Jump to content

The Last Drive

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article The Last Drive, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025
The Last Drive
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1983
Defunct1995 (hiatus), reunited 2007
Headquarters
Greece
,
Greece
ProductsMusic albums, singles, live performances

The Last Drive is a Greek punk and garage rock band that originated in 1983, ceased activity in 1995, and reunited in January 2007.

1983-1987: Formation and Early Years

The Last Drive began their live performances in late 1983, making their first appearance at the Rodeo Club on December 27. Their name was inspired by a cocktail listed on a bar’s menu. In 1984, guitarist Yiorgos Karanikolas joined the lineup, significantly influencing their signature mix of garage rock, rockabilly, and surf rock. They played extensively in underground venues and released their debut 7" single, "Midnite Hop," in 1985—a record that has since become a prized collectible in Greece. Additionally, they contributed to the compilation tape Live at the Kyttaro Club. Their self-produced 1986 album Underworld Shakedown stood out for its superior production values within the indie scene and featured covers such as "Misirlou" alongside original compositions.

1987-1990: European Tours and Growth

While continuing to perform throughout Greece, the band embarked on a European tour during spring 1987, visiting Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. During this period, they shared stages with groups like the Fuzztones and the Creeps. Following the replacement of rhythm guitarist Nick "Pop Mind" with Panos Kasiaris, they released Heatwave in 1988. This album was produced by Peter Zaremba of the Fleshtones and caught the attention of German label Music Maniac Records, which reissued it. This partnership led to their participation in the Berlin Independence Days festival and the release of the Time EP. Their musical direction shifted towards a heavier and faster sound influenced by stoner rock and neo-psychedelia. Notably, producer Paul B. Cutler from Dream Syndicate worked with them on their subsequent two albums.

1990-1995: Evolution and Recognition

With the release of Blood Nirvana in 1990, The Last Drive embraced a new stylistic approach that distanced some garage rock enthusiasts and ended their collaboration with Music Maniac Records. Throughout the early 1990s, they became integral to Greece’s burgeoning hard rock and indie scene, increasing their popularity at home. That same year, readers of Pop & Rock magazine voted them "band of the year." They supported renowned acts including the Wipers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and The Gun Club, while also touring Germany alongside Dead Moon. Their mature sound was further showcased on the 1992 album F*head Entropy. Marking their tenth anniversary in December 1993, they toured Spain with a standout live performance at West Club. After concluding their contract with Hitch Hyke Records in 1994, they signed with BMG Hellas and released Subliminal, an album characterized by slower tempos. Karanikolas departed for the United States in 1995; within months following his exit, The Last Drive disbanded after twelve years of extensive touring and cultivating a loyal fan base both domestically and internationally through energetic live shows.

1995-2007: Hiatus

Following The Last Drive’s breakup, Yiorgos Karanikolas established Blackmail, a band that carried forward elements of The Last Drive’s sound while emphasizing neo-psychedelia, achieving considerable acclaim. Meanwhile, Alex Kalofolias and Thanos Amorginos launched The Earthbound in 1998, focusing on ethnic, Latin, and desert rock influences; former members of The Last Drive occasionally joined them on stage. Kalofolias and Amorginos also composed scores for Stratos Tzitzis’ film Sose me (Save me) as well as theatrical productions. Additionally, Chris Michalatos briefly performed with rockabilly group The Speedballs.

2007-present

At the start of 2007, the band revealed their reunion plans, performing sold-out concerts in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Larissa. Their first album, Midnite Hop, was re-released by the Greek independent label Blind Bastard Records. They appeared at Athens' "Open Air Festival" and served as headliners on the opening day of Italy's "Indie Rocket Festival 2007," sharing the stage with groups such as Devastations.

In May 2008, they embarked on a tour across Greece, which was accompanied by a live CD-DVD capturing their reunion performances, also issued by Blind Bastard Records. The 2009 documentary 20000 Miles Ahead: A Last Drive Story detailed their journey up to the reunion. That same year, "Heavy Liquid" was released as a limited edition LP through Inner Ear. In 2010, the art and comics anthology At The Drive Ink, showcasing 31 Greek artists inspired by "Heavy Liquid," was published. Additionally, the band contributed the track "Love & Terror" to the 2010 compilation Horror & Romance, connected to Stefanos Rokos' art exhibition.

