For links to video clips of some of the artists and songs mentioned in this piece - click here
The band's
major influences
in the eighties
THE LAST LAUGH
London in 1984, they gained a sizeable cult audience over the
following two years, touring continuously throughout the UK and
Europe. Graham White is quoted as saying at the time that their
audience consisted "mainly of disillusioned Duran Duran fans and Bowie casualties,
dressed like punks in mourning."
The band signed to indi label, 4-Geddit, in 1985 and had several singles in the indi
charts, including 'Post-Ironic' which reached the top ten. Their first album, 'A Game of
Soldiers', also reached the top ten in the indi album charts.
They became known for performing cover versions at their gigs. These covers,
usually lesser-known songs by major artists, would be performed in an almost tongue-
in-cheek, cliched 'goth' style. In 1987, they scored their first major hit when they
released a single of their cover of Japan's 'Quiet Life' which reached number 14 in the
UK charts.
Their second album, 'It's All Arranged!' which included the cover, reached number 6
in the UK album chart . Later in the same year, a cover of Kate Bush's 'Experiment IV',
reached number 8 in the UK charts and was a top 10 hit all over Europe.
To see the original artists performing these songs click these links
There had always been some tension and conflict in the band, but by 1988 the cracks
were really beginning to show. Whilst working on their third studio album, 'Needle in
the Red', frontman Graham White and guitarist Nick 'Spider' Speight came to blows.
Work on the album was delayed and the band's first tour of the US was cancelled. It
was initially intended that the US tour would happen the following year, but by that
time The Last Laugh had split up.
In the press, the break-up was blamed on an inability to juggle artistic credibility and
mainstream success; that and the heavy drug consumption by all the members of the
band.
'Needle In The Red' was finally released in February 1989. Despite a complete lack of
promotion by the band, it reached number 12 in the UK album charts though it only
remained in the top forty for three weeks. The album clearly showcases the different
directions the band members, in particular the singer and the guitarist, were going.
We had already heard Spider's more rocky, Led Zep-inspired guitars on
the 'Experiment IV' single, whilst, at the same time, Graham was clearly getting more
into almost acid house dance rhythms, synth loops and samples. It was hardly
surprising, then, that by the end of 1990 Graham could be found DJ-ing in Goa while
Spider was working with the new breed of US Thrash Metal bands such as Totalitarian
and Extinction Atrocity.
Recently the song, 'Ain't No God', from the 'Needle in the Red' album was remixed
by the dance producer Halcyon - listen to the remix (played alongside a Graham