Taime Downe (born Gustave Molvik on September 29, 1964) is an American musician best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s hard rock/glam metal band Faster Pussycat.
Background
Downe was born in Seattle, Washington. In high school, he formed a band called The Bondage Boys, performing under the stage name Vaun Hammer, and released a song titled "The Loser" on the compilation Northwest Metalfest. He later left Seattle for San Diego before moving to Los Angeles.
Career
In 1985, Downe formed Faster Pussycat in Los Angeles. The band signed with Elektra Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1987. Their second album, Wake Me When It's Over (1989), sold over 500,000 copies. The band toured with acts including Y&T, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe, Kiss, and David Lee Roth. Their third album, Whipped! (1992), was less commercially successful, and the band disbanded that year.
Following the breakup, Downe moved to Chicago to work with the industrial band Pigface. He also sang backing vocals on Skid Row's 1992 cover of the Ramones' "Psycho Therapy." He later formed the industrial rock band The Newlydeads, for which he wrote and produced material. The Newlydeads released Re-Bound (a remix album), Dead End (2001), and Dreams from a Dirt Nap (2006).
In 2001, Downe reunited Faster Pussycat with original members Brent Muscat and Greg Steele. The reformed band opened for Poison in 2002 and released The Power and the Glory Hole in 2006. Downe remains the only constant member of Faster Pussycat across its various lineup changes.
Other ventures
Downe co-owned the Cathouse nightclub in Hollywood with Riki Rachtman (former host of MTV's Headbangers Ball) during the height of the sleaze rock and hair metal era. He later co-owned the Pretty Ugly Club with JD Terziu. He has also promoted other Los Angeles clubs, including Thunder Pussy and Pretty Pussy, and worked as a DJ at Metal Skool.
Personal life
Downe's fiancée, Kimberly Burch, died in March 2025 after falling from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during The 80s Cruise.
