The mid 80's Los Angeles Glam explosion offered up two prime contenders for the band most likely to succeed in GUNS N' ROSES and FASTER PUSSYCAT. Both bands issued debut albums of comparable quality within spitting distance of each other and for a while were neck and neck in the popularity stakes. FASTER PUSSYCAT scored notable club hits with 'Babylon' and 'Don't Change That Song', until the former rocketed ahead to superstardom and FASTER PUSSYCAT was left to flounder in their wake.

The band was created by vocalist Taime Downe (a.k.a. Gustav Molvik), owner of the 'Cathouse' club, and guitarist Mick Cripps. An early roster also featured drummer Paul 'Mars' Black, previously with Punk outfit the MAU MAUS and also the hotly tipped THE JONESES. However, both Cripps and Black, switching from drums to vocals, were soon to depart, turning up later in L.A. GUNS alongside another ex-FASTER PUSSYCAT, bassist Kelly Nickels. Downe, under the stage name 'Vaun Hammer', had originally fronted the outrageous Glam band the BONDAGE BOYS in his native Seattle and that particular outfit, actually an alliance of three Molvik siblings, had actually contributed a track to a local compilation album of local talent in the Pacific Northwest. The first stable FASTER PUSSYCAT line-up gelled in 1986 and comprised of Downe, guitarists Brent Muscat and Caesare, bassist Walta Adams and drummer Jackie Jones.

The band eventually cut a three track demo that included the songs 'Smash Alley', 'Best Whorehouse In Town' and 'Vicious Kind'. With strong interest coming from Elektra Records FASTER PUSSYCAT offered them another three track tape ('Best Whorehouse...', 'City Has No Heart' and 'Slap In The Face') before the label signed them in December 1986, by which time the group had become a particularly strong attraction on the Los Angeles club circuit.

The Ric Browde produced debut features Downe, Muskat, guitarist Greg Steele, bassist Erik Stacey and drummer Mark Michaels along with guest slots from MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and HEAVEN guitarist MITCH PERRY, Riki Rachtman and DARLING CRUEL's Greg Darling.

FASTER PUSSYCAT put in a support to GUNS N' ROSES first five date British tour of 1987 before returning to America to open for ALICE COOPER, DAVE LEE ROTH and MOTÖRHEAD. The band closed the year with a support gig to ALICE COOPER and MOTÖRHEAD in Seattle, Washington.

The second album, 1989's 'Wake Me When It's Over', was produced by John Jansen and saw a shift away from the overt glam image as the band addressed such topics as abortion and child abuse. Emi Canyn of MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Nasti Habits' sings backing vocals.

Michals, convicted of possession of heroin, was forced out upon the eve of a European tour alongside THE ALMIGHTY and DANGEROUS TOYS. The reliable form of ex-QUIET RIOT man Frankie Banali took on the drumming position for livework, including a stint in Britain, until a more permanent replacement in Brett Bradshaw was enrolled in time for an American tour.

The band toured with KISS, MÖTLEY CRÜE and DAVID LEE ROTH during 1990 and a six track collection of live and supposedly unreleased material, 'Live And Rare', was issued in Japan. The live material recorded in Tokyo whilst the 'rare' material was simply a couple of tracks that had previously been edited for singles consumption and a remix of 'Bathroom Wall' that featured the original 'pussycat' intro from 'Babylon'.

FASTER PUSSYCAT's third album, 'Whipped' was released three years after 'Wake Me When It's Over' and was far removed from the Ric Browde produced debut. 'Whipped' witnessing further progression but by now FASTER PUSSYCAT were caught in the backblast of the Seattle Grunge explosion and the album was given little chance. The band were dropped by Elektra whilst on tour opening for KISS and promptly split.

Downe later dallied with PIGFACE before forming the Industrial troupe FLOOR 13 with BANG TANGO's Kyle Kyle. The band changed its name to THE NEWLYDEADS by the time the debut album was released on the custom Bubble Records label. Downe also put in a vocal session on FINAL CUT's 1996 album 'Atonement'.

In 1998 Brent Muscat was reported to have linked up with ex-L.A. GUNS singer Phil Lewis in a new band project and the resultant album 'More Purple Than Black'. The same year saw Sweden's Rising Punk Rock n' Rollers BACKYARD BABIES covering 'Babylon' for the B side of their '(Is It) Still Alright To Smile?' single.

Stacy formed CATFISH with ex-JUNKYARD drummer Pat Muzingo. Subsequently Muscat and Stacy created BUBBLE for the 2000 album 'How 'Bout This?' together with ex VIXEN bassist Share Pederson on vocals and former DOGS D'AMOUR drummer Bam.

