The Gorillas

The Gorillas, originally named the Hammersmith Gorillas, were an English rock group from Hammersmith, London, formed in 1972 and fronted by Jesse Hector. Jesse Hector began his musical career at age 11, playing in various bands including the Rock and Roll Trio and the Cravattes before forming the Gorillas. Their debut release was a cover of The Kinks' You Really Got Me" (1974) on the Penny Farthing label. The band signed to Chiswick Records and released two singles with session drummers. In 1976, they played at the Mont-de-Marsan Punk Festival alongside notable acts like the Damned and Eddie and the Hot Rods. After releasing several more singles, their debut studio album Message to the World was issued in 1978. The band returned to Chiswick Records in 1981 for the single "Move It" before disbanding following the death of bassist Allen Butler. Jesse Hector continued performing with various bands and released compilations. He died on May 6, 2026, at the age of 78.

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