The BopCats

The Bopcats were a curious rock & roll band that mixed something kin to '50s clothing and style with '80s rock. Members included lead singer Sonny Baker, singer Jim McTaggaer, drummer Teddy Fury, guitarist Jack de Keyzer, and bassist Zeke Rivers. The group released a number of singles, two EPs, and two albums, all between 1980 and 1982. In 1983, the Bopcats lost a couple of members and became a short-lived trio called the Rock Angels. Baker, McTaggaer, and Fury started the Bopcats around 1979. The group performed at local nightclubs at first, gaining experience and a small fan base to get things moving. Rivers and de Keyzer joined on soon, just about the time the group landed a deal with Attic Records. The band released a self-titled debut EP in 1980. It was followed by another EP, Kiss Goodbye, a year later. Also in 1981, the band finished its first full-length album. By 1982, the Bopcats' last album, Wild Jungle Rock, hit the market, drawing little attention. The final offering carries tracks like "Yesterday's Dreams," "Buddy This Is It," "Down the Line," and "One Hand Loose." After the Bopcats broke up in 1983, the members went on to other bands, or to solo acts. Jack de Keyzer switched to blues music and recorded a number of albums on his own, his work earning him a Juno nomination in 2000. ~ Charlotte Dillon