“I guess I’d like to believe that she (Kimberly Burch) was wearing funky shoes, and slipped on a wet deck and went flying or something, after one too many beverages.”
— Share Ross-Pederson former Vixen bassist to Inside Edition
The 80’s Cruise — Faster Pussycat are still on the Explorer of the Seas a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that is currently out to sea, so the band remains in-flux until it returns to a port in Miami on March 9th.
A source from the ship has reached out to Metal Sludge directly and says that Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe is suffering tremendously and is soaked in anguish after his Fiancée Kimberly Burch jumped from their 8th story balcony cabin on Sunday night March 2nd.
Our source also tells Metal Sludge that the band and some friends have been spending time with Downe and keeping a watchful eye on the distraught front-man.
Metal Sludge first reported this story early Monday morning March 3rd, before it was confirmed who the passenger was that went over-board.
Our source has also told Metal Sludge that Downe has had to borrow clothes from his band-mates as the cabin he was staying in has been designated off-limits until the Explorer of the Seas returns to the United States.
The couple is alleged to have been in a heated argument shortly before the incident according to numerous reports that have surfaced on various entertainment websites including the Daily Mail.
Metal Sludge has also learned that Downe has already allegedly been exonerated by Bahamian authorities, but we’re also hearing that the singer will be interviewed again by U.S. authorities once the ship returns to South Florida.
Burch has been part of the band’s network for a decade since she and Downe started dating and has become a fixture at shows sometimes acting as the band’s merchandise girl.
A continuous out-pouring of love and support has flooded Burch‘s Facebook, with friends of the Alabama native saying the striking blonde bombshell was a sweetheart, but that she also had a wild streak.
“She was a free spirited wild heart, 16 kinds of crazy, with that soulful southern charm” wrote Kenny Kweens of Beautiful Creatures in a Facebook tribute to his friend.
The unthinkable incident happened in their 8th floor cabin soon after the band’s performance which took place around 8:30-9:30PM (EST) the very first night of The 80’s Cruise.
Sources from the ship have also told Metal Sludge and allege that Burch was seen drinking that night while Faster Pussycat performed, and that soon after their set, she had lost her purse which resulted in a bit of a frantic search to find the missing hand-bag.
All of our sources say that the band members are heart-broken for both their singer (Downe) and his long-time Fiancée (Burch) but at the same time, they’re frustrated that Downe is being tried in the court of public opinion.
Comments on social media have cast a dark cloud over the incident questioning as to what really happened… with articles on TMZ , VICE, Inside Edition, Variety and the New York Post all helping to fuel the rumor mill.
Daily Mail have run an article on March 4th that Burch‘s family have stated; “(We’re) grief-stricken and (we’re) demanding answers from Downe”, and in a second article from March 6th, the site shares intel from an insider that reads; “The source added they had heard ‘scattered stories Burch was drunk’ on the night of her death but said Burch ‘didn’t really drink and had helped Downe with his sobriety.'”
In 2023 Downe shared a photo of him at age 5 back in his native Seattle celebrating the 5 year mark of his sobriety.
The singer wrote on his official IG: “Me at 5 yrs old. Today I’m 5 yrs sober/smoke and drug free! It still feels different. But I can’t believe it’s already been 5. Thanks to my woman @burchkimberly and all my friends for making the transition much easier! I feel so much better! I’m forever grateful 🙏🏻 @rikirachtman @tomkeiferofficial @fasterp_ssycat among others! 🤘🏻#5yearsclean #sittinondadscar #ballard #seattle“
A TMZ article has quoted Kimberly Burch‘s Mother Carnell Burch as saying: “Kimberly had been drinking on the cruise — something that was out of character for her.”
While Burch is greatly loved and missed with countless tributes filling her various social media platforms, there have been some comments that appear to detail the 56 year old as a bit of a party-girl as well.
“If anyone can raise hell in heaven, it’s you beautiful Kimberly Burch“ wrote Tara OLoughlin on Facebook.
Share Ross-Pederson former Vixen bassist went on Inside Edition and said the following about the incident: “I guess I’d like to believe that she (Kimberly Burch) was wearing funky shoes, and slipped on a wet deck and went flying or something, after one too many beverages. I literally can’t believe this is true. I can’t believe it.”
