It should have been January 2009 where i had found Tony and John on MySpace. We started a little chat and they told me about the new LONG TALL SHORTY line-up and that they would love to play in Germany. I got in touch with Kidnap from the NOT AMUSED in Berlin and ask if he could arrange something there. He surely did and so it happened that LONG TALL SHORTY and THE NOT AMUSED played on 30th Mai 2009 in Berlin at the Schokoladen. The venue was sold out and the crowd went crazy. I was fully blown away… LONG TALL SHORTY still sounded like a classical three piece band of 16 years old kids: maximum noise & overwhelming enthusiasm, high energy, rough and just doing it for having fun.

After the gig we talked about some new recordings. They suggested a 7“ single and I ask for an LP. Tony replied: "ok, thats fantastic, then I will write some more songs for an album."

I was happy and proud like a dog that he will give me the possibility to release something from his legendary band on my quite new and little label.
Not even 4 weeks later Tony wrote me that he have booked a recording studio in Brighton for next week. They recorded 15 songs live in just one day. The Giffer sound was put on tape and released on 8th October 2009.
What followed was the best thing you can get: expect nothing and get quite everything. Gig after gig for the following couple of years.
I remember well that Mark & Lesley Bailey went over to see them in Hamburg where it was hard for me to keep the freezer filled with beer at the backstage room 😉 But also Albert Cummings and his wife who went to see them in Cologne.
Just nine month later we released in June 2010 the 2nd album. Followed by the 3rd album in 2018.

Whenever i had ask him for new recordings or if he could come over all the long way to play some gigs he said: "yes, I'd love to do it if there's any interest."
This passion to be creative, being different and experimental was awesome. This genuine modesty and kindness was easily lovely.

In 2017 we did the last 11 days tour in Germany. Derwent played the drums, who had given the old classics an even more authentic sound, which had given Tony a lot of fun.
After the gig in Essen the guy from the club wanted to close but Tony was disappeared in the middle of the night. John called him and Tony said he is running around the city to find a kebab store who is still open. So John and I had to wait outside the club and enjoyed a bottle of Jägermeister which we got the day before in Leipzig till he went back.
As we talked about the name for the last single he suggested to call it „Take it Easy“ because 2020 was a hard year for so many all over the world.
Last time i have seen Tony was at the release gig for the 3rd album in August 2018 at the Prince Albert, Brighton. I really thought I will see him again as soon this pandemic is over.
A lovely guy, who always had time for people and loved life and his music. A sad loss.

My love and respect go out to his family.

Cheers Mr. Perfect and thanks for everything! Will see you again somewhere else in a kebab store or at a donkey farm!!

Just a couple of weeks ago Tony did two fantastic radio interviews with Eddie Pillar on his Modcast.
If anyone is interested to listen the show you can find both links here.

Music is one of the most beautiful things in life... Take it easy! More info soon....

time for some new words!
The latest releases by THE JAYBIRDS, RAF Mod band and the REFLECTORS got splendid kudos in several magazines. The Reflectors LP was sold out only one day after the release date and is described my many as best PowerPop album in years.

THE TRANCE - farewell to a world untorn LP is reviewed by Mike Korbik from Twang! Records / Guitars Galore:

"…the songwriting is with no doubt rooted in the Flower Power era of the year 1967 with characteristics of bands like TOMORROW, ART, SMALL FACES, sometimes also THE WHO, THE ANIMALS or SPENCER DAVIS GROUP. On the other hand, the style and arrangements shows, that they are also kids from the revival of the 80´s. Bands like THE PRISONERS, MAKIN`TIME and not least THE VOGUE from Vienna have left their mark on the sound of this album. The LP contains all songs they had ever recorded, including the so far unreleased song „The Ride“ and a slight rougher demo version of „Magic Sphere“. The sequence of the songs here is different as on the CD from 1998. It starts with „Officer Pearson“, an unique Mod Psych Pop song, which bring you straight to the SciFi worlds of the seventies. Beside of strong R&B Mod Beat tracks there are consequently those trips into psychedelic dreams and fantasy worlds, without given up to much the down-to-earth attitude. The LP is limited to 200 copies, 50 of them in transparent vinyl, 50 in marbled vinyl and 100 on black wax.
The best re-issue of the year!"

LTS will celebrate the new album at Prince Albert in Brigthton on Sat 25th August 2018. First and good possibility to buy their new album !

Here we go! Ready to hit the streets tomorrow.
Copies on gold vinyl (lim. 100/ hand-numbered) are already going low in stock....
Regular version will be on black wax.

This Sunday 27th May, the featured albums on "The Glory Boy Mod Radio Show, UK" come from The Threads & Tara Milton.

Limited 1st press out of stock!!! But new copies will be available in around 2 weeks. This time black wax in white heavy cardboard sleeve.

Brand new band from the streets of Moscow with two debut singles by four lads from the cities Mod & Music Scene.

OG Projects! A brand new contemporary art space & culture magazine running by great artists Stefan Strumbel, Stefan Armbruster and Florian Waldvogel. Happy that the TFA label got a little kudos at the first issue, released in December 2017.

Tout est calé !

13/10 TOURS (fr) - Canadian café
14/10 PARIS (fr) - Le Klub - w/ Gonna get yours + guest
15/10 NANCY (fr) - Black Baron
17/10 FRANKFURT (All) - Dreikönigskeller -
18/10 BERLIN (All) - Cortina Bob -
19/10 HAMBURG (All) - Monkeys Music Club - w/ The Spitfires
20/10 SIEGEN (All) - VEB -
21/10 WURZEN (All) - D5 - Contra Bash w/ Crim, Strongbow

"... Jam Division ..."
"... they surprise again with their unique and varied sound of Pop Punk and 79er Mod Revival, with an overlying black cloud of Post-punk melancholy and French Cold Wave darkness..."
"... but the framework is still Powerpop or Mod Revival- Sound from bands as Long Tall Shorty, The Chords, Purple Hearts or early The Jam... "
"... with this exceptional melange of two from Punk born and influenced music genres, from the late 70´s and early 80´s, they are pretty unique in the current scene... "

All 5 new records are out now ! Here we go with the 2nd video by The Gift.

Finally! the new label website is online but not yet completed. I will add bit by bit more lines, photos, videos, flyers from the bands, e.g. the Giffers from London or The Riots, WTC... In any case, i hope you like it.

A lot of the previously releases are gone, so it´s time for some new records. To be precise, 5 pieces will hit the streets on 18th May:

BJ´S NEW BREED, feat. label- mates since the begin, with a new smashing Freakbeat 7“ -

DUKES OF HAMBURG with another classic LP -

SAMUEL S PARKES with their long awaited ‚New Northern’ 45 -

Mod-Punk debut 7" by the WEEKS -

plus THE GIFT with their Post-punk New Mod sound LP.

As always, there will be a limited coloured version of each release.

For orders you can easily take the shop option here or write me an email. I am always happy to get a personal message.

cheers

Yeah Beta 0.97 online now! If you have experienced problems displaying pages with your browser, please let me know.

Thanks
Michael