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The Hammersmith Gorillas are probably the best glam, pub-punk, mod, rockabilly, and straight-ahead English rock and roll band that you've never heard of. Led by Jesse Hector (the one with the wierd rooster cut, Brobdingnagian mutton-chop sideburns, tartan slacks, and quivering vibrato) the Gorillas were a group that should've stormed the charts, but somehow kept falling just short of it.

Despite their lack of fame Stateside, I managed to discover them by accident back in the early Eighties, when I stumbled across one of their 45s in the import singles bin at a local record shop. Riveted by their unique sound, I scoured the stores and mail-order catalogs for more. I managed to turn up another 45, but that was it. I've scanned the sleeves and posted them here for your edification.

I forgot all about them until yesterday, when I discovered, much to my surprise, that a Jesse Hector documentary called A Message To the World had been released in the U.K. last year, and a CD of his best work with the Gorillas, Crushed Butler, and Helter Skelter had been released on RPM Records.

If want to learn more about Jesse and his band of tartan-clad apes, here's a couple of links to explore:

[Link: Gorilla Garage (compilation CD)]
[Link: Hector St. Station (interview, discography, sleeve gallery, bio)]