Reformed LAST CRACK Signs With EMP LABEL GROUP; New Album Due In May

January 8, 2019

Reformed '90s Madison, Wisconsin alternative hard rockers LAST CRACK have signed to EMP Label Group, the U.S.-based label of MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. The band's long-awaited third full-length album, "The Up Rising", will be released on May 31. Recorded during 2017-2019 at Megatone Studios in Madison, the LP will be the band's first studio release since 1991's critically acclaimed "Burning Time".

Formed in 1987, LAST CRACK recorded its first five-song demo and was brought to the attention of legendary Roadrunner A&R man Monte Conner, who signed the band and sent them off to Prince's Paisley Park to begin work on their 1989 Roadrunner debut, "Sinister Funkhouse #17".

The album, aptly named after their practice/storage unit they rented outside of Madison. Dedicating hours of playing in a hot, sweaty garage with vocalist Buddo scribbling lyrics on the walls, the original lineup of Buddo, Don Bakken and Paul Schluter on guitars, Todd Winger on bass, and Phil Buerstatte on drums, LAST CRACK was more than ready to unleash its heavy/quirky sound and visions to the world

With the release of "Funkhouse", LAST CRACK got the attention of the major metal magazines, and quickly developed a loyal fan base.

Their sophomore effort, "Burning Time", was recorded at Eldorado Studios in Hollywood with Dave Jerden, famed for recording iconic albums with JANE'S ADDICTION and ALICE IN CHAINS. The LP was met with critical acclaim and the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. and Europe.

EMP's Thom Hazaert commented: "Growing up in Wisconsin, LAST CRACK coming out of Madison was such a huge deal. I remember 'Burning Time' coming out, and it was like dynamite. They were really doing something that no one else was doing at the time. All the 'cool' kids loved them. They were always a band that was so ahead of their time, and it's a huge honor to release the follow-up to 'Burning Time', all these years later. Hopefully the world finally caught up."

Fueled by conflicts and industry pressures the band broke up just months after the "Burning Time" tour had begun, leaving all wondering what happened. Buerstatte would go on to play drums for WHITE ZOMBIE, while Buddo, Paul, Don and Todd all continued performing in several popular regional bands in Wisconsin.

In 2002, the band reunited with the original members, except for Buerstatte, who was replaced by Chris Havey. After releasing a live album with songs from both studio albums, LAST CRACK toured Iceland and the Netherlands, enjoying firsthand that they still had fans around the world. All five original band members were brought back together in November of 2009 for one date in Wisconsin. This would be the last time, as Buerstatte passed away in 2013.

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).