Biography
Phantom, Rocker & Slick formed as a brief collaboration that paired two ex-Stray Cats with veteran session guitarist Earl Slick. Brian Setzer dissolved the Stray Cats at the end of 1984 amid falling commercial fortunes and mounting internal friction. Bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom then joined forces with Slick, whose résumé already included work alongside David Bowie and Silver Condor plus fronting his own group. The resulting trio fused the rockabilly approach of the Stray Cats with added glam-rock drive supplied by Slick and issued a self-titled debut album toward the close of 1985. Although critics offered divided assessments, the record lingered on U.S. charts for nearly half a year and the band registered modest rock-radio airplay, highlighted by the hard-edged single “Men Without Shame” reaching the Top Ten. Issued twelve months afterward, Cover Girl stirred scant attention, prompting the group’s dissolution, after which Phantom and Rocker rejoined multiple Stray Cats reunions while Slick resumed session duties.
Albums
