With their catchy music, their exciting adventures, and their positive attitudes, Josie and the Pussycats have become one of the most famous fictional female bands of all time (okay so they might technically be people dressed up as cats, but we still count them as famous felines). So how did it all begin for Josie and the Pussycats?
The Josie and the Pussycats comic book series (also known as She’s Josie, or Josie) was introduced in the early 1960s by Dan DeCarlo and Archie Comics. The series followed a red-haired girl named Josie (who Dan DeCarlo named after his wife), and her two best friends, a blonde girl named Melody, and brunette girl named Pepper (this character was later changed to Valerie in 1969 when the series was reinvented).
This group of friends founded their very own feline themed rock group named Josie and the Pussycats – and not only was the band name feline themed, but the band members wore cat ears and cat tails while performing. Josie was the lead singer of the band and she also played guitar, Melody played the drums, and Pepper/Valerie sang, and played the bass and the tambourine.
The comic book series was published by Archie Comics from 1963 to 1982, and in the 1970s Josie and the Pussycats was adapted into a popular television cartoon where the girls were often required to solve a strange mystery or foil a villain’s evil plans (similar to Scooby Doo). See the catchy intro to this cartoon series HERE.
This series was very popular, and even led to the release of a studio album Josie and the Pussycats, which was full of songs from the show. An interesting fact about this album is that the women who sang on this album were portrayed as if they were the real-life incarnation of the cartoon characters.
The 1960s and 1970s may have been the high point for this feline-themed band, but the success of the 2001 live action film, Josie and the Pussycats proves that they are still a fan favourite when it comes to popular comic book characters.
Congratulations to one of our past Black Cat Contest winners - Bandit! Click 
