Thomas - drummer
  • Guy Hemmer - rhythm guitar
  • Danny B.Harvey - lead guitar
  • Lewis King (Curt Weiss) - drums
  • Ira Kaye - drums
  • Steve Clark - drums
  • Jerry 'Nigs" Nolan - drums
gollark: It's a shame we can't pick the codes any more.
gollark: Who would leave their prize to the ravages of the Ap?
gollark: Probably.
gollark: Assuming I have free slots, which happens rarely.
gollark: All aeons, in theory.

References
  1. "THE ROCKATS". Myspace.
  2. Morrison, Craig (May 25, 1996). "Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers". University of Illinois Press – via Google Books.
  3. Dibbs Preston interview Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Levi Dexter | Neo-Rockabilly Legend". Ponyboymagazine.com.
  5. "THE ROCKATS". Myspace.com.
  6. "LEVI DEXTER". Punkglobe.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  7. "Rockabilly Bash - Bands - Rockats, The". Rockabillybash.com.
  8. "A Gretsch newbee at 60.....who needs Viagra? : Modern Gretsch Guitars : The Gretsch Pages". Gretschpages.com.
  9. "LEVI DEXTER". Punkglobe.com.
  10. "Punk Turns 30: Levi Dexter & the RockatsPunk Rockabilly". Punkturns30.blogspot.com.
  11. Warhol, Andy; Guardiola, Juan; Tàpies, Fundació Antoni (May 25, 2000). "Andy Warhol: cine, vídeo y TV". Fundació Antoni Tàpies – via Google Books.
  12. "All The Acts / Bands Who Played The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline - 'L'". Kinemagigz.com.
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