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Vicious Kitten Records
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Key Information
Vicious Kitten Records is an independent Australian record label founded in 1999 by brothers Colin and Denis Gray. Based in Canberra, the label earned a reputation for championing underground punk, garage rock, and rock and roll artists from both Australia and overseas.
Formed after the demise of the music fanzine Vicious Kitten[1][2]—also launched by the Grays—the label helped to spotlight cult musicians and lesser-known acts, especially those in the punk and underground rock scenes. In the early days of the label, a print newsletter titled Cat Scratch Fever was also produced.[3] Copies of both Vicious Kitten fanzine and Cat Scratch Fever are held with The National Library of Australia. [4]
The launch of the label was mentioned by journalist Vince Lovegrove in his UK-based news column Lovegrove's Ear On London.[5]
After a hiatus of several years, during which the brothers focused on music blogs and producing The Australian Rock Show podcast, the label was relaunched in 2021.[6]
In August 2023, the Gray brothers were interviewed on the *Endless Summer* radio show broadcast on the FREIRAD station in Austria.[7]
Notable artists on the label include Kevin K, Nikki Sudden, The Ballbusters, and The Golden Arms.
The label is also included in the Wikipedia page List of record labels: R–Z.[8]
Notable Releases
[edit]Among the label’s most significant releases[9] are:
- Red Brocade by Nikki Sudden
- Tonight We Ride! – a bootleg live album featuring Hitmen DTK with guest guitarist Deniz Tek. For the week beginning 11 March 2024, the album debuted at No. 7 on the 100% Independent Albums chart published by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[10] The long-lost recording was unearthed and officially released by Vicious Kitten Records in 2024.[11] It received positive critical response, including reviews from Loud Mag[12] and I-94 Bar.[13]
- Rock 'N' Roll War (An International Collection of Rock 'N' Roll Action) a compilation album released in 2000. The album features a diverse lineup of artists, including The Dictators, Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls), Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman), Jeff Dahl, Peter Wells (Rose Tattoo), and Hitmen DTK.[14] A second volume, *Rock 'N' Roll War Volume II*, was released in 2002 through Vicious Kitten USA, a subsidiary label based in Boston, featuring artists such as Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Jeff Crane, Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), Dave Kusworth (Jacobites), The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Michael Thimren (ex-Johnny Thunders), and The Bullys.[15]
- Calling from Nowhereland (Live in Vancouver 1994) a live album by Pillbox NYC, released in October 2025. It was originally recorded on cassette at The Town Pump and also includes a set of rare 1992 demos. A review on the online music site Veglam noted that Pillbox NYC "was the real deal!"[16][17]
- Multiple albums by American underground rocker Kevin K, including Magic Touch, Shadow Work 38, Cadallac Man, 13th Street and Broken.
- GRRRR!! the second studio album by Melbourne outfit Girl Monstar, who reunited in 2025[18]
Discography
[edit]| Cat. No. | Year | Artist | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VKR 001 | 1999 | Sheek The Shayk | I Want Her So Bad | 7", EP |
| VKR 002 | 1999 | Freddy Lynxx & The Corner Gang | Have Faith | 7" |
| VKR 003 | 1999 | Kevin K Band | Midnight Dragon | 7" |
| VKR 004 | 1999 | Nikki Sudden | Red Brocade | CD, Album |
| VKR 005 | 1999 | Rick Blaze and the Ballbusters | Manhattan Babylon | CD |
| VKR 006 | 2000 | Kevin K | Magic Touch | CD, Album |
| VKR 007 | 2000 | The Golden Arms | Oriental Junk Sick | 7" |
| VKR 008 | 2000 | Various Artists | Rock 'N' Roll War (An International Collection Of Rock 'N' Roll Action) | CD, Compilation |
| VKR 009 | 2001 | The Ballbusters | People's Republic Of Rock And Roll | CD, Album |
| VKR 010 | 2001 | Kevin K | 13 Street | CD, Album |
| VKR 011 | 2021 | Kevin K and Ricky Rat | Identity Crisis | 7" |
| VKR 012 | 2022 | Aunt Helen | Hey Aunt Helen! | CD |
| VKR 013 | 2022 | Kevin K | Cadallac Man | CD, Album |
| VKR 014 | 2022 | The Golden Rat | We Got A Right | CD, Album |
| VKR 015 | 2023 | Kevin K | Broken | CD, Album |
| VKR 016 | 2024 | Hitmen D.T.K. with Deniz Tek | Tonight We Ride! (Official Bootleg Release Live In Sydney: 13 November 1991) | CD, Album |
| VKR 017 | 2024 | Kevin K and the Bowery Kats | Rosewood | CD, Album |
| VKR 018 | 2024 | The Ballbusters | Keepin’ Up With The Jones | 7", 33⅓ RPM, EP |
| VKR 019 | 2025 | Kevin K and the Bowery Kats | Shadow Work 38 | CD, Album, Digipak |
| VKR 019LP | 2025 | Kevin K and the Bowery Kats | Shadow Work 38 | LP, Album |
| VKR 020 | 2026 | Girl Monstar | GRRRR!! | CD, Album, Digipak |
| VKR 021 | 2025 | Pillbox NYC | Calling from Nowhereland (Live in Vancouver 1994) | CD, Album, Digipak |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Vicious Kitten". ZineWiki. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Vicious Kitten". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Cat Scratch Fever". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Search results for "Vicious Kitten"". National Library of Australia Catalogue. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ "Lovegrove's Ear On London". Immedia!. Internet Archive. 28 September 1999. Archived from the original on 2000-06-14. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Punk & Disorderly June/July: A long-dead label resurrected, local bands respected and new music prospected". BMA Magazine. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Endless Summer: Interview with the Gray Brothers". CBA – Cultural Broadcasting Archive. August 2023. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
- ^ "List of record labels: R–Z". Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Vicious Kitten Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "100% Independent Albums Chart - 11th March 2024". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ "Long-lost Oz Punk Live Recording of Radio Birdman Offshoot Hitmen D.T.K. Unearthed". Nyrdcast. May 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Lost Hitmen D.T.K. Live Recording Surfaces". Loud Mag. 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Live Album Finds Hitmen and Tek Still Riding High". I-94 Bar. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Various – Rock N' Roll War: An International Collection Of Rock N' Roll Action". Discogs. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Various – Rock'n'Roll War Volume II". Discogs. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Pillbox – Calling From Nowhereland (Live In Vancouver 1994)". Discogs. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "PILLBOX NYC – Calling From Nowhereland (Live In Vancouver 1994)". Veglam. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Girl Monstar Return With Protest Single 'Hate Train' Ahead Of New Album 'GRRRR!!'". Noise11. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.