Although this interview was close to being 20 years ago, I have never published it, and it is still relevant today. For The Stray Cats have reunited and are performing at The Pacific Amphitheatre, in Costa Mesa, CA. on Thursday, August 1, 2024 with "The English Beat" and "Midnight Cowgirls." And for those of you who can't get enough rock and grease, The Stray Cats are back on Friday, August 2, 2024, with "The English Beat" and "Moonshine." Same cat time, same cat channel.

(See what I did there?)

CS: "Lee. You've had a long and historic career in music. What do you think is your biggest contribution?"

LR: "Well, I mean, I . . . that's for somebody else to say really. But I mean, I'm just proud that I have been playing rockabilly music now for more than 25 years. And I am having a blast doing it. You know, so that I would say, just the longevity of it."

CS: "If you could start over again, would you do anything different?"

LR: "Not a damn thing! I'm [very] happy and [very] proud of how things have turned out.

(Lee Rocker)

CS: "You are considered the pride and joy of Orange County. What do you like best about Orange County?"

LR: "Well, I've lived in Orange County now for 17 years. Grew up in New York. I've lived in London and New York and Chicago and LA. And I love it down there man,(South Orange County, Laguna Beach.) It's got a great vibe, it's laid back [and] it's a friendly place. It has really turned into ground zero for rockabilly and rock and roll music now."

CS: "It has been more than 20 years since you first appeared on MTV. How would an artist such as yourself fare in today's climate of music videos and exposure?"

LR: "Ooooooh. I don't know, I mean, things have changed a lot. You know, I don't really know. Do they have videos on MTV?"

CS: "Not really."

LR: "No? I could be [in] surreal life, maybe?"

CS: "Your name has been mentioned in reference to a Lifetime Achievement Award, at The Orange County Music Awards. What are your thoughts regarding this?"

LR: "Well, I mean, that would be fantastic if they deemed that the thing I do, I would be proud, you know? It would be great! Orange County, like I was saying has a fantastic history of great rock and roll, so that's fantastic!"

CS: "Any plans for the future? What's going on?"

LR: "Well, right now, the new record is 'The Curse of Rockabilly.' And its' out in Europe. So, I'm doing a lot of touring in Europe, between now and January (2006.) And then the record will be out in the States, and I will be doing a lot of US touring and next up, actually though immediately, is a show at The Coach House, in Orange County."

CS: "San Juan."

LR: "San Juan Capistrano, and I think that is [on] ...."

CS: "September 15, 2005, I think."

LR: "Friday, September 15th or 16th."

CS: "I will look at home to verify dates."

LR: "All right."

CS: "All right, that concludes this wonderful interview and have you any message for the fans, my readers?"

LR: "Thank you for being there. And thanks (to me) for being here."