June 2012 saw the release of the EP News from Nowhere, shortly before guitarist Thanos Amorginos was replaced by Stefanos Flotsios. Since their reformation, the band has maintained an annual touring schedule throughout Greece.

Members

  • Alexis Kalofolias (Alex K.) – bass, vocals
  • Yiorgos Karanikolas (B.George Bop) – lead guitar, vocals
  • Christos Michalatos (Chris B.I.) – drums
  • Stefanos Flotsios – guitar

Former members

  • Nikos Kapetanopoulos (Nick "Pop Mind") – guitar
  • Panos Kasiaris (P.PEP) – guitar
  • Thanos Amorginos (T.H. Lime) – guitar

In Greece

Singles/EPs

  • Midnite Hop (7", Art Nouveau 1985)
  • I Was A Teenage Zombie (collaboration with the Fleshtones as "The Pleasure Hustlers") (Time Bomb: The Fleshtones present the Big Bang Theory, Hitch Hyke 1989)
  • Time (12" EP, Hitch Hyke 1989)
  • Overloaded (7" one-sided promotional single, Hitch Hyke 1991)
  • News From Nowhere (12" EP, Happy Crasher Records / Inner Ear, 2012)

LPs

  • Underworld Shakedown (Hitch Hyke 1986)
  • Heatwave (Hitch Hyke 1988)
  • Blood Nirvana (Hitch Hyke 1990)
  • F*Head Entropy (Hitch Hyke 1992)
  • Subliminal (BMG 1994)
  • The Bad Roads | The Best Of The Last Drive (Columbia 2007)
  • Time Is Not Important (Live DVD-CD from reunion shows in 2007, Blind Bastard Records 2008)
  • Heavy Liquid (Happy Crasher Records 2009)
  • The Last Drive (The Lab/Labyrinth of Thoughts, 2018)

Compilations and Contributions

  • (Live sto Kyttaro, Dikaioma Diavasis 1985)
  • "May This Bullet" (The Thing From Another World Volume 1, The Thing magazine 1995)
  • "Chain Train"; "Gone Gone Gone" (Rock Fm - Rodon:Live, Music Box LP 1991 / CD 2000)
  • "Jailbird"; "Outlaw" (Local Heroes '95 Comp., Pop & Rock magazine)
  • "Love & Terror" ("Horror & Romance" Compilation, 2010)

International

Singles/EPs

  • Blue Moon / Every Night / Sidewalk Stroll (7", Voxx 1987)

LPs

  • Heatwave (LP, Music Maniac 1988)
  • Their Story So Far (combining Underworld Shakedown and Heatwave) (CD, Music Maniac 1989)
  • Blood Nirvana (Romilar D 1991)
  • Blood Nirvana (LP/CD, Music Maniac 1991)
  • Blood Nirvana (CD, Restless 1992; includes bonus alternative mix of "Time Has Come Today")

Compilations and Contributions

  • "Every Night" (Battle of the Garages Vol. 4, Voxx 1986)
  • "Valley of Death" (The Sounds of Now, Dionysus 1986)
  • "I Love Cindy" (The Secret Team, Voxx 1988)
  • "Hell to Pay" (Music Maniac Gimmick Comp., 1989)
  • "Black Limo" (The Monster Dance Hall Favorites Vol. 3, Munster 1990)
  • "Overloaded" (It's a Restless World, Restless 1991)
  • "The End Inc." (Larsen/Zine Comp., 1993)
  • "Outlaw" (Enclosed Please Find... Your Invitation To Suicide: A Tribute to the Songs of Martin Rev & Alan Vega Double LP, Munster 1994)

References

  • Merlin's Music Box, Greek music publication, multiple editions (No. 5, No. 15, No. 25)
  • Roadhouse.gr Music Portal article featuring photographs and a 1986 interview
  • The Thing fanzine, volume 8, 1994 (includes discography)
  • Issues #195 and #190 of Pop & Rock magazine (1995)
  • Editions of ΟΖ musical newspaper from 1993 to 1994

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Last_Drive&oldid=81995"