The Great Kat | |
---|---|
Birth name | Katherine Thomas |
Born |
Swindon, England |
6 June 1966
Occupation(s) | 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: Vocals / Guitars / Violin Jeff Ingegno: Bass Lionel Cordew: Drums |
Past members | Tom Von Doom, Chip Marshall, Adam Killa, Kevin Dedario, Scott Borrero |
Katherine Thomas (born 6 June 1966), best known by her stage name The Great Kat, is an American 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.
Guitar One magazine listed her as one of the "Fastest Shredders of All Time". 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, abusive tongue-in-cheek manner.