Adam and The Hellcats Talk New Album, Single And More

Aug 6, 2025 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By San PR

ADAM AND THE HELLCATS are an unstoppable six-piece rock ‘n’ roll band from Bristol. The powerhouse act will release their eagerly awaited third album, ‘9 Lives’, on Friday 3rd October 2025. We caught up with them here:

Who is in Adam and The Hellcats, how did you meet and what do you play?

Adam Feasey, Lead guitar/Vocals
Cirwen Costa, 2nd lead vocals
Steve Long, Keytar/Backing vocals
Zak Mitchell, Rhythm guitar
Eddie Mole, Bass guitar
Tony Feasey, Drums

Well there’s been many line ups of this band before it got serious when I met Cirwen, A Mutual friend of ours brought her to a gig we were doing and we just instantly hit it off. This is before I even knew she could sing! When I found out I damn near hired her straight away. Of course when I then found out she knew a keyboard player I was instantly asking her to reach out to him. Steve came in 3 weeks before his first gig along with our now former guitarist Martin and absolutely smashed it. Eddie had depped in for us a few times pre covid alongside his former band the angry badgers so when it came time to find a new bass player there was no other choice, by far the best and most creative bass player I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Now Zak, our newest member, is a funny story, I’ve known him for around 20 years and we used to jam together as teenagers dreaming of hitting the stage. As we grew older we lost touch for a number of years and he’d tell you himself that he had basically resigned himself to being a bedroom guitarist, that all changed a couple of months ago when Milo clack (vulture god frontman) stepped away to focus on his main project after doing a fantastic job playing on our new album 9 Lives. There’s no bad blood and we still love him but then I reached out to Zak as over the years we’d talked about doing something together again numerous times. He was nervous at first but accepted and when I saw his work ethic about it I was so impressed. He’s absolutely rockin now and playing like he’s been here for years! And then there’s Tony…… Well he’s not just a friend I’ve known my whole life. He has literally known me since the moment I was born on account of being my father. When he came into the band the whole energy started to change towards when we found the others because he’s the man who got me into music and the connection we obviously share!

What is your earliest musical memory?

Well following on from the last question whenever my dad drove me and my sister to school he would put music on in the car and I always identified 2 voices at the front of the band. When I asked him who it was he told me it was the mighty Status quo and told me all about all the rock gigs he was going to in the 80s. Fast forward a few months and he pulled out 2 tickets to see Quo at Warwick castle. The first time I saw Rick Parfitt step out on stage and hit the opening riff of Caroline, it changed my life forever and I fully credit that moment with starting my down the road that led to Adam and the Hellcats!

When did you begin songwriting?

I first started Writing songs at 14 but I’ll be completely honest I was no good and no one’s ever heard those demos!! I’d say the first decent song I wrote was when I was 18 and I wrote she’s a vampire that now is the opening track from our 2021 album Claws out!

You have your third studio album ‘9 Lives’ is released on 3rd October 2025. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

Well our philosophy is just to write songs people can have fun with, write them for the live stage. That’s what happened but in the process a new found maturing of our writing just seemed to happen. The whole thing just sounds fuller and brighter than our previous work. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs as a band over the years and its hardened us, we haven’t rested on previous success at all. We still feel like a band with something to prove.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

Well other than the drums it was actually all recorded in my flat and I did the production myself, it was a long process and many late nights but so worth it as I truly believe (and I know everyone says this) this album is easily our best work to date.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Well there’s a screamed backing vocal that Milo does on end of the world and it was the first time I’d ever tried to record that style of vocals. Every time we did a take the mic level peaked within the first word. We ended up having to have him stand about 8 ft back from the mic just to get the take and even that came close to peaking.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

We use a Keytar, which is pretty unique for our style of music.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Happiest, I’d say ‘Hot tin roof’. Honestly it’s just a silly song about a cat who can’t stop getting in trouble, kinda like us really.

Angriest, Gotta be F you Brain. It’s basically about the stuff your brain can do to you during a mental health crisis and frankly wanting it to shut the hell up

Most reflective has gotta be ‘Go Easy’ but I’ll go into that later.

Was it a difficult album to write?

I thought it was gonna be but actually it ended up being the easiest which I guess comes from experience. The whole band just gels these days and I definitely feel like we’ve stepped up the writing quality now.

Who designed the album artwork?

Well an artist from fiverr put together the final piece but Tony was the one to come up with the initial concept. I’m just hoping we never run out of cat puns for album titles!

Does the album title have any specific meaning/significance?

Again we just delve into the bank of cheesy cat puns for album titles, the previous album catalyst was decided on from something Tony saw on a cardboard box in Lidl!

One of the tracks is the single ‘Go Easy’ which is out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

So it’s actually about my best friend Kelly from back when I was in college. She helped me through a hell of a lot of stuff and is one of the reasons I carried on making music at the time. There was never any falling out but life just had us drift apart and the next time I heard anything about her was her partner posting on Facebook that she’d passed away.

Naturally I was heartbroken when I heard because I feel like there was so much I should have said but didn’t. That night I couldn’t sleep so I went into my home studio and recorded the demo for ‘Go Easy’. The funny fact about the final recording is my lead guitar and vocal are actually from the demo version so you hear the most emotional version of that song. Recorded at 3am with tears streaming down my face.

Into the final verse I just wanted to encourage people to hold on to those closest to them as you never know how long those people are gonna be around for. I wanted a song that has some darker themes to actually have some positive impact, its what Kelly would have wanted to.

Do you have any visualisers planned to accompany the album?

Well one of them I won’t be talking about till nearer its release but we’ve already got a music video out for ‘Go Easy’ that we filmed with a local film student Klaus Isom. That young lad’s got a really bright future. I gave him the song and what it was about and he just ran with it.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Bristol: Party, music, nightlife, people, CIDER.

How do you look after your voices?

Plenty of water and warm ups for all 3 of us that sing. I also very recently gave up smoking which is really helping.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025/2026?

There’s a lot I can’t say here but the one to really take note of is the launch show for 9 Lives on October 3rd at The Thunderbolt in Bristol. It’s always been a really special venue to us and they’ve supported this band since my early 20s so there was no place we’d rather unleash the new era.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I just want the songs to be remembered fondly and still bring joy to people, that’s always the point of art is to have it become timeless. More than anything though I’d love it if a young band of musicians playing their first gig decides that one or more of my songs are the ones to cover to help them start on their own music journey

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

A lot of our sound these days comes from the guitars going through line 6 helix units. Me and Zak can basically create the sound of any amp in the world and have it come out the PA system at a show. My primary guitar is a dean evo while Zak’s is a vintage SG. I’, never sure what bass Eddie’s gonna turn up with to be honest but Steve uses a Roland Ax keytar that’s basically any instrument he needs it to be in the moment.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Obviously it’s already been done but I’d say Lord of The Rings. Could you imagine some of those battle scenes with heavy metal riffs playing?

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Well I’d always start with the bands I was brought up on like Status Quo, Motorhead, AC/DC, Judas Priest. But from what I’ve seen there’s never been a better time to be a British rock fan with bands like those damn crows, massive wagons, collateral and many others absolutely smashing it out right now. I may be a musician but at this point the fan in me is also very satisfied.

What makes Adam and The Hellcats happy and what makes you unhappy?

What makes us the happiest is always playing live, especially these days now that more people really know the songs. What makes us unhappy is definitely the state of the music scene where people will pay £20 to see a tribute band but will often complain at a £5 ticket to see 3 brilliant new bands. Ask yourselves this, if people don’t support new bands now who are people gonna form tributes to in 20 years time!