The Great Kat
Katherine Thomas (born 6 June 1966), best known by her stage name The Great Kat, is an English musician best known for her thrash metal interpretations of well-known pieces of classical music. Most feature her using the electric guitar, but on some she uses the violin. Thomas is a classically trained violinist, graduating from the Juilliard School and touring for a time playing conventional classical music before crossing over to metal.[1]
The Great Kat | |
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Birth name | Katherine Thomas |
Born | Swindon, England | 6 June 1966
Genres | Speed metal, heavy metal, thrash metal, neoclassical metal, power metal, melodic death metal |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, violin |
Years active | 1986–present |
Labels | Roadrunner |
Website | The Great Kat's website |
Members | Kat Jeff Ingegno Lionel Cordew |
Past members | Tom Von Doom, Chip Marshall, Adam Killa, Kevin Dedario, Scott Borrero |
Guitar One magazine listed her as one of the "Fastest Shredders of All Time".[2][3] Her classical background, technical skills and self-promotion are sometimes compared to Yngwie Malmsteen. In an interview in metallian.com she claimed to be the reincarnation of Beethoven.
Her public persona, as portrayed in her publicity photos and videos, is mainly compared to that of a dominatrix, albeit in an over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek manner.
Discography
- 1986 – Satan Says (Demo)
- 1987 – Worship Me or Die!
- 1990 – Beethoven on Speed
- 1996 – Digital Beethoven on Cyberspeed (EP)
- 1997 – Guitar Goddess (EP)
- 1998 – Bloody Vivaldi (EP)
- 2000 – Rossini's Rape (EP)
- 2002 – Wagner's War (EP)
- 2005 – Extreme Guitar Shred (DVD)
- 2008 – Total Insanity (compilation)
References
- "Faster, Pussy Kat, Kill!, Kill!". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. July 2003. p. 34. ISSN 0886-3032.
- "THE GREAT KAT WINS GUITAR ONE MAGAZINE'S "TOP 10 FASTEST SHREDDERS OF ALL TIME" AWARD!! The Great Kat "Girl power" is a gross understatement. Born Katherine Thomas, this Juilliard-trained violinist snapped after graduating and mutated into the world's fir". Greatkat.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.