In honor of Throwback Thursday this week we decided to remember Burt the Cat.
In 1995, Paul Curry, part-time magazine editor, part-time cat owner, turned his rescued feline Burt into the foundation of his local Louisville 'zine, Burt the Cat. This pop culture, gonzo-style 'zine resembled a blend of SNL and TMZ. If Donald Trump or Kanye West vented to their friends about things they don't like and then wrote it all down, that would be the voice of Burt the Cat.
Curry released 30 issues of Burt the Cat from 1995 to 2002. Thanks to the Louisville Underground Music Archive, all of the issues are now available online. They are a great way to reminisce on the '90s while having a laugh.
In a rant about Taco Bell, Curry wrote, “Last month I wrote about Taco Bell. It was probably a mistake because everybody knows that Taco Bell sucks, and after I wrote about it, Burt started getting threatening phone calls from a bunch of drunken PepsiCo execs who were concerned that my column would cost them money. They said if I was ever to return to their beautiful restaurant at 1069 Bardstown Road, they would have the staff beat the holy crap outta me. Then they burped. Luckily, nobody knows who I am, and the next time I visit that disgusting (non-) eatery, I'll be going about eighty miles an hour through their front window.”
Curry had no filter. His sarcasm was similar to that of Steven Colbert — from ranting about how Julia Roberts isn’t attractive to bashing a band who paid him to write nice things about them. Curry even personified Burt as a human for a Q&A with a reporter, Fred Miles. When asked about himself, Burt said, “I'm a cat. I live in an apartment. I like to go outside and kill stuff.”
Along with all of the comedy, Burt the Cat still managed to serve as an informative guide for Louisville. Each issue had a club directory as well as upcoming events in the city. The 'zine also hosted local ads from Mag Bar, Phoenix Hill and Ear X-tacy frequently.
Burt the Cat also provided music reviews for albums and singles. The writers used subtle hints of comedy within their reviews; however, for the most part, they focused on the content and gave a detailed breakdown of their opinions. They covered every genre of music in each issue. In addition to this, they also reviewed comic books within their 'zine.
