The Last Dance

In the beginning, The Last Dance was embraced by listeners and fans of the dark underground music scene. Members Rick Joyce (Guitar) and Jeff Diehm (Vocals), and bassist Peter Gorritz, welcomed the invitation passionately and created beautiful songs of high emotion and inspiration to add to the movement. However, in the past several years the maturity and unique influences that are a constant contribution from each member push the overall product of The Last Dance into several listening dimensions. The Last Dance has gone from being a local band from Orange County, California with a couple of cassette albums, to a very professional group of musicians that have toured the United States, Europe, and Latin America. The Last Dance has 4 full-length CD’s plus several notable compilation appearances to their credit. Each CD showcases different sides of the band, and with each new release there is a distinguishable progression both sonically and musically.

From 1995’s Tragedy EP to the full-length album Fairytales (1996), continuing on to 1998’s singles album Staring At The Sky (Featuring the popular club remix “Do You Believe In Angels”), up to 2002’s Perfect and 2002’s Now & Forever Compilation, The Last Dance has shown an ability to experiment, grow, and take risks while still maintaining the integrity and basic sound of their original vision. With the forthcoming release, Whispers In Rage (due in 2003), listeners and fans alike will share a new movement, and The Last Dance will again open a new door to a more aggressive and passionate world.

The Last Dance is a very difficult band to categorize. Even members and close friends cannot easily grasp the best way to get this idea across except to say, “listen for yourself, and come to your own conclusions.” In order to satisfy a curious mind, The Last Dance has been described with adjectives such as “Energetic,” “Passionate,” “Heartfelt,” “Introspective,” “Thought Provoking,” and so on. Journalists have used terms like “Progressive,” “Modern,” “Alternative,” “Gothic/Industrial,” “Dark Wave,” etc., and have made comparisons to a variety of artists old and new. David Bowie, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, U2, VNV Nation, Depeche Mode, The Cult, and Peter Murphy. Bands known for their constant experimentation with genre changing sounds. Like The Last Dance, they all generate an audio storybook through professional experience. In addition, they have the unique ability to gather dedicated listeners from all types of musical styles who Dance follow their own muse, forging their own musical paths with subtle influences of each member’s unique tastes and personality. A sound that is best described by not describing it at all, but through experiencing, or perhaps by just saying ”The Last Dance!”

Several anticipating fans are now asking the question, what can be said thus far about The Last Dance’s forthcoming album, Whispers In Rage? Descriptions that come to mind are along the lines of emotional phrases rather than one inclusive answer. A dark romantic parade of guitars creating a touching torment of sounds. Vocals of screams, colorful tears of aggression, and impulsive perseverance. Electric laments carefully splashed with shadows and light. Listeners will embark on a dark and wondrous trip of highly eclectic, and track-to-track diversity in songs. Whispers In Rage is a collection of unique sound and experimental creativity, combined with a more “in your face” edge of live vocals and guitars. Harder and with more aggression, still with underlying tones of the original audio voices that are unique to The Last Dance. Here in 2003, The Last Dance is unquestionably screaming out a message to all listeners, and they will be heard!

Within the past year, The Last Dance completed three tours of Europe with notable performances at Judgment Day V in Dornbirn, AUT, Eurorock in Lommel, BEL, Herbstnächte Festival 2002 in Raben, DE, along with performances in Denmark, Holland, Slovakia, and Italy. In August 2002, The Last Dance was faced with their deepest challenge, the passing of their drummer, Lucky Ivan Dominguez, while on tour in Europe. The band responded by regrouping after their time of mourning and accepted an invitation to perform at Dragoncon 2002 in Atlanta followed by their 3rd tour of Europe. The Last Dance headlined Convergence 9 in 2003 and are scheduled to showcase at Atlantis Music Festival 2003 located in Atlanta, GA come early August followed by their second appearance at Dragoncon 2003 towards the end of the month. August 19th introduces The Last Dance fifth release, Whispers In Rage, for European release courtesy of Apollyon Records and United States / World-wide distribution courtesy of Dancing Ferret Disks. The Last Dance will be celebrating the release of their 5th full-length release Whispers In Rage come September 6th at Bar Sinister located in Hollywood, CA.