Edinburgh 1982-1990.
Fast Product had realised their Big Gold Dream with an International Number 1 single. They had finally infiltrated the mainstream.
As part of their onslaught on all things institutional they had teamed up with Rough Trade to form part of The Cartel – a bold move to provide independent labels with their own distribution network.
Former Bruce’s Records employee, Sandy McLean had been taken onboard to manage the Fast Product Distribution Network.
Unfortunately, the success of The Human League; their recent interpersonal issues and an inability to follow up ‘Dare’ left Fast Product having to concentrate their resources elsewhere. As a result, Bob Last pulled the plug on Scotland’s Cartel ventures.
But Scotland’s Cartel hub would soon be reborn with Sandy taking control and with a nod to its roots Fast Forward was born.
Fast Forward needed product...and so did Edinburgh: Josef K, Fire Engines and Scars had all split leaving Edinburgh’s once-thriving Independent scene empty.
In a bid to reignite the excitement Sandy agreed to release and distribute tapes brought to him by a new breed. Musicians who were not brought up on Punk’s Year Zero ethos of destroying the past. These new musicians looked back to the past for their inspiration.
Fast Forward would ignite Edinburgh’s new scene by running new labels over the distribution company: Narodnik, 53rd and 3rd and DDT would bring forward a whole wave of new bands.
Starring:
Richard Scott (The Cartel)
Sandy McLean
Margarita Vasquez-Ponte
David Keegan
Alex Taylor
Janie Nicoll
David Miller
Ian Hoey
Katy Lironi
Nick Haines
Angus McPake
Chris Henman
Michael Kerr
Lenny Helsing
Fran Shoppler
Andrew Tully