Dead Fucking Last

Dead Fucking Last (also known as DFL) is an American hardcore punk band that was founded in 1991 in Los Angeles, California by Tom Davis, Monty Messex, Adam Horovitz and Tony Converse.

History

Grand Royal

DFL was founded in 1991 by Tom "Crazy Tom" Davis, Monty (also spelled "Monte") Messex, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Tony Converse. Michael "Mike D" Diamond, played drums briefly in DFL’s earliest incarnation.

DFL’s first release My Crazy Life was recorded at the Beastie Boys’ G-Son Studios in Atwater Village as a series of informal recording sessions in 1992.^[1] It was recorded by Beastie Boys producer Mario Caldato, Jr or "Mario C" . It was released in 1993 on Grand Royal Records on 7” vinyl and CD; with different artwork for each format. Shea, a friend of Adam’s, drew the cover art for the CD, including DFL's "smiling face" logo. Spike Jonze shot the photographs for the vinyl release.

DFL’s bass and drum line-up went through a number of changes between 1993 and 1994.^[2] Tony Converse left the band and was replaced on drums by Amery "AWOL" Smith, of Suicidal Tendencies and the Beastie Boys. Tony rejoined DFL in in 1994. Chris “Wag” Wagner, bass player for Mary's Danish, played with DFL briefly in 1993. As did Eugene Gore, violinist on the Beastie Boys Ill Communication release. Brian Baker of Minor Threat and Bad Religion, also played bass briefly during this time. In 1994, Tom Barta joined DFL on bass until the band broke up in 1997.

Epitaph

In 1994 DFL left Grand Royal Records to sign a recording contract with Epitaph Records.^[3] In 1995 they released their second studio album Proud to Be.^[4]

It was recorded at G-Son Studios and was produced by Adam Horovitz and Mario C. Proud to Be was released on 7” vinyl as Tony’s War. DFL released one video from Proud to Be for the song "Home is Where the Heart Is."^[5] DFL toured with Pennywise, Biohazard, Slayer, 7 Seconds, Sick of It All and Sublime;^[6] playing concerts throughout North America and Japan. Proud to Be was DFL’s bestselling release, with estimated sales of 50,000 CDs.

In addition to Proud to Be, DFL recorded new songs for a series of compilations: one for Punk-O-Rama Vol. 2 called “ThoughtControl” and one for Generations I – A Punk Look at Human Rights called “Health Care for All Americans.”^[7]

In 1997 DFL released its third full-length studio album, Grateful.^[3] The album was recorded and produced by DFL at New Belleview Studios. Grateful included an instrumental track by Girl pro-skateboarder Paulo Diaz. Grateful was released on cassette tape as The Tape Show.^[8] The Tape Show included Grateful outtakes and alternate tracks, plus fan covers of DFL songs and other ephemera. After Grateful’s completion, DFL toured Brazil and Argentina. In April 1997 DFL broke up.^[2]

Hiatus

In 1999 Monty Messex started a punk/hardcore band called The Family Dog. The Family Dog played in the same genre as DFL. In 2000 the Family Dog released “So Cal Hardcore” on the Voodoo Glow Skulls' El Pocho Loco label. In 2001, Monty left The Family Dog to attend graduate school at the UCLA School of Public Health. In 2013, Monty (under the name Montgomery Messex) released an acoustic single on the Transcendental Music^[9] label to benefit the David Lynch Foundation.

In 1996 Tom Davis, skateboard icon Tony Alva and Amery "AWOL" Smith started the hardcore punk band General Fucking Principle (also known as GFP). Nick "Bigg Nick" Treviṅo played guitar from 2009-2010. In 2011, Greg Hetson of the Circle Jerks and Bad Religion joined GFP on guitar. GFP recorded material with Beastie Boys producer Maria Caldato, Jr. that will be released in Germany.

Reunion

In 2014 Tom Davis and Monty Messex reunited DFL. Nick Manning of Circle One and Final Conflict was recruited to play drums and Nick "Bigg Nick" Treviṅo was recruited to play bass. DFL is currently playing gigs and writing new material. Burger Records ^[10] announced that in 2015 there will be a 20th anniversary reissue of Proud to Be (cassette), no exact release date was provided. Rumors have circulated that Epitaph will release a 20th anniversary reissue of Proud to Be on vinyl.

Band Members

Current members

• Tom Davis – vocals (1991 - 1997, 2013–present)
• Monty Messex – guitar and vocals (1991 -1997, 2013–present)
• Nick Manning – drums (2013–present)
• Nick "Bigg Nick" Treviṅo – bass (2013–present)

Past members

• Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz - bass (1991 – 1993)
• Michael "Mike D" Diamond – drums (1991)
• Tony Converse – drums (1991-1993, 1994-1997)
• Chris “Wag” Wagner – bass (1993)
• Eugene Gore – bass (1993)
• Brian Baker - bass (1993)
• Josh Lingenfelter – bass (1993)
• Amery "AWOL" Smith – drums (1993)
• Tom Barta – bass (1994 -1997)

Discography

Studio Albums

• My Crazy Life^[11] – 1993
• Hurricane/DFL – America’s Most Hardcore -1994
• Proud to Be^[12] - 1995
• Tony’s War (vinyl only) – 1995
• Grateful ^[8] - 1997
• The Tape Show (cassette only)^[8] – 1997

Compilations

• Grand Royal - Mixed Drink, Volume 2 - 1995
• Punk-O-Rama Vol. 2 – 1996
• Generations I – A Punk Look at Human Rights - 1997
• Eventually Everybody Gets an Epitaph - 1997

External links

• DFL's official Facebook page

References