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In 1980 Laffy hit the music scene with the glam rock band Girl formed with Phil Lewis (LA Guns) and later joined by Gerry’s brother Simon and Phil Collin (Def Leppard). Though never released in the US, echoes of Girl’s sound can be found in the copycat American “hair bands” of the 80’s.
That die-hard rock and roller
history is quite apparent in Laffy’s 1998 compilation CD Die Laughing.
Die Laughing is a sixteen track CD with songs from his 1990 solo effort
Money & the Magic, Sheer Greed’s 1992 and 1993 albums
Sublime to the Ridiculous and Live in London, Gerry and Simon
Laffy’s 1994 and 1995 albums Lying with Angels and Can’t Help It,
as well as a never released cover of the America classic Horse
with No Name.
As the first chords of “Stand Up”, from the 1990 solo album, rang out, I knew I was in for a treat. Laffy’s solo work sets the tone for this remarkable collection. It is fun, firm and full of the friction you would expect from a good rockin’.
Guitar and drum heavy, the Sheer Greed tracks send one back to when rock was rock and not the “alternative” though, I would recommend this as an alternative to today’s carbon copy, cookie cutter mainstream, so labeled bands.
I admit, I held my breath as “Horse with No Name” began, wondering what frightening things could have been done to a song I have loved since I was young but I found myself enjoying Laffy’s rendition. The song did get stuck in my head for days however, it was his version that rang out, with the added twists and turns, in my brain.
Slowing it down a bit moving into the Gerry and Simon Laffy albums, you get to see the softer side of Laffy's rock nature. With beautiful lyrics and harmonies, this portion of Die Laughing stuck with me the most. Wolfie’s Dream, “The trouble it’s all in the past/forgive and forget there’s no time for remorse or regrets/he’s forgiven you all/he forgets all the pain he’s been dealt all his life and continues his dream”, tugs at the heartstrings and 911, “Dial me 911 for rescue/dial me 911 for rescue/dial me 911 to forget about you”, makes the person next to you hand you the airphone so you’ll call already and stop singing…
This compilation makes me wish that these gems had been released in the states so I could have enjoyed the music before my somewhat recent introduction to it. I tend to judge music on the way it makes me feel and Die Laughing makes me feel good. Full of energy, wit, emotion and music that knocks you around and slams you up against the wall as it kisses you gently on the cheek, Laffy’s Die Laughing is a must have for anyone who likes to have a good time.
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