“Raw
, frantic romps, driving blues and finger-snapping rockabilly...Impressive
originals.”
—Washington
Post
Bassist/vocalist/songwriter (and Stray Cat) Lee
Rocker celebrates the release of his Alligator Records debut, “Racin’
The Devil,” with a live performance in St. Louis. The new
CD is a solid slice of Americana, filled with powerful, original
songs and amazing musicianship. And when the band performs live,
they leave audiences begging for more. Concert information is as
follows:
Thursday,
July 20th:
Harrah’s Casino-Voodoo Café & Lounge
777 Casino Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO
www.harrahs.com
8:00 p.m.
$15.98
With musical muscle from his road-tested band (guitarists Brophy
Dale and Buzz Campbell and drummer Jimmy Sage) RACIN' THE DEVIL
is Rocker's most diverse album yet, and an Americana music fan's
dream come true. The CD features twelve rootsy songs of scorching
rockabilly, roadhouse romps and straight-ahead, old-school rock
'n' roll, highlighted by nine originals that are by far the strongest
of his career. And his reinventions of The Stray Cats mega-hit Rock
This Town and his first post-Cats band Phantom, Rocker & Slick's
Runnin' From The Hounds are foot-stomping and ecstatic statements
of pure joy.
The Chicago Tribune describes Rocker's playing as
"muscular and passionate." The Washington Post says his
music consists of "impressive, catchy, driving original songs,
frantic romps, finger-snapping swing and brooding slow blues."
Rolling Stone declares, "Lee Rocker's singing naturally captures
the spirit of rock 'n' roll. His catchy, well-written songs are
very difficult to get out of your head."
Born Leon Drucker in Massapequa, Long Island in
1961 to world-renowned classical musician parents, Rocker grew up
with music all around him. He began taking classical cello lessons
at age eight and initially hated them, but ultimately grew to enjoy
playing. As his ears widened into rock 'n' roll, he picked up the
electric bass, and quickly mastered the instrument. During grade
school, his close friends included Jimmy McDonnell (later to become
Slim Jim Phantom) and Brian Setzer. The three jammed together often,
playing a wide variety of rock 'n' roll, before discovering classic
blues musicians like Muddy Waters and rockabilly giants like Carl
Perkins. Rocker picked up the acoustic bass to emulate the sounds
he heard on those records, and the band began playing more and more
roots music. By 1979, this trio, now known as The Stray Cats, began
to single-handedly revive rockabilly music in the U.S. and eventually
around the world.
Adding a contemporary punk attitude to traditional
slap-bass, twangy guitar and drums, The Stray Cats headlined famous
New York haunts like CBGB's and Max's Kansas City, drawing overflow
crowds every time they played. They moved to London in 1980 and
became an even bigger success, even attracting The Rolling Stones
to their shows. The group's first American album, 1982's Built For
Speed, became a huge hit, and held the #2 spot on the Billboard
chart for 26 weeks, right behind Michael Jackson's Thriller.
By 1984 the group was exhausted and decided to temporarily
call it quits. But the furious touring of the early 1980s turned
Rocker into one of the best showmen working in any genre. In 1985
Rocker and Phantom hooked up with ex-David Bowie guitarist Earl
Slick to form Phantom, Rocker & Slick, scoring a minor hit with
the song Men Without Shame. The Stray Cats reformed in 1986, performing
together briefly. Rocker never stopped rocking, as he befriended
and collaborated with his hero Carl Perkins as well as with Dave
Edmunds, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jeff Beck and
Willie Nelson.
Rocker's
solo career took off in 1994 with the release of Big Blue and in
1995 with Atomic Boogie Hour, both on Black Top Records. Four more
releases followed, and Rocker toured relentlessly, becoming one
of the premiere Americana/ rockabilly/ roots artists in the U.S.
and Europe. In 2002, Rocker toured the U.S. with ex-Elvis Presley
guitarist Scotty Moore. His 2003 CD Bulletproof found a large and
appreciative audience, as he continued to perform all around the
country. That same year, The Stray Cats reunited for an 18-city
tour of Europe, culminating in a filmed show at London's Brixton
Academy. The show was released on DVD as Rumble In Brixton in 2004.
With
RACIN' THE DEVIL, Rocker has made the best solo album of his career.
From garage rockers and deeply textured roots anthems to the rockabilly
sounds he helped reinvent, the album is a rich piece of Americana,
as timeless and unique as the music Rocker fell in love with as a
youngster. The originals bite with a powerful snap, the covers become
his personal statements, and the playing is first-rate, raucous, rocking
and fun. A full tour calendar will bring Rocker's high-energy live
shows to fans across the country.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — JUNE 7, 2006
CONTACT:
PUBLICITY: Marc Lipkin / Chris Levick email: publicity@allig.com
RADIO: Tim Kolleth email: radio@allig.com
p.o. box 60234
chicago, illinois 60660
773-973-7736/773-973-2088 (fax)
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