The Family Cat were a British independent band, formed in Stoke Newington, London in 1988. Three members were originally from Cornwall, one from Plymouth and one from Southampton.
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Career
The band played live for five years and recorded three albums, the mini-album Tell 'Em We're Surfin', (produced by The Jam's drummer Rick Buckler ) released on South London independent label Bad Girl Records, and its full-length follow-ups, Furthest from the Sun and Magic Happens, released by Dedicated. The band never quite capitalised on the momentum generated by the success of debut single "Tom Verlaine", which was named 'Single of the Week' by the NME, although the band's final LP, Magic Happens entered the lower reaches of the UK Albums Chart and "Airplane Gardens", lasted for one week in the UK Singles Chart. The Family Cat placed several singles on the UK Indie Chart including "Steamroller".
They also grabbed headlines by naming one of their songs "Bring Me the Head of Michael Portillo". Their music was melodic and radio friendly, but in spite of critical acclaim the band were unable to reach the heights of Britpop acts Oasis and Blur.
Amongst their cover versions were The Beatles' "Across the Universe", The Rolling Stones' "Rocks Off" and Scott Walker's "Montague Terrace (in Blue)".
In 2013, Five Lives Left was released on 3 Loop Music. The 2CD anthology features four songs from the album that the band started working on but never released.
Members
- Paul Frederick â€" (guitar, vocals)
- Stephen Jelbert â€" (lead guitar)
- Tim McVay â€" (guitar)
- John Graves â€" (bass guitar)
- Kevin Downing â€" (drums)
Discography
Albums
Singles/EPs
- "Tom Verlaine" (1989) Bad Girl (7-inch flexi-disc/12-inch) (UK Indie No. 6)
- "Remember What It Is that You Love" (1990) Bad Girl
- "Place With a Name" (1990) Bad Girl
- "Colour Me Grey" (1991) Bad Girl
- "Jesus Christ" (1991) Clawfist
- "Steamroller" (1992) Dedicated
- "River of Diamonds" (1992) Dedicated
- "Airplane Gardens" (1993) Dedicated (UK No. 69)
- "Springing the Atom" (1993) Dedicated
- "Wonderful Excuse" (1994) Dedicated/RCA (UK No. 48)
- Goldenbook EP (1994) Dedicated/RCA (UK No. 42)
After The Family Cat
Paul Frederick
Frederick later formed Pure Grain, who made one EP for their own Supple Pipe label, entitled "Here Come the Millionaires". They also recorded a full-length LP called 'Nobody Loses All the Time', promo copies of which were circulated but the album never saw official release.
Choosing to concentrate on studio work, Pure Grain changed their name to Jack Adaptor in 2004. Their first, self-titled album was released on Schnitzel Records in November 2004, with a single "No Logos" on the same label. This was followed up by "Road Rail River" (again on Schnitzel) in 2005 and "Right Royal", released on the band's own Supple Pipe label, followed in early 2006. Their album Swimming Pool Lies was released on Imprint Records in November 2008. The band is now Frederick (vocals) and Christopher Cordoba (all instruments/production) and their next album J'Accuse! was released in October 2014 by 3 Loop Music (the same label that released The Family Cat's Anthology 'Five Lives Left').
John Graves
Graves is now a wine expert at Bibendum (Wine), resident on the South Coast of England.
Steve Jelbert
Jelbert is currently working as a freelance journalist based in London, often writing for The Times.
Tim McVay and Kevin Downing
McVay and Downing are still good friends living their own life in Cornwall.
References
