This Welsh rock outfit earned equal renown for the members’ flamboyant glam-rock appearance and for a sound steeped in the style of 1970s predecessors T. Rex and the Sweet. Assembled in South Wales in 1984, the group cultivated an ardent, outspoken UK audience through a lineup of Steevi Jaimz (b. Steve Denham; vocals), Jay Pepper (guitar), Pepsi Tate (b. Huw Justin Smith, 1965, d. 18 September 2007, Penarth, Cardiff, Wales; bass) and Ace Finchum (b. USA; drums). The latter two musicians had previously played together in NWOBHM band Treason as well as Crash KO, while Jaimz succeeded the original singers Phil Harling and Jim Dovey.
Tigertailz issued their debut album, Young And Crazy, in 1987; although reviewers largely overlooked it, the band’s devoted supporters embraced the record wholeheartedly. Jaimz exited soon afterward amid bitter disputes and later launched St Jaimz. Kim Hooker (ex-Rankelson) stepped in as vocalist for the stronger follow-up Bezerk, which also included keyboard contributions from Thighpaulsandra and positioned Tigertailz alongside American glam acts such as Mötley Crüe through its hook-laden anthems.
Despite growing support, especially in Japan, Finchum’s departure in 1992 signaled the end of the original run. The remaining members—Tate, Pepper and Hooker—reconvened the next year with new drummer Andy Skinner under the name Wazbones. After an American record deal fell through and Pepper departed, Tate and Hooker returned to Wales to record their self-titled 1995 album alongside Skinner and guitarist Cy Danhar. Jaimz and Finchum reactivated Tigertailz in 2003 for live work. Hooker, Pepper and Tate subsequently regrouped to track a new release, Bezerk 2.0, and prevailed in court to secure rights to the band name. Tate succumbed to pancreatic cancer shortly after Thrill Pistol appeared in 2007.
