Last Exit (British band)

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This article is about the British band, Last Exit, for the free jazz supergroup and other uses, see the page Last Exit

The British jazz fusion band Last Exit was formed in Newcastle upon Tyne England in 1974, and is best remembered as the group Sting was in before finding stardom with The Police. The band name came from the book Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Last Exit was comprised of drummer Ronnie Pearson (also of the Phoenix Jazzmen), guitarists John Hedley & then Terry Ellis, keyboardist Gerry Richardson, and bassist and singer Sting.

The band was a leading act around Newcastle for several years. They emulated the rock-jazz-fusion style of "Return to Forever" and were 'ahead of their time' with their skillful solos and driving beat. They released a single in 1975, Whispering Voices (a Richardson's composition), and in 1976, Last Exit recorded some demos in the Pathway Studios in London. The demo made little impact, but did impress Virgin Records head Richard Branson, who signed Sting for his publishing company before their friendship soured.

In 1977, Last Exit moved to London but after a few gigs half of the band returned to Newcastle, and Sting and Richardson started looking for other jobs. Richardson worked with Billy Ocean's band as musical director, while Sting joined Stewart Copeland and Henri Padovani and formed The Police. That same year, Last Exit play their last concert in Newcastle.

In 1996 Sting invited Gerry Richardson to play organ on his album Mercury Falling.

More information can be found in the Sting Autobiography Broken Music