The Family Cat
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 in Stoke Newington, London, England |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Family Cat was an indie rock group from Britain, established in Stoke Newington, London in 1988. The original lineup included three members who hailed from Cornwall, Plymouth, and Southampton.
Career
Over a span of five years, the band performed live extensively and issued three albums. Their debut release was the mini-album Tell 'Em We're Surfin, produced by Rick Buckler, the drummer from The Jam, and distributed through the South London label Bad Girl Records. This was succeeded by two full-length albums, Furthest from the Sun and Magic Happens, both released under Dedicated Records. Although they received positive critical recognition—such as their first single "Tom Verlaine" being honored as 'Single of the Week' by NME—their commercial breakthrough remained limited. Their last studio album, Magic Happens, appeared modestly on the UK Albums Chart, while the track "Airplane Gardens" briefly entered the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, several singles like "Steamroller" achieved positions on the UK Indie Chart.
Between 1989 and 1992, they recorded three sessions for John Peel at Maida Vale Studios and earned a spot in his 1989 Festive Fifty.
The band gained notice partly due to their bold song titles, including "Bring Me the Head of Michael Portillo". Their melodic style, which was accessible for radio audiences, received critical admiration but did not reach the commercial heights attained by peers such as Oasis and Blur.
Their repertoire also featured covers of notable tracks including "Across the Universe" by The Beatles, "Rocks Off" by The Rolling Stones, and Scott Walker's "Montague Terrace (in Blue)".
In 2013, 3 Loop Music released Five Lives Left, an anthology compiling previously unreleased material from an abandoned album alongside other tracks.
Members
- Paul Frederick – vocals, guitar
- Stephen Jelbert – lead guitar
- Tim McVay – guitar
- John Graves – bass guitar
- Kevin Downing – drums
Albums
| Year | Album | Billboard 200 | UK Albums Chart | Top Digital Albums | UK Indie Chart | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Tell 'Em We're Surfin | – | – | – | 6 | Badgirl |
| 1992 | Furthest from the Sun | – | 55 | – | Dedicated Records | |
| 1994 | Magic Happens | – | 84 | – | ||
| 2013 | Five Lives Left (An Anthology) | – | – | – | 3 Loop Music |
Singles/EPs
- "Tom Verlaine" (1989) Bad Girl (UK Indie No. 6)
- "Remember What It Is that You Love" (1990) Bad Girl
- "Place With a Name" (1990) Bad Girl
- "Colour Me Grey" (1991) Bad Girl
- "Jesus Christ" (1991) Clawfist
- "Steamroller" (1992) Dedicated
- "River of Diamonds" (1992) Dedicated
- "Airplane Gardens" (1993) Dedicated (UK No. 69)
- "Springing the Atom" (1993) Dedicated
- "Wonderful Excuse" (1994) Dedicated/RCA (UK No. 48)
- Goldenbook EP (1994) Dedicated/RCA (UK No. 42)
Subsequent Careers of The Family Cat Members
Steve Jelbert transitioned into a role as an arts critic for The Independent.