Faster Pussycat - Whipped!

Released on 4 August 1992 by Elektra Records, Whipped! is the third studio album by Faster Pussycat and the final full-length record of their original era. Arriving at the absolute peak of the grunge and alternative rock explosion, the 12-track album peaked at number 90 on the Billboard 200 chart. Musically, it marked a sharp departure from the sleazy pop-metal of their 1987 debut and the traditional blues-rock of 1989's Wake Me When It's Over. Instead, the band leaned into a much darker, heavier, and more experimental hard rock landscape, introducing elements of alternative country, funk, and industrial textures to modernise their sound.

The record introduced new drummer Brett Bradshaw to the studio lineup, locking into a deeper, down-tuned groove alongside bassist Eric Stacy. It was anchored by the melancholic lead single "Nonstop to Nowhere" and featured a wide array of high-profile guest musicians, including legendary pianist Nicky Hopkins. The album also pushed censorship boundaries, spawning a music video for "The Body Thief" that was promptly banned by MTV for its provocative content. Despite earning critical acclaim for its artistic bravery and songwriting maturity, the album was commercially overshadowed by the shifting industry tides, leading to the band’s initial breakup in 1993.

Faster Pussycat - Belted, Buckled And Booted

Released on 21 July 1992 by Elektra Records, Belted, Buckled and Booted is a four-track EP that serves as a grit-soaked companion piece to Faster Pussycat's third studio album, Whipped!. The EP works as an expanded maxi-single, anchoring itself with the epic, seven-minute melodic lead single "Nonstop to Nowhere" before diving into rare, hard-to-find material. It features two exclusive, blues-infused studio session outtakes—"Too Tight" and "Charge Me Up"—alongside their heavy rock reimagining of Carly Simon's classic "You're So Vain," which was originally recorded for Elektra's 40th-anniversary compilation. Marking a transitional era for the band, the release spotlights a heavier, down-tuned groove and introduces new drummer Brett Bradshaw, offering a definitive glimpse into the band's final creative burst before the early-90s alternative rock explosion.

Faster Pussycat - Live & Rare

Released on 10 July 1990 by Elektra Records, Live and Rare is a six-track EP that serves as a raw, high-energy bridge during the peak of Faster Pussycat's commercial success. The release blends polished studio edits of their biggest radio hits, like "Poison Ivy" and their signature Top 40 ballad "House of Pain", with blistering concert recordings that capture the band's unvarnished Sunset Strip stage energy. Showcasing live performances of fan favorites like "Babylon" and "Pulling Weeds", the EP strips away major-label production sheen to highlight the gritty guitar interplay of Greg Steele and Brent Muscat alongside Taime Downe's distinct vocal rasp. Long considered a sought-after collector's item among hair metal enthusiasts, the EP was officially brought back into print with a CD reissue by Wounded Bird Records in 2022.

Faster Pussycat - Wake Me When It's Over

Released on 6 September 1989 by Elektra Records, Wake Me When It's Over is Faster Pussycat's second studio album and the commercial peak of their career. The record peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to earn an RIAA Gold certification, selling over 500,000 copies. While their self-titled debut was defined by raw Sunset Strip glam punk, this sophomore effort saw the band maturing into a gritty, blues-influenced hard rock sound. They heavily incorporated slide guitars, harmonica, and honky-tonk piano into the arrangements, drawing frequent sonic comparisons to classic Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones.

The album's massive success was primarily driven by the crossover hit power ballad "House of Pain", which reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received heavy rotation on MTV. The track's memorable music video was notably directed by a then-unknown Michael Bay. Alongside other popular singles like "Poison Ivy" and the groove-heavy opener "Where There's a Whip There's a Way", the album showcased Taime Downe’s distinctive rasp and the stellar guitar interplay of Greg Steele and Brent Muscat. Today, the record is widely considered a high-water mark of the late-1980s hard rock era, praised for balancing commercial accessibility with authentic, low-slung rock-and-roll swagger.

Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat

Last night I was up to London dressed in my finest black for Faster Pussycat. Nights out are rare in my calander, but I've got three dates in September to try and not get too fucked up at. T'Pussycats have always been one of my favourite late 80's LA rock scene bands, just something cool and laid back about their style. Today, in a dumb but slick move, you've got a few of the many Faster Pussycat releases to enjoy with me.

Released on 7 July 1987 by Elektra Records, the self-titled debut album Faster Pussycat established the band as essential figures of the late-1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene. Peaking at number 97 on the Billboard 200 chart, the 10-track record captures a raw, high-energy fusion of Aerosmith-style boogie rock, punk attitude, and Sunset Strip sleaze. Produced by Ric Browde, the music favored a grittier, street-level swagger over the polished pop-metal production common among their contemporaries.

The album is driven by signature tracks like "Bathroom Wall" and "Don't Change That Song," both of which became staples on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. It also contains "Cathouse," a tribute to the legendary L.A. rock club co-founded by vocalist Taime Downe. The band's placement in Penelope Spheeris' famous 1988 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years—where they performed tracks from this debut—further cemented its legacy. Unlike their subsequent albums, which incorporated deeper blues and industrial elements, this self-titled release remains celebrated as a pure, definitive snapshot of classic hair metal history.