Slim Jim Phantom
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Slim Jim Phantom | |
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 Slim Jim Phantom – Australia and New Zealand tour (2006) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James McDonnell |
| Also known as | Slim Jim Phantom |
| Born | March 21, 1961[1] Brooklyn, New York City, 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), known by the stage name Slim Jim Phantom, is the drummer for Stray Cats.[2] 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.[citation needed]
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 in several groups, notably one with Rocker and guitarist Earl Slick, which produced two albums,[3] and The Swing Cats. Phantom also played 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.[4]
He often performed with the Stray Cats using only a bass drum, snare drum and a crash cymbal, 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.
Discography
- Stray Cats – Stray Cats (1981)
- Stray Cats – Gonna Ball (1981)
- Stray Cats – Built for Speed (1982)
- Stray Cats – Rant N' Rave with the Stray Cats (1983)
- Phantom, Rocker & Slick – Phantom, Rocker & Slick (1985)
- Phantom, Rocker & Slick – Cover Girl (1986)
- Stray Cats – Rock Therapy (1986)
- Stray Cats – Blast Off! (1989)
- Stray Cats – Let's Go Faster! (1990)
- Stray Cats – The Best of the Stray Cats: Rock This Town (1990)
- Stray Cats – Choo Choo Hot Fish (1992)
- 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)
- 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)
- The Head Cat – Walk the Walk...Talk the Talk (2011)
References
- ^ "Official Web Site". Slim Jim Phantom. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- ^ Huey, Steve "Stray Cats Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-11-21
- ^ Demalon, Tom "Phantom, Rocker & Slick Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-11-21
- ^ Prato, Greg "Col. Parker Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-11-21
External links
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