MP3:
Last Men - Jimmy Igo (2:22)
I got this off a Ze Records retrospective tape in about 2000. The mp3 is a ripped cassette copy of a cassette copy, hence the 'not the best' quality of the recording. Alas, there was nothing I could do as the guy with the original tape now lives several 100 miles from me.
Information on this is pretty scare even on the net - all I could find was this (some pics of the sleeve, disc - and some info in french which i can't read) and this (Ze Records official Last Men page... helpfully its totally blank!)
Anyway, this is a song about that most heartwarming of subjects, necrophilia. I think it was the group's only release, apart from it's B-side - yes, this was a single. Despite it's subject matter, its quite a funny song (or maybe I'm just disturbed), and catchy as hell. And contains the unforgettable line "I wanna f**k her one more time - before we put her in the ground".
And for the record, no, I'm not a necrophiliac. Though my sex life has been quite dead of late... perhaps because I listen to songs like this... something to ponder.
- Contributed by: CaoimhghÃn Patraisc
Media: 12" Single (also released in 1989 on the compilation, "Zetrospective")
Label: ZE Records
Catalog: 12009
Date: 1979
Last Men.I still have the original ZE record 12". bought it in London in 1982.great song,Attitude! ciao
Posted by: vodka | March 03, 2007 at 08:22 AM
This tune was in heavy rotation at the Rousers' clubhouse-- the top floor apartment above Trash and Vaudeville on St. Marks Place where three or four of the five Rousers lived-- in '79-'80. That "I wanna f**k her one more time - before we put her in the ground" was pretty indelible. Just wrote to see if they had any more info on The Last Men, and got this back:
A friend from SVA, Todd Wizon (SP?) was in the Last Men and
I recall going to see them at Hurrah's, and their anti-fag harangue (the
booking agent/manager of Hurrah was a well known gay scenester). A great
band in many ways, uncompromising and skewed as all get out with what I
felt were pretty brilliant lyrics generally, and Jimmy Igo was a great
tune ("Jimmy Igo, Jimmy Igo now impatient words from Tory Brown, Jimmy
Igo, Jimmy Igo now what will we do when the body's found?"). This
blogperson probably needs to get down with "Brown Paper" to widen the NY
death and sex rock education...
"Brown Paper (Wrapped Up My Baby)" was a Rouser tune about the logistical difficulties of getting rid of a body using a sink garbage disposal, and I heartily concur with that last sentiment.
Posted by: Jeff Gee | March 03, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Lead singer Paul Buonaguro has a funny comment on the Village Voice website in an article about CBGB's closing:"Last Men Played CBGB's. Hideous.". It seems lead guitarist (and yes, SVA student) Tod Wizon is actually a fairly well-known american painter (god bless Google). Supposedly there are Last Men demos floating around. The french article (hard as fuck as it is to read) lists a few songs in addition to The Word and Jimmy Igo. Alex Weil, bassist, is almost certainly the man behind Charlex (they created The Cars' You Might Think video effects and netted MTV's first ever Best Music Video award). Dunno about drummer John Moro. There were a few postings on New Wave Outpost about the band that Buonaguro responded to (can't find 'em anymore), and there are a few mentions on the Richard Hell website... Musician and music journalist Franklin J. Bruno had this to say about Jimmy Igo on his blog:
"Speaking of Talking Heads, I think I've just heard what could well be the worst ZE release (008); "Jimmy Igo"/"The Word," a 1978 12" by Last Men. Rock division, not disco at all -- imagine 77 minus imagination re songform, plus blooz gtr on one song and many, many tom fills on both. And lyrics about necrophilia. Not Much Wave?"
I respect him a lot. He wrote a nice piece on Lizzy Mercier Descloux. But I gotta (and did) disagree with him on this one.
It's a great song. The most New Yawk thing ZE ever put out. Well, that and Suicide's 2nd LP.
Posted by: John | April 01, 2007 at 05:36 AM
oh it's great seeing some folks remember the LAST MEN.
Their frontman,Paul,cut a whole LP in 1982 or so with Blondie's drummer but nothing was issued... As for JIMMY IGO,
This is a great song but the production is awful;on a stage,the band was rough & tight!
Posted by: Antoine RIDEL | April 02, 2007 at 04:52 AM
great song,sadly not produced.The sound is muddy & on a stage,the band was far more powerful!
Paul,the frontman,cut a LP with BLONDIE('s drummer,Clem BURKE,in 1982 or so.
It still remains in the vaults today!
Posted by: Antoine RIDEL | April 02, 2007 at 04:55 AM
Put Michael Zilkha in The R&R Hall of Fame and let him have the Last Word.
