Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 11/28/2021

(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- Shortly after the groundbreaking British rockabilly band The Rockats had relocated from Essex to New York in 1978, they were playing a show when up approached a charismatic young guitarist who lavished the group with praise for their performance. Rockats’ stand-up bassist Smutty Smiff struck up a friendship with the charming lad and even took a train out to Massapequa to give him his first rockabilly haircut while teaching him how to grease it up properly. That young American was one Brian Setzer who would ride the rockabilly train into superstardom with The Stray Cats.

None of that would have been possible without The Rockats, who set the standard for rockabilly revivalism in the ‘80s, scoring an MTV hit in 1984 with “Make That Move” and landing support slots on tours by everyone from David Bowie to Thin Lizzy to Tina Turner, all the while spreading the Teddy Boy culture on both sides of the pond.

As Smiff recollects some 43 years later, “We influenced many musicians and turned them on to rockabilly, hanging out, selling clothes and cutting the Stray Cats’ hair. We certainly influenced in a big way their style and music. Maybe if I had never gone to Massapequa Long Island, things would have been different!”

Now, the Rockats are returning to center stage with a new album set to be released next year and featuring performances by Smiff alongside longtime Rockats vocalist Dibbs Preston, guitarists Danny B. Harvey and Barry Ryan, and Blondie drummer Clem Burke!

The band has released the album’s first single, a rollicking cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Nervous Breakdown” along with a video featuring vintage performance footage of the Cats cutting it up on stage in their heyday. The song can be streamed or purchased from various sources found here.

---

Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky

---

 

MORE NEWS

BlowUpRadio.com's Perennial Benefit Webathon For The Spondylitis Association Of America To Air October 16th-18th

(SOUTH AMBOY, NJ) -- New Jersey internet radio station BlowUpRadio.com - Where NJ Rock Lives, announces its 19th annual Banding Together Webathon to benefit the Spondylitis Association Of America. Taking place Friday October 16th through Sunday October 18, 2026, on their internet radio station. Over forty acts from New Jersey and all over the globe will perform half hour performances, as they raise money to fund research and provide the programs and services to help the community suffering from this debilitating disease.

---

From Good Homes to Play two nights at The Newton Theatre

---

East Brunswick Singer-Songwriter Kathleen Elle Wins Hard Rock Rising Competition at Hard Rock Atlantic City

---

Jersey Shore Artist Karen Mansfield Announces New Single and Children's Book

---

Joshua Henry in "Get Up! Stand Up!" LIVE! at Kean Stage

The Penguin Rocks

© 2026 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads

---

News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates