Ace Cats

The Ace Cats were a German rockabilly band that originated in 1980 under the name Alley Cats. Due to a naming conflict with a U.S. punk band, they changed their name to The Ace Cats in 1982. The band's early lineup included Markus Fräger, Luitger Fräger, Thomas Szalaga, Christian Schudde, Tina Schudde (née Szalaga), and Petra Humfeld. Their music career was marked by a blend of rockabilly and Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW) styles, with notable albums like *Cat Talk* (1982), *Katzen tanzen durch die Nacht* (1984), and *Stundenlang im Fieber* (1985). The band achieved moderate success, particularly with their single "Linda," which charted in Germany for 12 weeks. After disbanding in 1986, they briefly reunited in the late 1990s but eventually disbanded again.

The Ace Cats' music often featured cover versions of popular songs in a rockabilly style, but they also experimented with original German-language tracks. Their performances included opening for notable acts like Fats Domino and Shakin' Stevens. Despite their relatively short active period, The Ace Cats remain a notable part of Germany's rockabilly and NDW scene of the 1980s.