(c’83-’85) John Proctor (guitar), Paul Dando (drums), Dave Reece (guitar), Paul Thane (vocals), and Ronnie Johnson (bass).

Last Chance to Dance were formed from the ashes of several local bands in the Frimley area, primarily Out of Order, Thane and Fear of Flying. All the named origins featured the vocals and songwriting of Thane. Reece was the original guitarist in Out of Order, and had played with Proctor in The Ansell Dukes. Dando and Proctor had played in several local bands in the mid 70’s, and Johnson was the bassist in jazz funk band Crosswinds.

As Last Chance to Dance they performed mostly original songs from the three different songwriters: Thane, Reece and Proctor, mixed in with a few covers. Out of step with the musical trends of the 80’s made them hard to categorize. The Farnham Herald notoriously labelled them as “a cheerful boogie band”. They played at various venues across the Surrey/Hants borders (Farnborough, Farnham, and Bordon area), especially the Royal Oak, Hollywater; The White Hart, Frimley, and the Robin Hood, Standford.

The band were certainly at Robin Hood, Standford on 29 August ’83, and in ’83 or ’84, they supported Dave Dee, Dozy BM&T and The Tremeloes at the Recreation Centre, Farnborough. On 21 April ’84, Last Chance to Dance joined In Hill House and Zero Zero at the Easter Disco, held at the Community Centre, Frimley.

Many of the band played together again in various bands from the late 90s onwards, and continue to do so today. Proctor is currently in Debris with Phil Longden and Paul Trew.

Sadly, Thane died in January 2020.

Tracks:

Gallery:

Last Chance To Dance outside The White Hart, Frimley (l-r: Proctor, Dando, Reece, Thane, and Johnson). Picture courtesy of John Proctor.
Adrian Creek features Last Chance to Dance in his Pop Scene column from the 26 August 1983 Camberley News. Picture courtesy of John Proctor
21 April 1984: Last Chance to Dance, In Hill House, and Zero Zero played the Easter Disco at the Community Centre, Frimley. Picture courtesy of Steve Excell