Fast Product

History

Fast Product released the first records by several early post-punk bands from Northern England, including the original Human League, Gang of Four, and the Mekons. It also issued debut singles by Scottish punk acts Scars and The Flowers. The label put out compilations of new bands under the title 'ear comics' or Earcom. Many releases were produced by Bob Last, while Hilary Morrison handled photography and visual design for sleeves.

Fast Product's output challenged pop music conventions, earning early descriptions such as 'difficult fun' and 'mutant pop'. Its marketing and packaging invoked a DIY punk spirit and a broadly socialist political outlook, often including subtle critiques of consumerism—for instance, the cover of the Mekons' second single depicted a wall of gold discs. The label aimed to demonstrate that all aspects of the record business, from musicianship to design to distribution, could operate outside major label control.

Lloyd Cole referenced Fast Product in his song 'Women's Studies' from the 2013 album Standards. Bob Last and Morrison later established the Pop Aural label, which released singles by The Flowers, Boots For Dancing, and The Fire Engines. The label was profiled in the 2015 documentary film Big Gold Dream, and its story was covered in the 2022 book Hungry Beat by Douglas MacIntyre, Grant McPhee, and Neil Cooper. Bob Last has remarked that Factory Records is 'Fast 13'—the label's final release—adding that he never told them they had a catalogue number.