Last Exit
Recorded 1986, October
Frankfurt Jazz Festival

Bill Laswell Bass(Actually Baritone guitar)
Sonny Sharrock Guitar
Peter Brotzman Reeds
Ronald Shannon Jackson Drums,Vocals


A little history.......
in late 1985 Bassist, Producer Bill Laswell had an idea for a new band, so he called up 3 of his favorite musicians and collaborators, Avant-Guitar legend Sonny Sharrock, German Saxophonist Peter Brotzman and Master Drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson all of whom Laswell had previously worked with,but none of whom had ever met each other.

On Feb 6 1986 they assembled in Zurich Switzerland and without ever having discussed what they were going to play and without a single rehearsal, they hit the stage with a volcanic eruption of free improvisation, warped-out delta Blues and other musical mayhemthat left audiences ears bleeding all across europe for the next 2 weeks.

Last Exit (Laswell also toyed with the idea of calling it The Sex Beatles) was born.
And though the band only survived for 4 years I have yet to hear anything that approaches
what they did in terms of musical power, sheer volume and audacity.

This recording and those that follow are only references, artifacts of something that was and will never be again. Having been lucky enough to witness and be involved with this project, if only peripherally, was certainly the highlight of my musical education. That said, this stuff is NOT for the faint of heart, and this particular show, has a bit more of shannon's vocalizing than i might care for, but still can peel the paint at 50 meters.

Enjoy!