German Rockabilly band, The Ace Cats, formed in Herkunft Ruhrgebiet by Markus Fräger, his brother Luitger Fräger, and Thomas Szalaga. In 1980 they started as Alley Cats but renamed to The Ace Cats in 1982 due to a naming conflict. The Ace Cats released their debut album Cat Talk in 1982, featuring Rockabilly-style cover versions. They achieved early success supporting Fats Domino and Shakin' Stevens in 1983. With the rise of Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave), The Ace Cats shifted to German lyrics. Their single "Linda" reached its highest popularity in 1984, marking their only chart entry. Notable tracks like "Gina" and "Rockabella" gained radio airplay. The group disbanded in 1986 but reunited in 1996 with new members including Jürgen Weber on vocals. After two single releases in 1997, The Ace Cats disbanded again. Founding member Luitger Fräger died in a car accident in 2005. Thomas Szalaga passed away in 2012 after a prolonged illness. Tina Szalaga succumbed to cancer in 2019, followed by Markus Fräger's death from cancer in 2020.
The Ace Cats' music remains celebrated for its contributions to the Rockabilly genre and influence on German rock.
