Tigertailz Bio
Kim Hooker - Lead vocals, guitars
Jay Pepper - Lead guitars, backing vocals
Matt Blackout - Drums, backing vocals
1990 and "glam rock" for the then generation had hit it's peak. A young bunch of beer'd up rockers staggered their way out of the Welsh countryside with their hair spiked to the Heavens and mothers worrying why their daughters were hanging around with such weird looking freaks.
Having made a splash in 1987 with their debut album, 'Young And Crazy', on the independent Music For Nations label, Tigertailz were ready to move their careers to the next level. Having let go their previous singer, the band enlisted the talents of longtime friend, Kim Hooker, in order to assist them with this task. Hitting the studio immediately the band released their debut single with Hooker, the rewritten and incredibly infectious "Living Without You" to huge public praise and shot straight into the Top 20 of the UK's independent chart. With the single's accompanying video hitting MTV Europe the band was well on it's way.
The Spring of 1990 saw the unleashing of a monster known as 'Bezerk', an album that would firmly plant the name Tigertailz in the minds, households and nightmares of rock fans, not only across the United Kingdom and Europe but worldwide, as well.
In "Love Bomb Baby", the quartet had their first bonafied hit single and a song that they could use as their calling card. Hook laden and bordering on "bubblegum rock", the song was poppier than the typical Tigertailz war-cry, "Our image tied us in with bands like Poison and the like", relates guitarist, Jay Pepper. "Musically, though, we were much heavier than those guys and fell more in line with Ozzy, The Sex Pistols, Motley Crue, KISS and Van Halen."
Hitting the UK charts twice more with "Noise Level Critical" and "Heaven" the over the top antics of the band took them on the road with Tyketto, Lizzy Borden, Bow Wow, Mama's Boys, UFO and others helping 'Bezerk' sail past the quarter million sales mark worldwide.
With the Japanese popularity of the band at a fever pitch, in 1991 Tigertailz decided to give their fans in the Land Of The Rising Sun a special "gift" in the form of an album released through Sony Music called 'Banzai'. A collection of singles, b-sides ,cover songs and new material, 'Banzai' quickly sold out of it's initial pressing but was never remanufactured and as such the original album is now a highly sought after collector's item.
In 2005, a revitalized interest in Tigertailz compelled the powers that be at Sanctuary Music to re-issue both 'Bezerk' and 'Banzai' worldwide along with special bonus tracks included on each release. Tigertailz core band members Kim Hooker, Jay Pepper and Pepsi Tate reunited along with drummer, Matthew Blakout and released a new album titled ‘Bezerk 2.0' in August 2006 through Demolition Records. The band then promoted the release of ‘Bezerk 2.0' with a string of major European Festival appearances at Sweden Rock and Lorca Rock in Spain.
In 2007 tragedy struck the band as founder Tailz member Pepsi Tate was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. Even though Pepsi was very ill at this time he was still keen to work as much as he possibly could. So Kim, Jay and Matt filled 2007 with as much work as possible and signed a new deal with Sanctuary Records to release a new album - titled Thrill Pistol.
This new album would also include the original version of the ‘Wazbones' album as a ‘bonus' CD. Thrill Pistol was released on August 27th 2007.
Despite his illness, Pepsi also managed to play what would be his last ever Tigertailz show at the Gods Of Metal Festival in Milan, Italy on June 2 2007. Tigertailz opened the festival playing on a bill that included Motley Crue, Velvet Revolver, Scorpions and Thin Lizzy. A fitting way for the icon Pepsi Tate to play his last ever Tigertailz show...
After suffering for many months and putting up a valiant fight against a hideous disease, Pepsi Tate tragically passed away on Tuesday 18th September 2007 at the Marie Curie Hospice in Cardiff Wales, he was 42 - the remaining Tailz members were in pieces.
After Pepsi's funeral, Kim Hooker, Jay Pepper and Matt Blakout held many difficult discussions - finally they decided it was right to pay tribute to Pepsi and continue to function as Tigertailz. The Tailz would continue to release records and play Live shows for as long as they could - that's what Pepsi would have wanted.
A UK tour with Y&T closed the dark year of 2007 and the Tailz regrouped early in 2008 to secure some great UK shows with Ace Frehley and major European festival slots such as Kobetasonik in Spain with Kiss, and Venice with Whitesnake. Further Tigertailz shows are planned for 2008 with Vince Neil (Motley Crue) and an appearance at the Hard Rock Hell Festival in North Wales with Thin Lizzy.
Work has also started on a new Tailz DVD that Pepsi was working on titled ‘BLAST' and the band hope to have this released early in 2009. Talks are also underway to record a new Tigertailz album.
