Although they may be new to you, Black Cat Rebellion are not new kids on the block. Formed in 2003 in Indianapolis, BCR are first and foremost a rock and roll band, it’s really that simple. Sure you can hear elements of punk and glam, but they are essentially working from the same blueprint as the Dead Boys, Social Distortion, The Gaslight Anthem, Rocket From the Crypt; you get the idea.
On their latest full-length – Lovers Of The Bizarre (their 3rd release) BCR proudly wave the denim and leather flag. The record is nine tracks of snarling, fist pumping, guitar driven rock, with vocalist/guitarist summoning Billy Idol, Stiv Bators, and Iggy Pop. You can add BCR to the list of bands like the Biters, The Cry, and Wyldlife – man, rock and roll sure is in good hands.
We checked in with BCR to get the lowdown.
We are…
Brad – Vocals, Guitar
Rob – Bass
Patrick – Guitar
Chris – Drums
People say we sound like….
Dead Boys, The Damned, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers
How did you become Black Cat Rebellion and what’s with the name?
When Brad left his old band, he joined up with Chris (who was also a former member of Brad’s band) and Rob to form a band that peeled things back and got back to the roots of punk and rock n roll. We toured as a three-piece for a while, and then Patrick came along and really helped us refine our sound.
Black Cats not only symbolize bad luck, but also the otherworldly and anarchism. Rebellion is probably the most simple one word explanation for rock n roll.
Tell about the scene in Indianapolis…
We’re really having a great resurgence of rock n roll there now with The Hi-Fi bringing a lot of great national real rock n roll bands through. Punk Rock Night at The Melody Inn is the CBGBs of the Midwest.
What music has had an influence on your sound?
60s Garage, the grittier side of glam, early punk, and early goth/post-punk
Tell us about your live show…
We really try to get everyone watching us involved. Brad is in the crowd just as much as he’s on stage during the set. We know we are having a good show when you can feel the floor shaking from all the stomping and dancing.
What influences the band lyrically?
Lyricists: Nick Cave, Jim Carroll, TV Smith, Richard Hell, Peter Perrett, Peter Murphy
Writers: John Cooper Clarke, Rimbaud, Alan Moore, Debord, Baudelaire, Wilde, Artaud, Lester Bangs, Jean Genet
Best concert we’ve ever seen…?
The Cramps
If you could pick any time to travel back to for music, where would you go and what year would it be….
To any time when everything wasn’t so cookie cutter/well-defined. There’s too many boundaries on today’s music.
What tunes are currently on heavy rotation for you…
Roky Erickson – “The Evil One”, Gary Numan/Tubeway Army – “Replicas”, Pointed Sticks – “Waiting For The Real Thing”, Wyldlife – “(It’s Called) Rock ‘n’ Roll”
If you could open for any band right now who would that be and why?
Joan Jett. She’s very real. She’s a big personality who has stuck to her guns.
If you could only bring ONE record (you can all answer if you like) in the tour van/bus/plane what would it be?
Iggy Pop – “The Idiot”
When you’re not playing and have some time off, where could we find you…
Reading books, watching old movies, or driving.
From the Random Question Generator:
If your life was a song, what would the title be?
Be Sharp in the Flat Sea
What’s up for 2015/2016?
A vinyl release for our new album, “Lovers Of The Bizarre”. Lots of Midwest US dates for the rest of 2015 and a full tour Spring 2016.
