FANS - Alex "Scatman" (Los Angeles, USA)

Hello, hello, hello!!!

Boys, girls, lad, lassies, gentlemen, ladies... EVERYBODY!!! You won't believe what your eyes are about to witness, not only a wonderful story by a true fan since the very beginning of the Cats but by a very close friend of mine for the past 10 years.

He would like to share with us how he met Brian back in 1987, by pure chance, at the Palace in Hollywood, CA.

Scatman says:

The first time I met Brian Setzer was quite a lucky moment for me. Having first heard the Cats during the summer of '81, I immediately became a huge fan, never imagining that I would someday meet one of my guitar heroes. Fast forward 6 years and my soon-to-be wife and I are at a Dave Edmunds show, 27 Feb 1987 at the historic Palace Theater in Hollywood, CA.

(Remember that at this point the Stray Cats had broken up, and frankly I didn’t think we’d hear from Setzer again after The Knife feels like Justice. How naïve I was!) So back to the show…

I go to the back bar during Edmunds' set and overhear a drunk guy yelling over the music at these girls “Brian Seltzer is in the restaurant having dinner” trying to impress them (Yes, he said "Seltzer"). I told my girl "follow me", and had her wait outside the doorway of the small café (which was located inside the theater) while I poked my head in the door and sure enought, there he was! I didn’t recognize anybody else in his party and waited for him to finish, my heart pounding. After several minutes Brian got up to leave so I made my move and he couldn’t be more polite and friendly. We got one picture taken together and I asked him if he might be joining Edmunds onstage and he said “we’ll see, yeah maybe” or something like that, and frankly I don’t know how I was able to carry on a conversation as I was shaking so much. He signed another fan’s drivers license and then his party left the restaurant to go backstage.



(Scatman & Brian)

So we moved up to the edge of the stage, and sure enough Brian came out for the encores. I don’t remember the songs but they might’ve been The Race is On, 20 Flight Rock and Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie. I did get some good pix though, and I’ll never forget his blue suede boots.



I had the fortune of meeting Brian several more times later that year and the following when he was playing local shows with the Paine Brothers. Great memories...



Several years later I found a promo 8x10 foto of Dave Edmunds, taken backstage that same night of the show. And who was in the picture besides Setzer and Slim Jim? George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy and Jeff Lynne. The other scan is from a rock magazine showing more color pictures taken backstage that same night. I could only imagine if they had all come out for the encores that night at The Palace! Enjoy the photos...

THANK YOU ALEX, GRACIAS AMIGO!!!

Honestly guys, you couldn't have been any luckier than today with these fantastic pictures and story.

Best wishes,
Slim "Jon" Phantom
straycatscollectors@gmail.com