General
The Last Gang were a very very tight 3 piece band hailing from Dudley
in The West Midlands U.K. Formed in 1977 as Snuff Movies. Snuff Movies
were. Rob Real - Guitar & Vocals Mick Movies - Bass & Occasional
Backing Vocals. Johnny Heartless - Drummer & Metronomic Timebomb..
Snuff Movies 1st gig was, believe it or not at a Scout hut some where
in Birmingham..What the hell, the boys needed a free rehearsal for the
night.. Happy Scout leaders and their kids stood at the front of the
stage. Suddenly ! Snuff Movies launched into their 1st number ( Depression
Area ).. The result ? a massive wall of sound that had said Happy Scout
leaders and their children running for cover, parents standing in shock
with hands over their ears and kids screaming in pain..Snuff Movies
managed 3 songs before someone cut the power to the already overloaded
& glowing fuse box. the Scout hut was burnt down 20 minutes after
Snuff movies left, by some local youths who obviously didnt like wooden
huts.. The Rest they Say IS HISTORY----SNUFF MOVIES HAD ARRIVED !!!
Late 1977 saw the band change their name to Stuff Movies. Why ?? Because
they did !! 1978 saw Stuff Movies building a massive local following
which was beginning to spread nation wide.. Playing to rammed back street
pubs and clubs.. 1979 saw Graduate Records take an interest in signing
Stuff Movies.. To begin with the band ignored them..Eventually a deal
was struck. Graduate Records requested the up and coming single be recorded
at Bob lambs studio in Birmingham, Bob had already worked with a young
up and coming band called UB.40. However ! Stuff Movies took the step
of recording with Tony Robins who had just built a 16 track recording
studio called Rook Studio's some where in sunny Stourport. Finally Stuff
Movies decided on what they were going to release as the single, A SIDE
Spirit Of Youth B SIDE Waste It All.. Stuff Movies had said nothing
to anyone about the recordings, but on the day of recording around 15
hardcore followers were waiting for the band out side the studio. How
they knew is a mystery. After many hours the recording was done, Graduate
Records were pleased, then Stuff Movies dropped a BOMBSHELL !! We are
changing our name to THE LAST GANG !!! The single cover was shot in
a dingy allyway somewhere in Dudley, By our main man Den Payne. Den
was our sound tech, driver, mate, in fact our Guru, who put so much
unpaid work into the band it was amazing.. The single cover for Spirit
Of Youth featured Rob Real standing next to uniforms with a halo hovering
over him, the halo was done using Dens now departed wifes wedding ring.
The Single SPIRIT OF YOUTH received mixed reviews but the journo's all
had the same opinion.. The Song was an ANTHEM !! Now signed to a label,
doors started opening up with promotors for The Last Gang. Their manager
John Comb at times struggled with the momentum but did his best for
free. Graduate Records decided it was time for a showcase, UB.40 and
The Last Gang at Kidderminster Town Hall, the Last Gang didnt want to
do it, but, the label called the shots on this one. So, with King by
UB 40 climbing the charts, The Last Gang played their final gig with
their original lineup. Johnny Heartless finally had to quit drums due
to tendon damage caused by years of Drumming. The Last gang recruited
Paul Sharp as the new drummer, but sadly after a few months The Last
Gang was no more..
Recently there has been
an upsurge with interest in The Last Gang. the Single is now available
as digital downloads from i tunes amazon etc
The single has also featured on various compilation
albums.
Recently The Last Gang managed to track their old manager down John
Combe after a gap of some 30 years , he himself has written two books
on music
The Last Gang have also been approached by their record label concerning
royalties owed to them
We have now made available some
Archive tracks
From Stuff Movies / Last Gang
FOR FREE DOWN LOAD
Although not the best quality
We feel they still stand up some 31 years later