Slim Jim Phantom

Slim Jim Phantom
Slim Jim Phantom - Australia and New Zealand tour (2006)
Background information
Birth name	James McDonnell
Also known as	Slim Jim Phantom
Born	(1961-03-21) March 21, 1961
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	Rockabilly, rock and roll, psychobilly
Occupation(s)	Drummer, musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Drums, vocals
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Arista, EMI America, Cleopatra

James McDonnell (born March 21, 1961, Brooklyn, New York), known by the stage name Slim Jim Phantom, is the drummer for Stray Cats. Alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, he spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 1980s.

Phantom currently plays in the band Kat Men with Imelda May guitarist Darrel Higham.

Biography

Born in Brooklyn, and raised in Massapequa, New York, Phantom grew up listening to his parent's jazz records and by the age of ten took up the drums. “To be honest I think the drums chose me, I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything else.” remembers Phantom. Immersing himself in the art of drumming and the world of music, Phantom took lessons with Mousie Alexander (who played with Benny Goodman) which included the study of jazz and working through books by Jim Chapin and Ted Reed.

By the late 1970s he was playing in bands with his school friend and bassist Lee Rocker and they soon joined forces with guitarist Brian Setzer. During downtime from the Stray Cats, Phantom played a part in several groups, notably one with him, Rocker and guitarist Earl Slick, which produced two albums, and The Swing Cats. Phantom also enjoyed a stint playing with Jerry Lee Lewis. He formed Col. Parker along with former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, releasing the album Rock n Roll Music in 2001.

SJP drumming on a two-piece kit while standing

He often performed with The Stray Cats using only a bass drum, snare drum and a Crash cymbal on stage, rather than a full drum kit.

Most recently he has been involved with three main projects; his own roots-rock trio, Dead Men Walking with Kirk Brandon, Mike Peters and Captain Sensible and The Head Cat starring Lemmy and Danny B. Harvey.

He was married to the actress, Britt Ekland, from 1984 to 1992 and has a son, T. J. (born 1988) with her. He currently owns and operates the nightclub, The Cat Club, on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Discography

• The Stray Cats - Stray Cats (1981)
• The Stray Cats - Gonna Ball (1981)
• The Stray Cats - Built for Speed (1982)
• The Stray Cats - Rant N' Rave with the Stray Cats (1983)
• Phantom, Rocker & Slick - Phantom, Rocker & Slick (1985)
• Phantom, Rocker & Slick - Cover Girl (1986)
• The Stray Cats - Rock Therapy (1986)
• The Stray Cats - Blast Off! (1989)
• The Stray Cats - Let's Go Faster! (1990)
• The Stray Cats - The Best of the Stray Cats: Rock This Town (1990)
• The Stray Cats - Choo Choo Hot Fish (1992)
• The Stray Cats - Original Cool (1993)
• Swing Cats - Swing Cats (1999)
• Swing Cats - A Special Tribute to Elvis (2000)
• The Head Cat - Lemmy, Slim Jim & Danny B (2000)
• Swing Cats - Swing Cat Stomp (2000)
• Col parker - Rock N Roll Music (2001)
• Swing Cats - A Rock'A-Billy Christmas (2002)
• 13 Cats - In the Beginning (2002)
• 13 Cats - 13 Tracks (2003)
• Dead Men Walking - Live at Leeds (2003)
• Dead Men Walking - Live at Darwen (2004)
• 13 Cats - In the Beginning 2 (2004)
• The Stray Cats - Rumble in Brixton (2004)
• Dead Men Walking - Live at CBGB's New York City (2005)
• Dead Men Walking - Graveyard Smashes Volume 1 (2006)
• The Head Cat - Fool's Paradise (2006)
• Slim Jim Phanton - Kat Men (2009)

External links

• Official Slim Jim Phantom website
• Official Cat Club website