Vicious Kitten Records is an independent Australian record label founded in 1999 by brothers Colin and Denis Gray. Based in Canberra, the label earned a reputation for championing underground punk, garage rock, and rock and roll artists from both Australia and overseas.
Formed after the demise of the music fanzine Vicious Kitten—also launched by the Grays—the label helped to spotlight cult musicians and lesser-known acts, especially those in the punk and underground rock scenes. In the early days of the label, a print newsletter titled Cat Scratch Fever was also produced. Copies of both Vicious Kitten fanzine and Cat Scratch Fever are held with The National Library of Australia.
The launch of the label was mentioned by journalist Vince Lovegrove in his UK-based news column Lovegrove's Ear On London.
After a hiatus of several years, during which the brothers focused on music blogs and producing The Australian Rock Show podcast, the label was relaunched in 2021.
In August 2023, the Gray brothers were interviewed on the *Endless Summer* radio show broadcast on the FREIRAD station in Austria.
Notable artists on the label include Kevin K, Nikki Sudden, The Ballbusters, and The Golden Arms.
Notable releases Among the label’s most significant releases are: Red Brocade by Nikki Sudden
Tonight We Ride! – a bootleg live album featuring Hitmen DTK with guest guitarist Deniz Tek. For the week beginning 11 March 2024, the album debuted at No. 7 on the 100% Independent Albums chart published by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The long-lost recording was unearthed and officially released by Vicious Kitten Records in 2024. It received positive critical response, including reviews from Loud Mag and I-94 Bar. Rock 'N' Roll War (An International Collection of Rock 'N' Roll Action) a compilation album released in 2000. The album features a diverse lineup of artists, including The Dictators, Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls), Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman), Jeff Dahl, Peter Wells (Rose Tattoo), and Hitmen DTK. A second volume, *Rock 'N' Roll War Volume II*, was released in 2002 through Vicious Kitten USA, a subsidiary label based in Boston, featuring artists such as Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Jeff Crane, Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), Dave Kusworth (Jacobites), The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Michael Thimren (ex-Johnny Thunders), and The Bullys.
Calling from Nowhereland (Live in Vancouver 1994) a live album by Pillbox NYC, released in October 2025. It was originally recorded on cassette at The Town Pump and also includes a set of rare 1992 demos. A review on the online music site Veglam noted that Pillbox NYC "was the real deal!"
Multiple albums by American underground rocker Kevin K, including Magic Touch, Shadow Work 38, Cadallac Man, 13th Street and Broken.
GRRRR!! the second studio album by Melbourne outfit Girl Monstar, who reunited in 2025
Discography
Cat. No. Year Artist Title Format VKR 001 1999 Sheek The Shayk I Want Her So Bad 7", EP VKR 002 1999 Freddy Lynxx & The Corner Gang Have Faith 7" VKR 003 1999 Kevin K Band Midnight Dragon 7" VKR 004 1999 Nikki Sudden Red Brocade CD, Album VKR 005 1999 Rick Blaze and the Ballbusters Manhattan Babylon CD VKR 006 2000 Kevin K Magic Touch CD, Album VKR 007 2000 The Golden Arms Oriental Junk Sick 7" VKR 008 2000 Various Artists Rock 'N' Roll War (An International Collection Of Rock 'N' Roll Action) CD, Compilation VKR 009 2001 The Ballbusters People's Republic Of Rock And Roll CD, Album VKR 010 2001 Kevin K 13 Street CD, Album VKR 011 2021 Kevin K and Ricky Rat Identity Crisis 7" VKR 012 2022 Aunt Helen Hey Aunt Helen! CD VKR 013 2022 Kevin K Cadallac Man CD, Album VKR 014 2022 The Golden Rat We Got A Right CD, Album VKR 015 2023 Kevin K Broken CD, Album VKR 016 2024 Hitmen D.T.K. with Deniz Tek Tonight We Ride! (Official Bootleg Release Live In Sydney: 13 November 1991) CD, Album VKR 017 2024 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats Rosewood CD, Album VKR 017LP 2026 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats Rosewood LP, Album, Lathe Cut VKR 018 2024 The Ballbusters Keepin’ Up With The Jones 7", 33⅓ RPM, EP VKR 019 2025 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats Shadow Work 38 CD, Album, Digipak VKR 019LP 2025 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats Shadow Work 38 LP, Album, Lathe Cut VKR 020 2026 Girl Monstar GRRRR!! CD, Album, Digipak VKR 021 2025 Pillbox NYC Calling from Nowhereland (Live in Vancouver 1994) CD, Album, Digipak VKR 022 2026 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats More CD, Album VKR 022LP 2026 Kevin K and the Bowery Kats More LP, Album, Lathe Cut
See also List of record labels Independent music Punk rock List of record labels: R–Z
References
External links Official website 1999 Archived Vicious Kitten Records website