Eric Stacy

They were a successful and influential hard rock band during the late 1980s and early 1990s, having sold over two million records worldwide.

Faster Pussycat was formed in Hollywood by Taime Downe during the glam metal and glam punk boom of the 1980s.

The earliest incarnation of the band featured Downe and Greg Steele along with Brent Muscat.

The name of the band is derived from the Russ Meyer film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

After multiple early personnel changes, Faster Pussycat consisted of Downe (vocals), Steele (guitar), Muscat (guitar), Kelly Nickels (bass) and Mark Michals (drums).

Just before the band recorded their debut album, Nickels got into a motorcycle accident and broke his leg in seven places.

He was replaced by Eric Stacy from Champagne Darling Cool.

Shortly thereafter, Nickels joined L.A. Guns.

Faster Pussycat is an American glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985 by vocalist Taime Downe, guitarists Brent Muscat and Greg Steele and bassist Kelly Nickels.

The group has since gone through numerous lineup changes leaving Downe as the only constant member.

Faster Pussycat has released four studio albums to date: Faster Pussycat (1987), Wake Me When It's Over (1989), Whipped! (1992) and The Power and the Glory Hole (2006).

The band signed a record contract with Elektra Records, which released their debut album Faster Pussycat in 1987.

The band established a following among heavy metal, glam rock and sleaze rock fans, mainly through two promotional videos from the first album for the songs "Bathroom Wall" and "Don't Change That Song".

In November 1987, the band appeared on the cover of Screamer Magazine's debut issue.

In the United States the band toured with Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth and Motörhead in support of the album.

Also in 1987, Faster Pussycat appeared in the rockumentary film The Decline of Western Civilization part 2 – The Metal Years.

The band was interviewed and performed live versions of "Cathouse" and "Bathroom Wall".

Two years later, Faster Pussycat recorded their most successful album, Wake Me When It's Over.

The album earned "Gold" status from the RIAA.

Sales were mainly driven by the hit single "House of Pain".

Music videos were produced for "House of Pain" and "Poison Ivy".

While the band was touring for the album in 1990, drummer Mark Michals was arrested in Omaha, Nebraska and fired from the band after signing for a package of heroin addressed to himself.

Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot filled in as drummer for the remainder of the tour, after which Brett Bradshaw became the long-term drummer.

Tours with Kiss and Mötley Crüe followed.

In 1990, the band recorded a cover of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" for a compilation called Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary and filmed a video.

The song was later included on the 1992 Belted, Buckled And Booted EP.

In 1992, the band released their third album, Whipped!, which peaked at number 90 on the chart.

They broke up in 1993, but reformed in 2001.

In 1993, Faster Pussycat parted ways with Stacy and hired Aaron Abellira to replace him.

They embarked on a warmup tour, an American tour and then some shows in Japan.

Most of the shows were sold out.

They also played one last sold-out show in Hollywood at the Hollywood Palace.

A few weeks after returning to the U.S., Faster Pussycat broke up, its members going their separate ways.

Downe was involved with industrial musical act Pigface, before forming his own industrial rock act with Kyle Kyle of Bang Tango called the Newlydeads.

In 2001, Faster Pussycat reformed with original members Downe (vocals), Muscat (guitar) and Steele (guitar), alongside Downe's former Newlydeads bandmates Xristian Simon (guitar), Danny Nordahl (bass) and Chad Stewart (drums).

Nordahl had also played in the Throbs, and Nordahl and Chad Stewart also both play in Motochrist.

A remix compilation, Between the Valley of the Ultra Pussy, was released the same year, featuring industrial-rock remixes of the band's classic tracks, along with a bonus cover of Kiss's "I Was Made For Loving You".

However, this divided fans, as many of the older fanbase who enjoyed standard hard rock were not familiar with industrial rock.

Steele left the band halfway through the 2001 headlining reunion tour.

Tracii Guns filled in as guitarist for the rest of the tour, after which Faster Pussycat continued as a five-piece.