The Tombstones - Black Cat

Here is an original 1986 music video featuring The Tombstones song, Black Cat from the band's Grave Matter EP.

This main portion of this vintage video was originally shot and edited by Lester Dragstedt, a film student friend of the band. Our intent was to distribute copies of the video as part of our press and promotional packet, but as fate would have it, the video was never actually released to the general public.

The footage was shot in various locations around Atlanta, Georgia, including inside and outside our old practice space at Stevie T's house (known by everyone in the Atlanta punk scene at that time as the Skank Hotel") and inside Oakland Cemetery (the final resting place of many notable Atlantans, including Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell).

History of the Band

The Tombstones emerged in 1985 during the heyday of the punk rock scene in Atlanta, Georgia. They are often remembered as the unofficial "house band" at Atlanta's now-famous (and now defunct) Metroplex nightclub during the club's latter years. The Tombstones shared the stage with such notable bands as The Circle Jerks, The Lords of the New Church, Divine Horsemen, D.R.I., and Bad Brains, as well as a slew of great local talent.

The Tombstones sought to meld a punk attitude to American roots music and the result was a rough and rowdy punk-blues. The band's fascination with black magic, voodoo, graveyards, ghost stories, and the dark side of southern culture is quite evident in their songs. The music of The Tombstones was often jokingly described by the band members as "psychedelic death country swamp rock blues." But in reality, that bit of facetiousness is actually very close to the mark: The sound was heavily influenced by the band members' southern roots and fueled by the darker elements found in blues, country and southern rock - such as Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Johnny Cash, and Creedence Clearwater Revival - while showing a definite influence of such punk outfits as X, The Gun Club, and The Cramps.

The original Tombstones recorded a six song EP titled Grave Matter. One track from that release titled (I Ain't Got) Nobody also appeared on the Twilight Records compilation album Make the City Grovel in Its Dust, locally-produced in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lords of the New Church lead singer Stiv Bators (also of The Dead Boys fame) would later record a version of The Tombstones song (I Ain't Got) Nobody on what would be one of his last releases before his death in France in 1990. (Ex-New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders and ex-Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone also performed on that track).

The Tombstones 1985 - 1987 Lineup:

Stevie Tombstone - Rhythm and lead guitars, lead vocals

Curt Rowlett - Rhythm and slide guitars, harmonica, vocals

Jack Ross - Bass guitar, vocals

Pat Parker - Drums, vocals

For more information, photos and song samples, go to: http://labyrinth13.com/Tombstones/index.htm

Lyrics:

Pick up your bones and rattle 'em in the hall.
Pick up your bones and rattle 'em in the hall.
Old black cat, you know he's got no sound at all.
Old black cat, you know he's got no sound at all.

It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!

Undertaker, oh, he's withered and he's tall.
Undertaker, oh, he's withered and he's tall.
Parade begins in its glorious funeral pall.
Undertaker, oh, he's withered and he's tall!

It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!

I've got a spell that's gonna lay you in your grave.
I've got a spell that's gonna lay you in your grave.
Go light a candle and remember Jesus saves.
I've got a spell that's gonna lay you in your grave.

It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!
It's that black cat!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tombstones
• black
• cat
• Grave
• Matter
• deathrock
• goth
• punk
• Atlanta
• Georgia
• Stevie
• T.
• Curt
• Rowlett
• Jack
• Ross
• Pat
• Parker
• Metroplex

[Freddicat]

It was great to find these. We haven't been on the internet in a while so I didn't know you'd posted them. This is Curt, right?

[77RamonesCramps]

@Freddicat: Hi Freddie - Yeah, this is Curt's YouTube channel.  Glad to have you on here!

[joeydeadcat]

Thanks for posting these! Really dig these guys!

[77RamonesCramps]

You're welcome and thanks for the kind comments.

[SeagullTheFreegull]

@77RamonesCramps @Freddicat yo you guys fucking rock,thank you

[tatustev]

my dad is the dude with the snake and this took place in my dads appertment

[Arider96]

My band is actually called the tombstones! We suck, but check us out anyway!

Our YouTube username is TheTombstones914.

[xpi3000]

Very nice indeed. I still love the twang from the grave album :)