STEEVI JAIMZ

Let’s face it; the name of Steevi Jaimz is synonymous with glam rock. Whether it’s been with Tigertailz, St. Jaimz or War Party, Steevi has always packed a punch and delivered catchy, glamorous, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll anthems.

Although Steevi’s roots were initially entrenched in the blood and thunder of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with his first band Treason, he really began to make a name for himself with the ensuing Crash K.O., a big haired bastard of a glam band seriously ahead of its time.

Treason and Crash K.O. both made the illustrious pages of ‘Kerrang!’ magazine, when featured in the title’s often influential ‘Armed & Ready’ series on up and coming, demo touting rock bands. Crash K.O. certainly made the bigger impression of the two groups, looking set to compete with the mighty Wrathchild for Britain’s glam rock heavyweight title and clearly wanting to take on some upstart outfit from Hollywood called Mötley Crüe for global honours. Crash K.O. didn’t just have the looks that kill, but on a musical level they were far heavier than imagined, and actually pre-dated Nikki Sixx and co’s ‘Shout At The Devil’ direction by a year or so. Sadly, Crash K.O. failed to last and Steevi left for pastures new, taking time out to investigate the scene in the States at close quarters, with a spell in Los Angeles. He played alongside his former Crash K.O. band mate and drummer Ace Finchum in Idle Threat before returning to Britain in 1985, where fate led him to Wales and the inauguration of Tigertailz.

It’s fair to say that Steevi is still best remembered, indeed infamously so, for his tenure with the primarily Cardiff based glamsters. Linking up once more with Ace Finchum, Steevi helped to drag this new outfit out of their bedrooms in Cardiff and into the clubs of the UK and the hearts of glam rock fans the world over. Following the success of the independently released ‘Shoot To Kill’ EP, Tigertailz scored a deal with the Music For Nations label and issued their first album, ‘Young And Crazy’, in 1987 (which differed greatly from the original recordings intended as an independently released follow up to the EP that surfaced as part of a retrospective package, titled ‘Original Sin’, released by Steevi via the Majestic Rock label in 2004).

His departure from the band has gone down into rock folklore, Steevi fired from the group for being “too rock ‘n roll”. It has been an unfortunate consequence of this perception of Steevi as being a 24/7 party animal that his music has often been overlooked. The truth is that Steevi knows a damn good glam rock anthem when he hears one, and his song-writing prowess at this level is second to none. The thing is, had his first post Tigertailz project taken off then there is absolutely no doubt that he would’ve eclipsed, nay surpassed, the rampant popularity of the old act. The quality of St. Jaimz’s ‘Kick That Habit’ EP is proof that, with none other than Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham at the production desk, Steevi had been a major part in the success of ‘tailz and his band could play a bit too.
Yet, had Steevi been American and not a Metal loving lad from Oxford, St. Jaimz would’ve been huge. The St. Jaimz material can be found on an excellent collection of Steevi tracks entitled ‘Damned If I Do...’ released in 2000.

Steevi, the true fighter that he is, has continued over the years to present quality rock’n’roll, whether it’s taken the form of St. Jaimz, War Party, Jaimz Gang or a revamped version of Tigertailz that featured Ace Finchum, his long-time partner in crime once more. He was quick to recognize the renewed interest in the glam and sleaze rock scene in Scandinavia, where he has proven to be a popular draw at gigs in Sweden and an influence on the newer acts emanating from Sweden, Finland and even Germany (a country following in the Scandinavians’ stiletto heeled footsteps with their own glam revival), such as Crash Diet and Tokio Hotel.

Steevi’s latest project was concocted in Sweden, where he has cut a brand new album, ‘My Private Hell’, produced and mixed by Chris Laney and Anders Ringman. Described by Steevi as “a fukkin monster!!’, the record will ensure the name Steevi Jaimz continues to be associated with catchy, glamorous, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll anthems. 24/7!!

Steevi Jaimz MySpace