SLCene Suggests: Faster Pussycat at The Royal

FASTER PUSSYCAT, THE ROYAL, Wednesday, April 23, 8 p.m., $12

Among the sleazy hair-metal bands of the ’80s, Faster Pussycat stood out for a few reasons. They had a prominent spot dedicated to their music and story in the classic rock-doc The Decline of Western Civilization: The Metal Years. They co-owned a Sunset Strip nightclub called The Cathouse with former MTV VJ Riki Rachtman. And, like so many other bands of their ilk, they enjoyed their greatest commercial success with a power ballad, “House of Pain.” They also happen to be one of my personal favorites of the glam-rock bands of the era, blazing a magnificent-if-brief path through the public eye over the course of three albums, a few high-profile tours (like opening for Motley Crue on the Dr. Feelgood tour here in Salt Lake City) and some memorable videos for songs like “Bathroom Wall.” Now they’re still touring on the fumes of that long-ago success, kicking out the old jams for the old fans. Red Light Saints open the show in SLC.