What was the Stray Cat's Slim Jim Phantom's birth name?

The Stray Cat’s Slim Jim Phantom was born James McDonnell. He adopted the stage name Slim Jim Phantom as he became known for his upright, visually dramatic drumming with the rockabilly revival band Stray Cats.

McDonnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1961. He formed Stray Cats with guitarist Brian Setzer and bassist Lee Rocker in the late 1970s. The trio helped revive rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll in the early 1980s, especially after moving to the United Kingdom and attracting attention there.

The name can be confusing because “Slim Jim” sounds like a nickname that might have been his birth name, while “Phantom” is a stage surname. Lee Rocker also performs under a stage name—his birth name is Leon Drucker—so the two musicians are sometimes mixed up. Phantom continued working in rockabilly and related rock projects after Stray Cats, including Kat Men and other collaborations.