Faster Pussycat

Born on the Sunset Strip in 1985, Faster Pussycat forged a rough-edged blend of hard rock, glam metal and bluesy swing, carried by Taime Downe’s sandpaper vocals. From the Hollywood club circuit to a deal with Elektra, they hit with their self-titled debut in 1987, then sharpened the melodies on Wake Me When It’s Over in 1989 without dropping the sleaze-rock bite. Whipped! followed in 1992 with a heavier, darker tilt as the US hard rock tide turned. After a split in 1993, Downe revived the band in 2001 and has steered its many line-up shifts since, folding in industrial textures on The Power and the Glory Hole (2006) while keeping the hard rock backbone intact.

Live, Faster Pussycat tap into raw grooves and unfussy riffs, moving between late-80s staples and their 2000s material, with Downe’s drawl and swagger at the centre. They play The Brook in Southampton on 2 September 2026, bringing a set that spans their early club days to the tougher second chapter, from snarling glam-punk jolts to slower, blues-stained cuts. For fans of Sunset Strip grit and straight-ahead guitar work, it’s a no-frills return to form on stage.