The Alley Cats (punk rock band)

The Alley Cats are a Los Angeles, California-based punk rock trio formed in 1977. The original line-up, featuring Randy Stodola (guitar and vocals), Dianne Chai (bass and vocals) and John McCarthy (drums),[1] was a fixture of the early L.A. punk rock scene. Signed to Dangerhouse Records alongside other seminal California-based punk bands including the Bags, Black Randy and the Metro Squad, and X,[2] they released their first single "Nothing Means Nothing Anymore" backed with "Give Me a Little Pain" on March 30, 1978.[3] They are among the six bands featured on the 1979 compilation album Yes L.A. and appear in the 1982 film Urgh! A Music War.[4]

For the doo-wop group, see The Alley Cats (doo-wop group). For the Malaysian band, see Alleycats (Malaysian rock band).
The Alley Cats
Alley Cats flyer for August 7, 1982 show at Night Train, Tucson, Arizona.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresPunk
Years active1977–1982, 2015–present
LabelsDangerhouse, Time Coast
MembersRandy Stodola, Apryl Cady, Matt Laskey
Past membersDianne Chai, John McCarthy
later members as The Zarkons:
Terry Cooley, Freda Rente
reformations after 2010:
Paula O'Rourke, Pam Jag, Malti Kennedy, Joe Barile

The Alley Cats were regular performers at such Los Angeles venues as Club 88, Hong Kong Café, The Masque, and the Whisky a Go Go.[5]

Reformed as "The Zarkons", they released two albums, Riders In The Long Black Parade (1985) and Between the Idea & the Reality…Falls the Shadow (1988),[6] before disbanding in 1988.[7]

After a 20-year hiatus, Stodola reformed the trio and currently performs as The Alley Cats along with Apryl Cady (bass and vocals) and Matt Laskey (drums).[8][9]

Discography
The Alley Cats at the San Pedro Brewing Company in San Pedro, California, June 18, 2016
L-R Apryl Cady, Matt Laskey, Randy Stodola

Albums
  • 1981 - Nightmare City
  • 1982 - Escape From The Planet Earth
  • 1985 - Riders In The Long Black Parade (as The Zarkons)
  • 1985 - Between the Idea & the Reality…Falls the Shadow (as The Zarkons)
  • 2007 - 1979-1982 (Anthology)

Singles and EPs
  • 1978 - Nothing Means Nothing Anymore
  • 1980 - Too Much Junk

Soundtracks and compilations
  • 1979 - Yes L.A. (compilation)
  • 1981 - Urgh! A Music War (soundtrack)
  • 1991 - Dangerhouse, Vol. 1 (compilation)
  • 1993 - Dangerhouse, Vol. 2: Give Me A Little Pain! (compilation)
  • 1996 - Live From the Masque, Vol. 2: We We Can Can Do Do What What (compilation)

Filmography

References
  1. Morris, Chris (2016). "You Better Shut Up and Listen". In Doe, John; DeSavia, Tom (eds.). Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk. Da Capo Press. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0306824081.
  2. Dangerhouse, Breakmyface.com, Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  3. The Alley Cats--Nothing Means Nothing Anymore, Thep5.blogspot.com, Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  4. Urgh! A Music War. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  5. Gehman, Pleasant. "The Alley Cats", In 1979-1982 [CD booklet], Tarzana, Calif., Time Coast Music, May 2007.
  6. Between the Idea & the Reality…Falls the Shadow. Nothin′ Sez Somethin′. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  7. The Zarkons - Riders In The Long Black Parade (1985), Azlocal.blogspot.com, Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  8. Bernadicou, August (January 8, 2015). "Just an Alley Cat: Randy Stodola Speaks!". Teenagenewszine.wordpress.com. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  9. James, Falling (November 11, 2014). "Classic L.A. Punk Bands Were Still Rude and Relevant at Dangerhouse Records Night". Laweekly.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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