SMELLS LIKE TEEN PUSSY
Faster Pussycat makes triumphant return to Sunset Strip with Halloween concert at Whisky
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large
HOLLYWOOD — It was Halloween night on the Sunset Strip on Friday, Oct. 31, and Taime Downe was up to his old tricks at the Whisky, where Faster Pussycat has been playing to sell-out crowds throughout the legendary glam band’s 28-year career.
This was a particularly special evening, as Downe’s old cohort Riki Rachtman started the proceedings just past midnight by coming out and introducing the band. But first the former MTV Headbanger’s Ball veejay made a little speech about Downe, who co-founded the old Cathouse club with Rachtman many years ago, and Rachtman acknowledged that was the key launching point for his own career.
“Without Taime, there would have been no Cathouse, and without the Cathouse, I would never have been the host of Headbanger’s Ball,” Rachtman said. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Faster Pussycat!”
The crowd roared, and out came Downe and his four-piece band comprised of guitarists Xristian Simon and Ace Von Johnson, drummer Chad Stewart and bassist Danny Nordahl.
Riki Rachtman introduces Faster Pussycat on Halloween night at the “Whisky”
Bass & Drums = Brothers in Love
Downe, costumed in a red prison jumpsuit and appearing more fit and trim than usual, soaked it all in, looking oh so rock-star-cool as he smoked cigarettes and pranced around for the mostly female fans, his raspy voice warming up after a couple of songs and sounding as close to pitch-perfect as the glamster can be.
Everyone was going wild, then four songs in original guitarist Greg Steele joined for “House of Pain” – Faster Pussycat’s biggest hit – as Downe sat atop a lighted crucifix prop and sang his heart out.
Steele was having so much fun that he stuck around for most of the remaining set, as Faster Pussycat tore their way through all of the classics like “Slip of the Tongue,” “You’re So Vain,” “Don’t Change That Song” and “Bathroom Wall.”
Faster Pussycat even took a stab at INXS’s “Don’t Change,” a selection that Downe said the band had never played until earlier in the day at soundcheck.
Sexy backstage girls always make the concert more fun
Drunk guys laying on Sunset Strip is par for the course on Halloween night
It was well past 1 a.m., and Faster Pussycat was still going strong when we decided to make our way to the Rainbow for last call. Wow, the strip was really buzzing, and the freaks were definitely out despite an occasional drizzle and a cool breeze that saw a lot of young girls in sexy customs do their best to cover up – but alas most Halloween suits don’t come with jackets.
Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv
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