Batusis

The Batusis are a tough, rowdy, rock & roll band fronted by two hard-bitten, guitar-wielding survivors from the days before punk rock was called punk rock. The Batusis are fronted by Cheetah Chrome, guitarist with the Dead Boys and Rocket from the Tombs, and Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist with the New York Dolls; despite their years of experience, the group plays fresh, energetic music that favors classic rock & roll style without rehashing what Chrome and Sylvain have accomplished in the past. Chrome and Sylvain are longtime friends who, in 2009, finally found the time to put together a recording project, naming the group after the clumsy dance Adam West performed on the Batman television series. Teaming up with bassist Enzo Penizzotto and drummer Thommy Price (both on loan from Joan Jett's Blackhearts), the band went into the studio with producer Ken Coomer and cut a four-song EP, featuring three rollicking original numbers and a cover of "Blues Theme" by Davie Allan. Smog Veil Records released the Batusis EP in May 2010, and the band set out on their first U.S. tour in support; for the road trip, Penizzotto and Price were replaced by Sean Koos (ex-Blackhearts) on bass and L*z Warner (of the Cult) on drums.