The Last Drive is a Greek garage rock group which formed in 1983, broke up in 1995, and reunited in
January 2007. The Last Drive started playing under the name "Last Drive" in late 1983 and their first performance was at the "Rodeo club" on December 27, 1983. They adopted the name "Last Drive" after noticing a cocktail by that name at a bar menu. During 1984, Yiorgos Karanikolas was added on lead guitar.
The group was basically playing garage rock mixed with rockabilly and surf rock. They started
playing in underground joints of that time, while some band members played with Blue Light (group) at their first live performance at Pegasus club. In 1985 they released their first record, the 7" single Midnite Hop, which now is the most sought-after record by collectors in Greece. They also participated with a song in a compilation tape by Dikaioma Diavasis records, Live at the Kyttaro club.
In 1986 they released their full-length LP album Underworld Shakedown, the content and the
quality of production (by the Drive themselves) of which was considered by some as unusually high for the standards of the independent scene of that time. The LP contained covers of garage standards such as Misirlou and Night of the phantom, as well as their own material.
They continued to appear live in Athens and many other cities in Greece, and in the spring of 1987 they
toured abroad for the first time, in Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands. They performed alongside the Fuzztones, the Creeps, the Stomachmouths, the Dizzy Satellites and others. In 1988, having replaced Nick "Pop Mind" with Panos Kasiaris on rhythm guitar, they released Heatwave, which was produced by Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones.
By this time the sound of the group had started to somewhat change, becoming harder and speedier and moving towards stoner rock and neo-psychedelia, without however burning the
bridges with its garage past. The biggest moment for the band was in 1990, when they met the guitarist and the derivatives of DREAM SYNDICATE, Paul Cuter, the acquaintance became in the "Rhodes" club when Last Drive played Support in the band. The result of the collaboration was the LP "Blood Nirvana" (1990), which is also released in Germany, America and Spain.
Their LP Blood Nirvana, released in 1990, marked the change in their sound, a fact that let down some of their hardcore garage fans and ended their cooperation with Music Maniac. At this time they were
considered a part of the "explosion" of the hard rock/indie Greek scene that took part during the early 1990s. Thus, they started becoming more popular among rock fans in Greece, and on the same year they were voted "band of the year" by the readers of the leading music magazine, Pop & Rock. They played as a support act for the Wipers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Gun Club, and toured Germany with Dead Moon.
In 1995, Karanikolas left the band and moved to the United States. Some months later the Last Drive was disbanded, after twelve years on the road, having created a dedicated following in Greece and
abroad, and an explosive live act.
In early 2007, the band announced on their official website their reunion for some gigs. They performed live in Athens on May 11, 12 and 13th -all three dates being sold out- in Thessaloniki on the 19th and in Larissa on June 2.
In April 2010 an art and comics anthology came out, entitled "At The Drive Ink" with artwork by 31
Greek artists inspired by the songs of "Heavy Liquid". In October 2010 the band contributed the track "Love & Terror" to the CD/booklet "Horror & Romance", a compilation of songs and music inspired by Stefanos Rokos' art exhibition. In June 2012 the band released a new EP called "News from Nowhere" and shortly after the guitar player Thanos Amorginos was replaced by Stefanos Flotsios. Since their re-union they tour Greece every year.
MEMBERS
Alexis Kalofolias (Alex K.) - ripper bass, vocals
Yiorgos Karanikolas (B.George Bop) - lead guitar, vocals
Christos Michalatos (Chris B.I.) - drums
Stefanos Flotsios - guitar
Ex-members
Nikos Kapetanopoulos (Nick "Pop Mind") - guitar
Panos Kasiaris (P.PEP) - guitar
Thanos Amorginos (T.H. Lime) - guitar
THE LAST DRIVE - BLOOD NIRVANA 1992
Label: Restless Records – 7 72536 - 2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative
TRAXS
01. Bite 3:01
02. Overloaded 3:27
03. Chain Train 4:01
04. Desert Rose 4:10
05. The Bad Roads 5:20
06. Cool Spine 3:46
07. Slave To The Wave 4:16
08. Holy War 4:57
09. Sweet Thing 3:08
10. Flesh Diver 5:56
CD Bonus Track
11. Time Has Come Today 9:27
MP3 @ 320 Size: 120 MB
Flac Size: 342 MB
THE LAST DRVE - HEAVY LIQUID 2009
Last Drive, after 15 years of absence, came back in 2009, with “Heavy Liquid”, that was released from their own label, affirming their fame as one of the most important rock bands in Greece. A comeback that is just as good as the old stuff!
This album includes everything The Last Drive was and still is about. The sound is similar to the latest releases of the band and all the 80’s generation heroes fly like drunken ghosts while the album is on the instant replay. Beat literature, rock’n’roll attitude, massive hits, great artwork and smart lyrics from a band that doesn’t have to prove their history, instead they take it one step forward with this effort.
Label: Happy Crasher – HC001
Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered
Country: Greece
Released: May 9, 2009
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock
TRAXS
01. A Glass Of Broken Dreams (Vocals – Alex, George) 4:41
02. Magdalene (Vocals – George) 4:05
03. Headlong To The Edge 6:29
04. Hang The Bone 4:28
05. Mountains 4:08
06. Get Off My World 4:04
07. Pantherman (For Lux Interior) 4:26
08. Hole In The Wall (Vocals – George) 4:38
09. Maureen (Organ [Hammond] – Xanthi Kourouni) 4:01
10. Goldfish 5:15
11. Jack Of The Highway (Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Xanthi Kourouni/Vocals – Alex, George) 5:04
12. Alabama Blues (Written-By – J.B. Lenoir) 9:47
Thanks for the Last Drive !
ReplyDeleteI have the first 4.
I didn't know this later "Heavy Liquid" and didn't know that it was as good as the early one.
Yes Yes Yes My friend
DeleteToday i got 3 greek bands as lps from Athen.
DeleteSouth of North
Flowers of Romance, dozian gzey
Various, Cicad an electric guide to the greek underground
I'm excited !
South of no north, Flowers of Romance and the Cicadas Compilation, are all on Urban Aspirines. The first album of the Last Drive is a real jewel of Garage.
DeleteYes i know from here i so also have the infornation.
DeleteGood news (!) if you are interested.
After a break more than a year, the blogger (Frank from Germany) wants to active POP ON THE RUN blog in spring 2022 again. One of the best 3-4 blogs i have ever met. REALY GREAT !
You can also there download via FLAC.
I buy things if they are not too expensive.