The “original” Wildcats started in 1982 as a Rock`n´Roll Trio, with different Line-Up, playing gigs around their area in Rotterdam, Netherlands. To make their favourite sound, the British Revival Style (like Crazy Cavan, Shotgun etc.), they searched for a second guitar player. In 1984 Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel, a very young enthusiastic guitar player, joined the band.
The line up in those days was: Roel Hazelhof on bass, Kees “Spider” Jan Dekker on leadvocals & guitar, Peter Schenk on drums & vocals and Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel on guitar & vocals.
The band got very popular, played at many Festivals in several countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain and on the big weekenders in Great Britain).

In 1986 they recorded the legendary EP “Behind Bars” on Go Cat Go Records containing the smash hit “I Found A Friend In Alcohol”. They also did two great tracks (You bring me down & The boys are here) for the sampler called “Good Rockin Tonight” on Disky Records.

The Wildcats created exactly that powerful sound the European Teddy girls & boys wanted to hear. “I found a friend in alcohol” became more than a club hit! So Big Beat Records (one of the biggest R`n´R record companies in that time) was very interested to sign them.
But in 1987 Spider tried other things, the band took another guitar player and Kees “De Prins” van Bemmel started singing the lead vocals continuously from now on.
Unfortunately, in 1989 the band had to quit, Bass player and founder of the first Wildcats Roel Hazelhoff had a tragic accident and lost one finger and parts of his thumb and other fingers. Going through the feeling at that moment the band didn’t want to replace Roel, so started a new band named “Hot Rock”. Several years later this band was renamed into “Tear It Up” and still playing.
In ’98 Kees van Bemmel also started the Dicemen, a modern Rock/Rockabilly band on Crazy Love- and Suburban Records.
In June 2001 Kees was booked in the states as guitar player for, the most influential Rockabilly band in history, The Johnny Burnette Trio (with Paul Burlison & Rocky Burnette) and in February 2002 they toured through Europe together. As a singer, he also played and recorded with the guitar legend James Burton (Elvis Presley Band form 1969 to 1977, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more).
Around the turn of 2000, the “new” Wildcats story began...
By accident, some associates of Lou Cifer & The Hellions from Oberhausen (Germany) got the phone number of the first Wildcats singer Kees “Spider” Dekker, who lived in Brittany (France) for years. Mikel Müller and Stefan Pfeifer (members of that well known Teddyboyband Lou Cifer & The Hellions) loved and played this Teddyboy-Style for years and were totally into the “classic” Wildcats. So they asked Spider about a project of a band playing the Wildcats-style. He was very interested and came for a few rehearsals & recording session (four tracks).
The project got the name Black Leather and the line up was: Kees “Spider“ Dekker on vocals & guitar, Mikel Müller on guitar, Andy Rohling on bass and Stefan Pfeifer on drums.
Because Andy started his “Evil Eyes Tattoo Studio”, Mikel took his place as the bass man and Lele Lugosi (from Frank Popp Ensemble, Lele’s Rock`n´Roll Radio Show, Hickory Cats, Ex-Clay Wheels) reinforced the band playing rhythm guitar.
A new name was found in Wildcat Rock and a three-gig tour was arranged in April 2001, including headliner appearance on the Rockabilly Race Festival near Ulm/Germany. Wildcat Rock started getting busy. But the band couldn’t have a real future. Spider lived too far away for rehearsal, gigs and touring. Not to mention having a wife and two children at home.
Then there was this other Wildcats singer ... By positive contact with Mr. Kees van Bemmel and after a few rehearsals everybody was sure: This is the real BAND & ready for touring !!!!
So they did. In August 2001 with gigs in Germany, including the remembering flashy appearance on the Brandenburg Festival which could be seen as a Rock and Roll breakthrough for the band. After that, they got a very successful tour in “Suomi” Finland, where they played as headliner and co-headliner on different festivals. Also a big article was made for the, over 200 pages hardcover book, Rockin’ Annual of Jari Eklund. During the following time the band was booked for shows all over Europe like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Holland, England and of course Germany. Now things where going that well and the atmosphere was that right, that they decided to turn the band name back into: