Many music lovers agree that Go Cat Go, which existed for only a few years, from 1989 to 1993, is the most underrated rockabilly band. With this material, we begin the series with a publication codenamed Billy Essay. The rules are as follows: our domestic rockabilly-saykobilly band writes material about their favorites: about music or a movie, or maybe even about a computer game. This is how the article about the American group Go Cat Go is presented by Diddley Dogs from Yekaterinburg. Since 2010, the Diddley Dogs have been playing classic rock and roll and rockabilly, as well as country and tex-mex.
In 1986, Darren Spears and Lance LeBeau met. Darren loved to sing and play the guitar. Lance played drums and dreamed of a band. In the late summer of 1988, they began rehearsing in Lance’s basement and invited friends to join them. The incoming guitarist wanted to play Led Zeppelin, but the bass guitarist Paul Tarly wanted to play anything, and he was accepted. Darren and Lance played Gene Vincent’s “Baby Blue,” and there was definitely a spark in that. Something started to work out, but there was no band yet. In 1989, Bill Hull, the guitarist Darren had found, appeared: he called Lance and said, “Listen,” and someone was playing “Mystery Train” next to him. Bill modestly claimed that he was just a rhythm guitarist. And that’s when the band appeared. They saw the GoCatGo sign on Bill’s license plate. Carl Perkins’ catchphrase is like “Amen!” for rockabilly. That’s exactly what the band was called – Go Cat Go.
And despite the fact that Go Cat Go became popular in Washington D.C., something was missing in their sound. As it happens, someone had to leave. In 1990, Paul Tarly was replaced by 16-year-old double bassist Brian Freeman, who loved rockabilly and knew how to play the right way. Just two weeks later, Brian was already playing with the band on stage. Go Cat Go was finally formed.
The band worked hard to polish Darren’s songs. In March 1990, they self-released the cassette “Out of Control” with six songs of his composition: “Who Was That Cat”, “Forever’s Much Too Long”, “Time To Rock”, “Please Mama Please”, “Till the Cool Cats Cry” and “10 Ways to Rock”. After that, they came up with the idea to release vinyl, something they could include for their grandchildren.
In mid-1991, Go Cat Go recorded 6 more of their own songs: 5 by Darren and one by Brian for Rock-A-Billy Records in Denver, Colorado. This purple vinyl featured “Little Baby Doll,” “I’ve Got My Eyes on You,” “Can’t Tie Me Down,” “Big Train,” “Other Side of Town,” and “Lonesome Road.” The reviews for this record, released in January 1992, were extremely positive. Unfortunately, the album was released without a cover due to the financial constraints of the label. It wasn’t until a year later that the group decided to make the envelopes, with artist Ronnie Joyner working on the design, and they were added to the remaining print run.
In 1991, a couple of their songs “Other Side of Town” and “I’ve Got My Eyes on You” were released on the CD compilation Big D.C. Jamboree: Volume 2 by Run Wild Records. At the same time, Rock-A-Billy Records wanted to release the 2nd edition of their album, but both sides failed to reach an agreement. Nevertheless, inspired by the success of the record and the approval of other musicians, the guys decided to go on tour and in June 1992 rented a minivan that was completely unsuited to the quartet’s tours: there were two front seats, as expected, but instead of the back there was only a plastic bucket and a sleeping bag.
After a couple of days on the road, they stopped in Memphis, Tennessee. Being fans of Sun Records, the band wanted to record there too. Fortunately, the studio was completely free that evening. By a lucky coincidence, national television filmed the story Crazy About Elvis for the 48 Hours program there. And although Go Cat Go appeared on the air on August 12, 1992 for less than a minute, they recorded “Please Mama Please”, “Til the Cool Cats Cry”, “Who Was That Cat”, “Honey Don’t”, “Blue Days Black Nights”, “Flyin'” on the legendary Sun Saucers Rock ‘n’ Roll” and of course “That’s Alright Mama”.
In Texas, the band teamed up with High Noon to play joint concerts in Austin and Dallas. Go Cat Go returned home tired but elated and were happy to leave this minivan. They met as often as they could for the next year, but Brian attended college in Richmond, Virginia, two hours apart, which made rehearsals difficult. But they began planning a July 1993 tour to California.
In July, Go Cat Go drove across the country in a nice comfortable minivan. The tour began in Hollywood at the Palomino Club at the Ronnie Mack’s Barn Dance show (the show was held from 1988 to 2012, and many rock and roll stars took part in it). Continued in Anaheim with a stop at Linda’s Doll Hut for a concert featuring Dave & Deke Combo, then at Casbah in San Diego with Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Boys. Go Cat Go drove along the coast and played concerts, then drove to San Francisco, where they played several more concerts with Big Sandy. The tour ended with a big party in San Francisco. At this concert, they presented their new song “Kiss Me Baby”, dark and outspoken, the audience was fascinated by it. This song marked their new sound and musical direction. Unfortunately, it was not recorded.
Brian returned home in August, full of inspiration and plans. He and the band were on the verge of the next stage. All the participants were ready to leave their jobs and studies and devote all their time to music: recording and touring. In the summer of 1994, they planned a European tour. However, everything came to an end on September 14, 1993, less than a month after returning from California, Darren was shot dead by three teenagers. They needed a rifle with which he hunted pigeons. He died the next day. Those teenagers were found and punished: one was given a life sentence of 99 years, the second a life sentence, and the third got off with five years as an observer who did nothing to prevent the incident.
Darren Spears had a natural voice, just like Elvis. Darren wrote songs. Their recordings (most of them made in 1990-1991) demonstrate how talented the guys were.
Go Cat Go – Let’s Hear It Once Again For (1999)
02 Little Baby Doll
03 Please Mama Please
04 Mystery Train
05 Flyin’ Saucers Rock’n’Roll
06 ‘Til The Cool Cats Cry
07 Just Because
08 Can’t Tie Me Down
09 Blue Days Black Nights
10 I’ve got my eyes on you
11 Time to Rock
12 Forever’s Much Too Long
13 Other Side of Town
14 Who Was That Cat
15 Milkcow Blues Boogie
16 Reconsider Baby
17 Lonesome Road
18 Big Train
19 Ten Ways to Rock
20 Drugstore Rock’n’Roll
21 Hot Rod Man
22 Stockins & Shoes
23 Blue Moon of Kentucky
24 Pink And Black
25 Tell Me Why
Download the Go Cat Go album (159 MB) or listen online:
Go Cat Go were on the rise. But the loss of Darren was irreparable. The remaining band members were unanimous that no one could replace Darren and the band ceased to exist. Everyone went their own way. Brian decided to finish college. Bill quit rockabilly, but continued to play guitar in a different style. Lance became the drummer in the bands Flea Bops and The Twilite Ramblers.
Sources:
http://www.rockabillyhall.com / (by Wendy LeBeau)
http://www.rockabillywillie.com /
