The Phantom Cowboys

The Phantom Cowboys are a band formed in Norwich, United Kingdom in the early 1990s by Lord Emsworth (vocals; lead guitar) Rob (double bass) and The Serpent (drums) and were joined soon after by Megz (Rhythm guitar).

History & achievements

The band soon began to explore their influences, which spanned musically from 1920s jazz onwards, through 50s rockabilly, to just about any type of music with a sinister or stylish feel to it. They are the creators of and claim to be the world's leading exponents of "Voodoo Jive".

The Phantom Cowboys soon gained attention for their darkly humorous and cleverly written rockabilly-based tunes, as well as for their idiosyncratic look. The band wore Victorian evening dress both on and off stage, and constantly indulged in macabre jokes in their songs and stage act.

In early 1998 the band had three tracks from their demo back-catalogue ("Desert Nights", "The Reaper" and "The Fear Is Real") released on a CD compilation, "The Devil's Jukebox", on the [http://www.hangmen.co.uk Bone Tone Corporation] label. "The Fear Is Real" also found it's way onto a cover-mounted CD free with [http://www.totallywired.co.uk Totally Wired] magazine.

In the summer of 1998, The Phantom Cowboys, tired of the reticence of other labels to put out a bigger release by the band, decided to produce their own CD album, "Down and out at the Club Cruella" on their own Diogenes Records. It featured new original material such as the eponymous "Club Cruella", and re-recorded versions of "The Fear is Real" and "Desert Nights". The album also features two popular Phantom Cowboys tracks from their classic earlier sessions: "Surfers In The Night" and live favourite "Robbing Graves". "Down and out at The Club Cruella" was released in November 1998.

In 1999 The Phantom Cowboys contributed tracks to two compilation CDs, "Black Jacket Racket Vol.2", and the cult hit "Gothabilly" on US label Skully Records. Following this, the band went into hiatus as the members all pursued their own interests and careers.

In 2006, Cherry Red Records [http://www.cherryred.co.uk] included "Voodoo Bunnies" on "Deathrow: The Chronicles of Psychobilly", a retrospective CD of the leading psychobilly bands of the 1990s as featured in the magazine, [http://www.western-star.co.uk/deathrow/default.htm Deathrow Database] .

"Club Cruella" will be available for download in 2007 from Nervous Records [http://www.nervous.co.uk] .

Members

*Lord Emsworth - Guitar & Crooning
*Rob - Double bass
*Megz- Rhythm guitar
*The Serpent - Drums

Influences

1920s Jazz & 1930s Swing, 1950s Rockabilly, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who, The Damned, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks, The Cult, The Sisters of Mercy, The Phantom Chords, Link Wray, The Meteors, The Flaming Stars, [http://www.myspace.com/theearlsofsuave The Earls of Suave] , [http://www.the-sharks.co.uk The Sharks] , The Stray Cats, and many, many more..

Other Information

Record Label: Diogenes Records

Type of Label: Indie

External links

# http://www.phantomcowboys.co.uk
# http://www.myspace.com/phantomcowboys