Big Electric Cat

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Big Electric CatGothic Rock Band
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Sydney, Australia
Genre = Gothic rock
Post-punk Darkwave
Years_active = 1993–?
Members = Paul Sadler David Block Deborah Denton Dr. Ruth
Past_members =

Big Electric Cat is an Australian music group formed by Paul Sadler and Deborah Denton who moved from London to Sydney in 1989. In 1991, taking the name from the Philip K. Dick science fiction novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (later to become the movie Blade Runner) and influenced by the films dark, futuristic and other worldly themes, they formed Big Electric Cat.

Following several changes in the band's line-up it was not until 1993 they were joined by local bassist David Block that the current band was born. Their live drummer was dropped in favour of a drum machine named "Dr.Ruth" after the famous US sex therapist.

After sell out gigs across Australia the band recorded their 4 track demo "Suspira". After a chance meeting with the owner of record store Phantom Records in Sydney, he suggested sending their demo to the newly formed Goth label Cleopatra Records in Los Angeles. They were offered a 3 album deal.

The bands first full album was titled "Dreams of a Mad King" and was released in 1994. Recorded at Damien Gerrard Studios in Sydney it contains the songs "Christabel", "Orchid Dreaming", "Paris Skyes" and "Red Roses" which defined their sound and since its release, has become a classic across the USA and Europe.

On the suggestion of Cleopatra label boss Brian Perera the second release by the band was the seven track remix EP "Burning Embers" overseen by electronic guru Uberzone and was released in October 1995.In 1997 the band embarked on the massive Congregation Tour of the USA with labelmates Christian Death and Switchblade Symphony.On their return to Australia Deborah Denton left the band and Paul and David continued to record the second full length album "Eyelash".Released in August 1997,the songs took a darker, electronic journey-the classic title track was dedicated to the recent death of Pauls father.With more and more live commitments and increasing popularity William Jackson was recruitedfor keyboard duties, and when David Block quit unexpectedly later that year, he was replaced by maven Damien Gillette on bass.

Aside only arguably from The Birthday Party, Big Electric Cat were the first Australian Gothic band to break through to the USA.

Members

* PAUL SADLER (Vocals and guitars)
* Deborah Denton (Keyboards/Samples and vocals)
* David Block (Bass)
* Dr. Ruth (Drums)
* William Jackson 1997 (Keyboards replacing Deborah Denton)
* Damien Gillette 1997 (Bass replacing David Block)
* Changeling (Bass/Keyboards) 2000 to present
* Rainey Daye (Guitars/Keyboards/MacBook Pro) 2000 to present

Releases

*"Suspira" (1993, 4-track tape demo)
*"Dreams of a Mad King" (1994)
*"Burning Embers" (1995, remix EP)
*"Eyelash" (1997)
*Additional Releases/Compilations
*"Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" by David Bowie/Georgio Moroder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_People_%28Putting_Out_Fire%29]
*Gothic Rock Vol2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Rock_Volume_2:_80%27s_into_90%27s]
*The Black Bible 1998 (Cleopatra Records)
*Gothic Industrial Alternative Visuals DVD (Cleopatra Records 2006)
*Vampire Themes (Cleopatra Records)
*The Goth Anthology (Cleopatra Records 2006)
*Gothik (Cleopatra Records 2006)
*Art Of Gothic (Talitha Records 1994)
*In Goth Daze (Cleopatra Records 1994)
*Gothic Rock 2 (Jungle Records UK 1995)
*Gothic Rock 2: 80's Into 90's (Cleopatra Records 1995)
*Gothik: Music From The Dark Side (Cleopatra Records 1995)
*New Alternatives II (Nightbreed Recordings UK 1995)
*Goth Box (Cleopatra Records 1996)
*Goth's Undead (Cleopatra Records 1997)
*Songs To Wake The Dead (Black Rat Recordings 1997)
*Vampire Themes (Cleopatra Records 1997)
*Gothspotting (Cleopatra Records 1998)
*The Black Bible (Cleopatra Records 1998)
*Goth Oddity - A Tribute To David Bowie (Cleopatra Records 1999)
*Gothic Maladies (Cleopatra Records 1999)
*Zillo Mystic Sounds 8 (Zillo Germany 1999)
*Goth Box (DVD) Twisting Man Music Video
*Dancing On Your Grave (Cleopatra Records 2003)
*The Goth Anthology (Metro Triples 2006)
*This is Gothic-The Batcave Anthology (Cleopatra Records 2006)
*Music Inspired By Sisters of Mercy (Cleopatra Records 2008)

*VISUALS
*Gothic Industrial Alternative Visuals (Cleopatra VHS)
*Gothic Industrial Madness (Cleopatra DVD, NTSC)
*Goth - The Ultimate Collection (2007 DVD Warner Vision Australia/Cleopatra Records)

Further reading

* [http://www.sonic-boom.com/interview/big.electric.cat.interview.html Interview with Paul Sadler] USA

ee also

* Big Electric Cat releases at Amazon.com [http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=big+electric+cat&x=8&y=18]
*Cleopatra Records
*List of Gothic rock bands
*Artists Direct [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,513739,00.html#bio]
*http://www.last.fm/music/Big+Electric+Cat
*http://www.myspace.com/bandbigelectriccat