High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Last Exit was a British jazz fusion band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne England in 1974, and is best remembered as the group Sting was in before finding stardom with The Police. The band name came from the book Last Exit to Brooklyn. Last Exit was composed of drummer Ronnie Pearson (also of the Phoenix Jazzmen), guitarists John Hedley & then Terry Ellis, keyboardist Gerry Richardson, and bassist and singer Sting. The band was a leading act around Newcastle for several years. They emulated the rock-jazz-fusion style of Return to Forever and were 'ahead of their time' with their skillful solos and driving beat. They released a single in 1975, Whispering Voices (a Richardson composition), and in 1976, Last Exit recorded some demos in the Pathway Studios in London. The demo made little impact, but did impress Virgin Records head Richard Branson, who signed Sting for his publishing company before their friendship soured. In 1977, Last Exit moved to London but after a few gigs half of the band returned to Newcastle, and Sting and Richardson started looking for other jobs.