Life in the fast lane: The triumph and trauma of Faster Pussycat

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Life in the fast lane: The triumph and trauma of Faster Pussycat

Louder · 3 hours ago

Faster Pussycat emerged as a central force in Los Angeles' glam metal scene during the mid-1980s, when the Sunset Strip's hard-rock clubs reached peak cultural relevance. Frontman Taime Downe and MTV personality Riki Rachtman co-owned The Cathouse nightclub, positioning the band at the epicentre of a thriving rock community—yet despite their prominence and touring alongside legendary acts, the band's reign proved remarkably brief, with the entire scene collapsing within six years of its commercial zenith.

The Cathouse attracted approximately 600 rockers nightly to its La Cienega location, drawing everyone from aspiring musicians to established stars. Faster Pussycat toured extensively with major acts including Alice Cooper, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lee Roth and Motörhead. The band's music evolved from sleaze-rock simplicity into darker, heavier material, with Downe later collaborating with industrial rockers Pigface and founding alternative project The Newlydeads, demonstrating his resistance to repetition and commercial formula.

  • Faster Pussycat ruled LA's Sunset Strip but faded after just six years.
  • The Cathouse nightclub became the epicentre of 1980s Hollywood rock, drawing hundreds nightly.
  • Frontman Downe evolved the band's sound from sleaze-rock to darker, heavier industrial styles.

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