Alleycat Scratch – Deadboys in Trash City (FnA Records Reissue Review)
🎸 Band: Alleycat Scratch
💿 Album: Deadboys in Trash City
🏷 Label: FnA Records
📅 Release Year: 2006 (originally released in 1993, reissued by FnA Records)
🕰 Content: The band’s first and only full-length album from 1993, brought back to life and reissued by FnA Records.
A Little History on Alleycat Scratch
Alleycat Scratch didn’t just play sleaze—they were sleaze. These guys lived, breathed, drank, snorted, and screamed Sunset Strip debauchery from every pore. Formed in 1989 up in San Francisco, they quickly made the move to L.A., where they belonged—right in the thick of the sleaze and glam scene that was still roaring with attitude, even as the grunge wave started creeping in.
They gained a solid following through word of mouth, bootleg tapes, and absolutely wild live shows. The scene knew who Alleycat Scratch were—even if they never got the big break they deserved. And that, my friends, is a crying shame, because this band had all the pieces.
Their first release was a 1991 cassette demo titled Cheap City Thrills, featuring original vocalist Tommy Haight. But not long after, they brought in Eddie Robison, a powerhouse frontman who previously tore it up with Resurrection Mary (also a band worth checking out!). With Eddie on vocals, the band found their final form and hit the studio to record what would become their first—and sadly, only—full-length album: Deadboys in Trash City, released in 1993.
The lineup on this sleazy masterpiece included:
🎤 Eddie Robison – Vocals
🎸 Devin Lovelace – Guitar
🎸 Bobby "Boa" Dias – Bass
🥁 Robbi Black – Drums
Unfortunately, like so many killer bands from the era, Alleycat Scratch called it quits just one year later in 1994. But their music never died—it became underground gold, passed around among diehard glam and sleaze fans like a sacred relic.
Thanks to FnA Records, Deadboys in Trash City lives on, reissued for the rockers, sleazers, and diehards who know what real dirty rock ‘n’ roll sounds like.
The Music: Dirty, Loud & Sleazy to the Core
From the very first riff of "Stiletto Strut," Alleycat Scratch makes it crystal clear—you’re in for a filthy, fun, unapologetically sleazy ride. It opens with nothing but killer drums and bass—raw, groovy, and full of attitude—before the guitars roar in and Eddie Robison drops the line: "Check this out, motherfucker!" And THAT sets the tone for everything to come.
This track is a total sledgehammer to the senses. The bass thumps, the guitars shred, the drums boom, and Eddie’s vocal delivery is sleaze perfection. When he sings “I like to sleaze”, you don’t just hear it—you believe it. His vocals are one of the biggest highlights of the entire record—this guy can do it all. Screams, lows, highs—every line sounds like he’s living it. Honestly, you can tell the whole band poured their souls into this thing. It's not just a great opener—it's one of the best album openers I’ve ever heard. Full stop.
You might think, “Can they top that?” And the answer is hell yes—again and again and again.
"Take A Bite (Outta Me)" follows and hits just as hard—if not harder. It opens with one of the best riffs on the entire album, grabbing you by the collar and dragging you straight into the gutter. Dirty, gritty, and packed with a chorus that sticks to your brain like gum on a strip club floor. It’s sleaze, attitude, and swagger all rolled into one—and the solo? Dirty and melodic. Perfection.
Then comes "Cat's Got Your Tongue", and it just keeps the hot streak going. Another catchy riff, another infectious chorus—and that line “Here kitty kitty, here kitty kitty”? I dare you not to smile. This track is playful, nasty, and a total blast.
From there, the album never lets up.
You get the killer lyrical punch of "Soul Survivor", the down-and-dirty riff and thumping bass of "Sexual Addiction", and the party-starting energy of "Love Sick Junkie"—all delivered with that signature sleazy style that only Alleycat Scratch could pull off.
But let’s talk about track 8—"Roses On My Grave."
This song... THIS SONG. It’s a sleaze metal power ballad done right. Where so many bands of the era tried to chase that big emotional hit, Alleycat Scratch took the blueprint and made it their own. It’s heartfelt, dark, gritty, and absolutely stunning. Eddie’s vocals here are some of his best—emotional but still dirty, never overproduced or cheesy. The lyrics hit, the arrangement builds beautifully, and the guitar solo? Chef’s kiss. It ends with just acoustic guitar and Eddie’s voice—haunting and perfect. One of the best tracks on the album, no question.
Now you might ask—can they bounce back from a heavy ballad like that and keep the momentum? You bet your ass they can.
"Trash City" comes roaring in right after and proves this band knows how to close strong. The vocals, the groove, the grit—it’s all there, sleazier than ever. Honestly, this album reeks of sleaze in the best way possible. It sounds like an alley behind a strip club at 2 a.m.—and I mean that as the highest compliment.
And then… oh boy… let’s talk about "Love Song."
Track 11 is not for the faint of heart. This isn’t your typical ballad—it’s a full-on, filthy, sex-fueled banger that absolutely belongs in the early ’90s sleaze time capsule. It kicks off with Eddie saying “Roll over, we’re f**ing you up the ass,”* and the chorus? It goes there. If you're easily offended—look away. But if you're like me and you live for the raw, unfiltered energy of sleaze metal, then you'll be grinning ear to ear. It’s crude, it’s raunchy, and it’s totally iconic.
The album wraps up with "I Don’t Like Mondays," more of a live track that feels like the final beer at the end of a wild night. The recording isn’t flawless, but the energy is there, and it’s a fitting close. Great guitars, great vocals, and let’s be real—who does like Mondays?
Final Thoughts
Deadboys in Trash City isn’t just a lost classic—it’s an essential slab of sleaze metal history. This is the kind of record that punches you in the face, buys you a drink, makes out with your girlfriend, and steals your leather jacket… and you thank it for the experience.
Alleycat Scratch had everything: killer vocals, sleazy riffs, monster basslines, gritty hooks, and attitude pouring out of every sweaty note. It’s hard to believe this was their only full-length release, because it sounds like a band at the top of their game. Every song brings something to the table, and even the “live” cut at the end fits the mood perfectly.
FnA Records did us all a massive favor by making this album available again, because it deserves to be heard. Whether you snag the reissue or manage to hunt down the original 1993 pressing, this is one of those albums that earns a permanent spot on your shelf—and in your heart.
If you love sleaze, glam, filth, and flair—this record is for you.
Crank it loud, live fast, and prepare to fall in love with a bunch of deadboys from trash city.
🎸 Final Score: 10 / 10
💿 Must-hear tracks: Stiletto Strut, Take A Bite (Outta Me), Cat’s Got Your Tongue, Roses On My Grave
🔥 Vibe: Sleaze-drenched, gutter-born hard rock with fire, filth, and fun from start to finish
🎧 Where to Buy, Follow & Explore More
Wanna get sleazed up proper? Here's where you can grab the CD and dig deeper into the world of Alleycat Scratch:
💿 Buy the CD
👉 Order Deadboys in Trash City directly from FnA Records
🔎 More on Alleycat Scratch
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