Faster Pussycat are scheduled to perform on Friday night March 7th, and we have heard that the band are trying to organize a possible All-Star Jam of sorts, with a few members from other groups stepping in to take turns singing for Downe.
As of press time there is no other information other than the band are all still on the ship, and as to whether or not they will perform again, it is still unclear.
Faster Pussycat are also listed to appear on the annual Monsters of Rock Cruise which is scheduled to sail next week out of Miami departing March 10th through the 15th.
Metal Sludge has done a search to find out, just how often does something like this – a man over-board incident – happens on cruise ships around the world.
According to a brand new article from the Independent website, it’s not rare, and unfortunately it happens more frequently than one would think.
“Data from the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) shows that between 2009 and 2019, there were 212 man overboard incidents on cruise ships. That works out to roughly 19 each year.”
Another related website called Cruise Junkie has a chart noting persons over-board since 2000, and in the last 24 years, combining cruises and ferries, including both Passengers and Crew, there have been 419 incidents recorded around the world.
The CLIA article also states that in 2023 alone, over 32 million people went on a cruise, which then puts the odds at roughly 1 in 1.34 million that you will go overboard on a cruise.
Andy Harmer, director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), told The Independent: “A cruise holiday is one of the safest forms of travel. Cruise ships today are the safest that ever sailed, thanks to the rules, regulations and technological innovations that govern their design. There are no known cases of someone acting responsibly who has accidentally fallen over the railing of a cruise ship.”
Below is a list of Faster Pussycat related articles found on Metal Sludge from recent years.
January 2nd 2025 – SUNSET STRIP REVIEW … The Whisky hosted an epic 80’s week to close out 2024 with Quiet Riot, Faster Pussycat, Stephen Pearcy and L.A. Guns
October 9th 2024 – MEMORY LANE … RIKI RACHTMAN lets it all hang out on the IDIOTS IN BARS Podcast
May 2nd 2024 – FALLEN PUSSYCAT … Danny Nordahl of Faster Pussycat falls out of Tour Bus and Suffers a Broken Arm, his replacement is L.A. Guns bassist Johnny Martin >Updated with Video<
April 18th 2023 – SUNSET STRIP … Whisky & Rainbow host extended weekend featuring L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, Geoff Tate, Lizzy Borden, Enuff Z’Nuff & The Zeros
February 10th 2023 – WE’RE NOT GLAM … Michael Sweet of Stryper: “Poison, Faster Pussycat and Tuff” were Glam and notes, “Stryper were NOT a Glam Band”
January 16th 2023 – NEXT WEEK … Glam Fest 2023 hits Australia Jan. 25-28th featuring; Faster Pussycat, Wednesday 13, Enuff Z’Nuff, Eclipse, Tuff and Sisters Doll
December 15th 2021 – SONIC SLAM 2022 … Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat announce Summer Tour 2022
December 4th 2021 – SOME NEW PUSSY … Faster Pussycat announce new guitarist and will kick off 2022 at the “Whisky” January 1st
May 20th 2021 – STILL RUNNIN’ SH!T … After an ugly year off, Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe returns with New Life, Brand New Music and New Tour Dates
April 9th 2021 – HOUSE OF DEMOS … Faster Pussycat classic guitarist Greg Steele on debut: “I can’t Listen to it…it’s like a Demo”
March 27th 2021 – RIP … Brett Bradshaw former Faster Pussycat drummer
April 21st 2020 – STRAIGHT OUTTA QUARANTINE … Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z’Nuff team up for fall tour
November 20th 2019 – METAL SLUDGE EXCLUSIVE: Frankie Banali talks about his Cancer, Kevin DuBrow, Jizzy Pearl & Taime Downe
April 29th 2017 – FASTER POLEYCAT … Ted Poley joins Faster Pussycat at M3 Rock Festival, pneumonia sidelines Taime Downe
April 28th 2017 – NO3 … Faster Pussycat’s Taime Downe hospitalized with severe pneumonia, band ‘unsure’ of M3 appearance
March 17th 2016 – FORGIVE US FOR WE HAVE SINNED … METAL SLUDGE EXCLUSIVE: Faster Pussycat apologize (kind of) for Stryper attack
March 15th 2016 – Michael Sweet calls Faster Pussycat’s hateful verbal assault on Stryper ‘disturbing’
March 14th 2016 – FASTER JESUSCAT! Stryper receives verbal beat down from Faster Pussycat members
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
