Big Electric Cat
Encyclopedia
Big Electric Cat is a gothic rock
group from Sydney, Australia, formed by musicians Paul Sadler and Deborah Denton, who had moved from London to Sydney in 1989. In 1991, inspired by Philip K. Dick
's sci-fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
and the future noir movie Blade Runner
, and inspired by the film's dark, futuristic and other themes, they formed Big Electric Cat.
In 1993 they were joined by local bassist David Block, and live drumming was dropped in favour of a drum machine named "Dr.Ruth" after the famous sex therapist; thus the band's sound was born.
After sell-out gigs across Australia and the resurgence of the gothic scene, the band recorded their 4-track demo "Suspira." After several attempts to get signed to an Australian record label, they sent a demo to the newly formed Goth label Cleopatra Records
in Los Angeles, and were immediately offered a three-album deal.
The bands first full album was titled "Dreams of a Mad King" and was released in 1994. Recorded at Damien Gerrard Studios in Sydney and engineered by Russ Pilling it featured the hits "Christabel", "Orchid Dreaming", "Paris Skyes" and "Red Roses" which defined their sound.
At the suggestion of Cleopatra Records
label boss Brian Perera, their second release, in October 1995, was the seven-track remix EP Burning Embers, overseen by Q/Uberzone
/Death Method.
In 1997 the band embarked on the 40-city "Congregation Tour" of the USA with labelmates Christian Death
and Switchblade Symphony
. On their return to Australia, Denton left the band while Sadler and Block continued to write and record the second full-length album, Eyelash.
Recorded at Powerhouse Studios, Sydney, and released in August 1997, the songs took a darker,electronic journey; the title track "Eyelash" was dedicated to Sadler's father, who had recently died.
With more live commitments and increasing popularity William Jackson was recruited
for live keyboard duties, and when David Block quit unexpectedly later that year, he was replaced by Damien Gillette on bass.
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
group from Sydney, Australia, formed by musicians Paul Sadler and Deborah Denton, who had moved from London to Sydney in 1989. In 1991, inspired by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
's sci-fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick first published in 1968. The main plot follows Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter of androids, while the secondary plot follows John Isidore, a man of sub-normal intelligence who befriends some of the...
and the future noir movie Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
, and inspired by the film's dark, futuristic and other themes, they formed Big Electric Cat.
In 1993 they were joined by local bassist David Block, and live drumming was dropped in favour of a drum machine named "Dr.Ruth" after the famous sex therapist; thus the band's sound was born.
After sell-out gigs across Australia and the resurgence of the gothic scene, the band recorded their 4-track demo "Suspira." After several attempts to get signed to an Australian record label, they sent a demo to the newly formed Goth label Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
in Los Angeles, and were immediately offered a three-album deal.
The bands first full album was titled "Dreams of a Mad King" and was released in 1994. Recorded at Damien Gerrard Studios in Sydney and engineered by Russ Pilling it featured the hits "Christabel", "Orchid Dreaming", "Paris Skyes" and "Red Roses" which defined their sound.
At the suggestion of Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
label boss Brian Perera, their second release, in October 1995, was the seven-track remix EP Burning Embers, overseen by Q/Uberzone
Uberzone
Überzone is Anaheim, California native Timothy Wiles, is an electronic musician. He has also been known as Q, named after the popular character in the James Bond series....
/Death Method.
In 1997 the band embarked on the 40-city "Congregation Tour" of the USA with labelmates Christian Death
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band was founded and fronted by Rozz Williams. Christian Death is most notable for their first album Only Theatre of Pain....
and Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony was a San Francisco, United States–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records label...
. On their return to Australia, Denton left the band while Sadler and Block continued to write and record the second full-length album, Eyelash.
Recorded at Powerhouse Studios, Sydney, and released in August 1997, the songs took a darker,electronic journey; the title track "Eyelash" was dedicated to Sadler's father, who had recently died.
With more live commitments and increasing popularity William Jackson was recruited
for live keyboard duties, and when David Block quit unexpectedly later that year, he was replaced by Damien Gillette on bass.
Current members
- Paul Sadler - vocals, guitars
- Changeling - bass, keyboards (2000–present)
- Rainey Daye - guitar, keyboards (2000–present)
- Dr. Ruth - drums
Former members
- Deborah Denton - keyboards, backing vocals
- David Block - bass
- William Jackson - keyboards
- Damien Gillett - bass
Releases
- Suspira (1993, 4-track demo)
- Dreams of a Mad King (1994)
- Burning Embers (1995, remix EP)
- Eyelash (1997)
Tracks featured on compilations
- Cat People(Putting Out Fire)" David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
/Giorgio Moroder Cat People (Putting Out Fire)Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"Cat People " is a song by David Bowie, the title song of the 1982 film Cat People. It was written by Bowie with producer Giorgio Moroder. A re-recorded version of the song appears on the album Let's Dance... - Gothic Rock Vol2
- The Black Bible 1998 (Cleopatra Records)
- Vampire Themes (Cleopatra Records)
- The Goth Anthology (Cleopatra Records 2006)
- Gothik (Cleopatra Records 2006)
- Art Of Gothic (Talitha Records 1994)
- In Goth Daze (Cleopatra Records 1994)
- Gothic Rock 2 (Jungle Records UK 1995)
- Gothik: Music From The Dark Side (Cleopatra Records 1995)
- New Alternatives II (Nightbreed Recordings UK 1995)
- Goth Box (Cleopatra Records 1996)
- Goth's Undead (Cleopatra Records 1997)
- Songs To Wake The Dead (Black Rat Recordings 1997)
- Vampire Themes (Cleopatra Records 1997)
- Gothspotting (Cleopatra Records 1998)
- The Black Bible (Cleopatra Records 1998)
- Goth Oddity - A Tribute To David Bowie (Cleopatra Records 1999)
- Gothic Maladies (Cleopatra Records 1999)
- Zillo Mystic Sounds 8 (Zillo Germany 1999)
- Dancing On Your Grave (Cleopatra Records 2003)
- The Goth Anthology (Metro Triples 2006)
- This is Gothic-The Batcave Anthology (Cleopatra Records 2006)
- Horror Themes (2007 Big Eye Records)
- Music Inspired by Twilight( 2008 Big Eye Music)
- Alternative Club Hits of the 80's and 90's (Cleopatra Records 2009)
DVDs
- Gothic Industrial Alternative Visuals DVD (Cleopatra Records 2006)
- Goth - The Ultimate Collection (2007 DVD Warner Vision Australia/Cleopatra Records)