Tigertailz

A veteran of the glam metal scene, Welsh band Tigertailz is known for outfits as colorful as their music. Formed in Cardiff in 1983, they feature singer Steevi Jaimz (born Steve Denham), guitarist Jay Pepper, bassist Pepsi Tate (Huw Justin Smith) and American drummer Ace Finchum, replaced in 1991 by Andy Skinner. After a 1987 debut album, Youg and Crazy, Tigertailz built their reputation on their glam-inspired heavy metal sound and look. The singer left in 1988 and was replaced by Kim Hooker on the albums Bezerk (1990), which reached No. 36 in the UK charts, Banzai! (1991) and Wazbones! (1995), before the band split up the following year. Reunited for a tour in 2003, Tigertailz unexpectedly found themselves in the studio with Jay Pepper, Kim Hooker, Pepsi Tate and Matthew Blakout for the recording of the album Original Sin, followed in 2006 by Bezerk 2.0. Shortly after the release of Thrill Pistol in 2007, Pepsi Tate succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 42. He was replaced successively by Glenn Quinn, Sarah Firebrand, Jason Sims, Rob Wylde and Berty Burton, featured on the Lost Reelz album (2015). In the meantime, the band experienced further internal upheaval with the departure of Kim Hooker, who was temporarily replaced by Rob Wylde prior to the recording of the album Blast (2016), conceived with the latter, Pepper, Burton and Blakout. In 2022, singer Ashley Edison replaced Rob Wylde, while Burton stepped down as bassist in 2024. The same year sees the death of Robin Guy, drummer in 2010-2011. In 2025, For a Few Dollarz More: The Archives, Vol. 1 (1984-1991) is released as a triple CD. First drummer/percussionist, returning from 2011 to 2013, Ace Finchum dies in October 2025 at the age of 62.