The Phantom Cowboys
The Phantom Cowboys | |
|---|---|
 The Phantom Cowboys in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Psychobilly, gothabilly, rockabilly, neo-rockabilly, rock, gothic |
| Years active | 1994-1999, 2015–present |
| Labels | Diogenes Records, Nervous Records |
| Associated acts | The Meteors, The Cramps, Phantom Chords, The Sharks, The Flaming Stars |
| Website | www |
| Members |
|
The Phantom Cowboys are a rockabilly and psychobilly-influenced band from Norwich, UK. Their 'dark rockabilly' sound has been closely associated with the emergence of the musical subgenre of gothabilly in the late 1990s.[1][2]
History[edit]
The Phantom Cowboys were formed in Norwich in 1994 and were originally a three-piece consisting of lead vocalist/guitarist Lord Emsworth, double bassist Rob and drummer The Serpent, prior to the recruitment of a second guitarist, Megz in 1996. According to the band they have retained this lineup ever since.[3]
The band recorded their debut album, “Down and Out at The Club Cruella” between 1996 and 1998. It was released as a CD on their own label, Diogenes Records in late 1998.[4] The 11 self-penned songs on the album were published by Nervous Records who also distributed the album in it's original CD format.[1]
"Down & Out At The Club Cruella" was generally well-received at the time of it's release: UK psychobilly magazine Deathrow Database described it as a 'flawed masterpiece', complimenting the perceived strength of the songwriting whilst highlighting imperfections introduced by the band's inexperience in the studio.[5]
In 1999, The Phantom Cowboys contributed tracks to two CD compilations by New York label Skully Records, most notably 'Gothabilly: Razin' The Dead', the first of Skully's gothabilly compilation series which has been credited with 'creating' the sub-genre of the same name.[6] It also established The Phantom Cowboys as one of the leading groups associated with that style. [7] [8] [9]
The Phantom Cowboys split up in 1999 shortly after the release of the 'Club Cruella' album.[1] Nonetheless, the group was featured on Cherry Red Records 2006 CD retrospective of UK 1990s psychobilly bands, 'Deathrow: The Chronicles of Psychobilly', and in the accompanying book of the same name.[4] The split occurred only months before the band were due to play at the launch party for Skully Records 'Gothabilly' CD at the legendary CBGB in New York. Unable to play at the event, some of the band members nonetheless made the journey to attend.[3]
In 2007 Nervous Records acquired the rights to the Club Cruella album, making it available as a digital release via the likes of Spotify and iTunes for the first time. Despite little publicity, the album had been widely distributed on illegal peer-to-peer file-sharing networks since the group's demise.[1][10].
After a gap of 15 years, The Phantom Cowboys reunited in Summer 2015 and played a reunion gig in their hometown of Norwich. In early 2016 the band released four new original tracks (again on Diogenes Records) as an EP entitled 'Dead Men's Clothes' in October 2016.[11]
Band members[edit]
- Current
- Lord Emsworth – Lead vocals, Guitar (1994–present)
- Rob – Double Bass,(1994–present)
- Megz – Rhythm Guitar (1996–present)
- The Serpent – Drums (1994–present)
Discography[edit]
- Dead Men's Clothes EP (2016), Diogenes Records, DIOGEP001
- Down & Out at The Club Cruella (1998) Diogenes Records, DIOGCD001
Compilations
- The Devil’s Jukebox (1998), Bone Tone Corporation, BTCD972
- Black Jacket Racket vol.2 (1998) Skully Records, SKL-9802
- Gothabilly: Wakin' The Dead (1999) Skully Records, SKL-9902
- Deathrow - Chronicles of Psychobilly (2006) Anagram Records, CDMPSYCHO42
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Phantom Cowboys". Mad Music for Bad People. No. 10. UK. 2016-09-15.
- ↑ "Gothabilly". Rebel Circus. US. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Old School Psychobilly interview". oldschool-psychobilly.de. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wilson, Alan (2006). Deathrow: The Chronicles of Psychobilly. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 1901447553. Search this book on
- ↑ "Down and Out At The Club Cruella by The Phantom Cowboys". Deathrow Database. No. 33. UK. 1999-02-01.
- ↑ Kirst, Sean (2007-10-31). "A Halloween Greatest Hit...The Tale of Skully Records". Syracuse, New York: The Post-Standard. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ↑ Breen, Meagan (2009-03-05). "An Introspective into Gothabilly". Auxiliary Magazine. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
- ↑ Marchal, Connie. "From the rock'n'roll days to present-day Gothabilly vogue". atmostfear-entertainment.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ↑ "Gothabilly'ing". The Society. No. 3. SA. 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ↑ "Track by Track – "Club Cruella" by The Phantom Cowboys". 50thirdand3rd.com. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ Olsen-Haines, Nathan (2017-04-17). "Back from the Crypt". famouslastwords.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
External links[edit]
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