Posted by: Jerry Jaffe | April 02, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Paul Buonaguro, the lead singer, was my English teacher in a New Jersey community college when he formed Last Men. He turned on his class to people like Burroughs, Borges, Iceberg Slim, etc. Jimmy Igo and Tory Brown are names of actual people in the small town where Paul lived and taught -- though, as far as I know, neither was involved in murder or necrophilia. Todd Wizon had the longest hair of anyone in our suburban high school in the early 70s. Paul is now married, with a bunch of kids, and still living in the New Jersey suburbs.
Posted by: Bruce | June 29, 2007 at 04:14 AM
That's right he taught at Union College. My friend went to college there and loved him and he got us in to see them at Hurrahs. There were GREAT!
Posted by: Sue | July 02, 2007 at 06:31 PM
holy shit I'm trippin on this, I used to hang with the boy's in high school. Weezer, Paul I'm glad I am trippin right now at the age of 54 while reading the recognition you nuts never got. I'm at a loss for words for a short time.
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 02, 2007 at 03:18 PM
dude's you know I'm tore I did it twice.....the road goes on forever and the party never ends. And weezer if you ever read this I married a nice Jewish boy from Linden but he passed about 18 years ago.
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 02, 2007 at 03:21 PM
I co-wrote Jimmy Igo with Paul way back when.
I agree the recording of the song was terrible.
James Donovan
Posted by: James Donovan | December 03, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Vickie Markie:
How the hell are you?
Jim Donovan
Posted by: James Donovan | December 03, 2007 at 12:50 AM
I living in the fun and the sun in Fl. went to Crudford for 9 mts and couldn't even find a bag of weed, I guess I'm to old had to get the nephew to get it. Had some brain surgery but didn't help all it did was fuck up the memory and have a hard time recalling anything. Keep a lot of note pads with me. What's up with you? where do you live. Bruce Carolane turned me on to this I freaked out...... and were is Jimmy Igo and Tory Brown
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 03, 2007 at 12:57 PM
I was just in Cranford last week for Thanksgiving and a wedding. I live in Las Vegas now. Crazy sun and crazier people. Jimmy Igoe lives in Florida somewhere and last I heard of Tory Brown, he lived in Linden.
Posted by: James Donovan | December 03, 2007 at 03:11 PM
I think Tory Brown is a Cop in Linden. That was where my husband was from . He passed like 18 years ago and I've been even wilder than in highschool. I have 2 grown kids, one by "get this" Kenny Johnson" I try to stay away from Crudford but when I was up for the surgery I saw Mike Madden (he's bald) oh my my my. I myself have big tits and blonde hair. You wouldn't know me.
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 03, 2007 at 10:44 PM
hey where's Jimmy Maloney sleepin at the train station
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 03, 2007 at 10:46 PM
I to was in Crudford for brain surgery, ha ha didn't work so I went back to FL party town. My kids are grown 33 and 27 so I'm back to the ol days, smokin and jokin. Life is beautiful I got big tits and blonde hair. I sure hope Tory Brown is in linden,l heard he was a cop.....he was my stalker for a while. Is Jimmy Maloney still alive. I heard he lives in the train station. Paul is living in Cranford with a billion kids, weezer is famous for crazy art and Deidre is pissed because she isn't Haven't heard from Bob Donnley in years but Wino is a physcitrist (can't spell) in south fla. Is it true what happens in vegas stays in vegas
Posted by: VickyMarkie | December 03, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Isn't cranford dull, I saw Mike Madden he's lost his hair and Deidre made a big statue of Lou Costello in his home town.....
Posted by: | December 03, 2007 at 11:15 PM
cum on who knows where weezer is. his art work is strange not what i would buy.
Posted by: Vicky Markie | December 10, 2007 at 07:20 PM
i know where he is.
Posted by: | April 04, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Lisen eny one that wants to know about paul u all let me know add me this is my aim tagcity368 I know all about this guy he is a work of art
Posted by: agustin | December 22, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Lisen eny one that wants to know about paul u all let me know add me this is my aim tagcity368 I know all about this guy he is a work of art
Posted by: agustin | December 22, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Lisen eny one that wants to know about paul u all let me know add me this is my aim tagcity368 I know all about this guy he is a work of art
Posted by: agustin | December 22, 2008 at 07:09 PM
He is alive I have a picture of him from exacly this day
Posted by: agustin | December 22, 2008 at 07:34 PM
He is alive I have a picture of him from exacly this day
Posted by: agusto | December 22, 2008 at 07:35 PM