Surely the most unlikely of "supergroups"; The Last Hard Men consisted of:
*Sebastian Bach (Skid Row, Frameshift, Phantom Of The Opera) = vocals, theremin, guitar!
*Jimmy Flemion (underground pop band, Frogs)=guitar, vocals, bass, piano!
*Kelly Deal (The Kelly Deal 6000, The Breeders)=vocals, guitar, bass!
*Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex)=drums
It's mind-boggling to try and figure out exactly HOW or WHY this band ever came together in the first place; but the sole album that they managed to push out is a rather fun and enjoyable mess. The appeal in this record is determined by just how much of a loose, disjointed approach the listener can handle. Because this is, by no means, a cohesive or focused effort. Although each player seems to pull their weight and take their roles seriously enough; the radical jump between indie pop, rock metal, hair balladry, and covers of Alice Cooper, Scorpions, and show tunes (yes, show tunes) displays more weak links than a Communist sausage farm. It's more or less a showcase for everyone's individual talents as songwriters, rather than a group collaboration. My advice on handling this cd is the same advice i would give for appreciating the horrendous/hilarious cover art: don't think about it, just accept it.
It's nice to imagine that in some sort of distant alternate reality, The Last Hard Men might have become a multi-million record selling superstars and launched a worldwide indie pop metal rock overthrow that demolished the appeal of all the Britney Spears and Mariah Careys on the charts. Ah well...we can dream, can't we?
dream on
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