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Rooted firmly in the punk tradition of the late ’70s, the Last Drive burst onto the music scene in 1983, captivating audiences and critics alike with their unique sound and their explosive gigs. Their first LP “Underworld Shakedown” (1986) was met with critical praise, prompting them to leave the confines of Greece and carry out their first European tour.
A stir was created abroad when songs off the LP were included in international garage compilations (Battle of the Garages, Sounds of Now!). It was no surprise when their next album “Heatwave” (1988), was co-produced with Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones and was released through the German label Music Maniac.
Not long after that, Theo Angelopoulos included two of their songs in his film “Landscape in the Mist” and Music Maniac, excited by the reception to “Heatwave”, released the CD “Their Story So Far”, which contained their first two albums.
In 1989 they recorded the “Time” E.P. in Berlin, winning new fans. Through their meeting with Dream Syndicate, they collaborated with Paul B. Cutler, who handled production duties on their next two albums, “Blood Nirvana” (1990, released by Restless in the U.S.A.) and “F*head Entropy” (1992). In 1994 they released “Subliminal”, but shortly after that the band broke up. They reformed in 2007, a film documentary entitled “20,000 Miles Ahead: The Last Drive Story” hit the big screen in 2008, a CD/LP entitled “Heavy Liquid” came out in 2009 and the EP “News from Nowhere” in 2011. With a new guitarist, Stefanos, on board, the band keeps delivering the most intense and powerful gig experiences.
The band is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and has organized two party-gigs in Athens. They will be joined on stage by friends with whom they’ve shared this musical journey. Members of the most important greek rock bands like Villa 21, Nightstalker, Deus-X-Machina, Make Believe, Honeydive, Mushrooms, Trypes, Spyridoula, Adiexodo, Sound Explosion, Rockin Bones, Echo Tattoo, Distortion Tamers, Duckyboyz and 700 Machines will accompany the band.
Among the guests there are two that deserve a special mention: Fred and Toody Cole. Fred started his music career in the 60s opening for bands like Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, the Doors and the Big Brother and the Holding Company, and later moved on to create with Toody the infamous Dead Moon, one of the most influential bands in rock history. The Last Drive has toured with Dead Moon during the 90s and they have become brothers in arms. It’s a reunion not to be missed.
