CALL OF THE WILD (PART TWO) Interview with the Polecats.

Originally published in TRAX the London music paper March 11th 1981- Journalist Jan Brown

The instruments they use prove their interest in the rare and unusual.  Since the beginning they've hunted around for antique guitars and one of the band's most valuable assets is a Roy Smeck guitar, which Tim was kicking around until wised up by Tony Visconti.

Boz seems to get through guitars quicker than he used to get through his homework on a Friday night, but that isn't going to change."I've had two yellow guitars and bust them both four times".

With this kind of turnover and their penchant for antique guitars ans sharp stylish clothes, the Polecats as an outfit can't be cheap to run.

"We've financed ourselves", says Phil.  "We started off doing the youth club for a fiver, then a tenner then twenty. I used to play through an old radio and Tim had a crappy practice amp.  Tim's Dad used to drive us around in a green ex-army ambulance.  Everything we have ever done has been a step forward.

Their first single "Rockabilly Guy", written by Phil, cost just £25 to record - in a shed in Hendon.  "We just went in there and whacked it out in two takes", shouts Boz, leaping into the air and waving his arms around, at the same time giving me the opportunity to admire his bright blue jacket and red pants.  It certainly has the authentic sound of the 1950-55 era from whence these boys take their inspiration.

Ask them the definition of rockabilly and they'll tell you straight.  "It's a mixture ofcountry, hillbilly rhythm and blues, cajun and rock 'n' roll".

But they see themselves as more than a slice of fifties life slapped down in 1981.  "We're not copyists", says drummer Neil.  "If rockabilly dies commercially, which it almost certainly will, we won't be left behind".

They want to keep their equipment to a minimum and their approach is simple, but the Plecats are playing to bigger audiences now and need to be louder these days.

They have toyed with the idea of disguising the amplifiers and considered the possibility of using a screen and showing cartoons during their set.  They are so crazy they are confident they can't be upstaged by Felix the Cat.

Their recent signing to Phonogram, one of seven companies that showed an interest, has resulted in a new single, the double A-sided "Big Green Car/John I'm Only Dancing".  Produced by Dave Edmunds, both tracks have a clean yet heavy sound and look set to make an impression on the charts.

"He's a good bloke is Dave", enthuses Boz.  "He knows nearly as much about rockabilly as we do".  He grins: "Put that in the article.  Edmunds will like it".

^{One of the things about the Polecats which impressed Dave was the boundless energy they showed on and off stage.  I wondered if it was all natural.}

Are you really as clean living as your? Elvis was a speed freak, used to nick the stuff his mum got on "script" quips Phil. And what about  that Tommy Steele number about running out of speed,Teenage Party I think it's called."

So I didn't  get my anwer.

They're smart guys,the Polecats.  They're good fun and good looking.  But don't trust them with your kid sister.