The duo also featured on an album by the LIBERATORS 'Access Denied' fronted by L.A. GUNS vocalist Phil Lewis the same year. The record saw a rework of FASTER PUSSYCAT's 'Little Dove'. Muscat would also form part of a formative BEAUTIFUL CREATURES line up alongside BANG TANGO vocalist Joe Leste, BULLETBOYS guitarist D.J. Ashba and L.A. GUNS bassist Chuck Garrick.

Meantime Taime Downe turned up adding lead vocals to version of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Hell Bent For Leather' on the industrial tribute album 'Breakin' The Law'.

During April Muscat joined L.A. GUNS for their Summer American tour. March of 2001 saw the announcement that Downe, Steele and Muscat had reformed FASTER PUSSYCAT for a series of dates with L.A. GUNS and BULLETBOYS. Joining the founding members would be bass player Danny Nordhal from THE THROBS, NEW YORK LOOSE and MOTOCHRIST, drummer Chad Stewart of MOTOCHRIST and COYOTE SHIVERS as well as Xristian Simon on guitar. An album of re-recorded early material cheekily titled 'Between The Valley Of The Ultra Pussy' emerged the same year.

Predictably the revised line up did not gel for too long. In the midst of U.S. dates with L.A. GUNS Steele made his exit necessitating Tracii Guns to fill in the vacancy. September would find this package announcing tour of British clubs, the first time in over a decade FASTER PUSSYCAT were to set foot in the UK. However, in light of the September 11th World Trade Center disaster and subsequent "global uncertainty" the band pulled out of the shows. The gigs were re-scheduled as headliners for February 2002.

That summer the band, now bizarrely sporting a 'gestapo' image of black leather, armbands and even German steel helmets, would form part of the POISON and CINDERELLA led arena tour across America, placing FASTER PUSSYCAT in front of some of the biggest audiences the band had seen in many a year. Throughout June and July of 2003 the band allied themselves with PRETTY BOY FLOYD and ENUFF Z' NUFF for the debut 'Metal Sludge' tour of North America.

FASTER PUSSYCAT drummer Chad Stewart joined up with former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE's band for a batch of March 2004 US dates. FASTER PUSSYCAT themselves headed out on tour in April, taking along BRAND NEW SIN as support. The band would find itself back in the news in October 2005 with the unfortunate news that Brent Muscat was to undergo surgery to treat cancer of the tongue. On a more positive note, the group was also scheduled to appear in a VH1 television game show entitled 'Band on the Run'.

FASTER PUSSYCAT, having wrapped up new album 'Power & The Glory Hole' in June, announced a run of US shows for August 2006 partnered with ADLER'S APPETITE. UK concert dates were lined up for September but then cancelled.

2007 opened with controversy as FASTER PUSSYCAT, featuring Brent Muscat, Eric Stacy, and ex-BLACKBOARD JUNGLE drummer Brett Bradshaw alongside THE UNDERGROUND REBELS vocalist Kurt Frohlich, played at the AVN Awards after party on January 13th at the Dive Bar in Las Vegas, Nevada. This band then lined up European shows branded as FASTER PUSSYCAT for 2007, prompting Taime Downe to issue a statement: "FASTER PUSSYCAT is NOT playing Europe in April and May. That is Brent Muscat doing his FP tribute band, playing my songs. We will be on tour in the US in May and Europe in the summer. Sorry it you already bought tickets. P.S.: Message to Brent: Didn't want it to be this way.... but you have made ME your enemy... look out!!!!"

As a war of words erupted as to the moral ownership of the FASTER PUSSYCAT title, Brent Muscat delivered an open letter to his erstwhile colleagues offering an invitation to join the band but then adding the postscript "FASTER PUSSYCAT is a Trademark in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Trademark, Patent & Copyright Law. Additionally, FASTER PUSSYCAT is a Federally Registered Trademark as certified by the USPTO. Any use of the name FASTER PUSSYCAT without the express written consent of Brent Muscat shall result in severe civil and criminal prosecution."

That July the Brent Muscat band appeared at a once in a lifetime gathering of 80s Rock acts dubbed 'Rocklahoma', a three-day outdoor festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma, sharing the billing with RATT, VINCE NEIL, WARRANT, SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT, WINGER, DOKKEN, JACKYL, POISON, ENUFF Z'NUFF, STEELHEART, 36 INCHES, Y&T, FIREHOUSE, BULLETBOYS, BANG TANGO and GREAT WHITE.

The Taime Downe fronted FASTER PUSSYCAT, together with BULLETBOYS and BANG TANGO teamed up for the 'Summer Rock Fest' tour in July and August 2009.