FOR the past few years The Jim Jones Revue have been one of the most exciting rock 'n' roll bands in the world.

Now they're calling it quits - but not before one final, explosive gig at Oran Mor next Friday.

And while the band's volcanic live performances channelled the spirit of Little Richard jamming with The Cramps, the reasons for their split are far more low-key.

"We've been touring quite hard for at least six of the eight years we've been playing, sometimes doing up to 300 shows a year, and everyone's ready to try out different things," explains Jim, who previously fronted garage rockers Thee Hypnotics.

"There's nothing wrong with the band, but you're always looking forward to what you can do next. It's not conflict, more just wanting to try other stuff.

"We make decisions quickly without having to go through a chain of command, and while we were talking, it transpired everyone was looking at different things.

"Rather than let the band fizzle out, we wanted to give it one last good shot and then draw a line under it."

The group earned their reputation for a trio of excellent albums that harked back to 1950s boogie woogie and punk energy in equal measure, while their live shows were wild and raucous live affairs.

When Jim was asked what memories he feels sum up the band best it's no surprise a gig tops the list.

"We were playing a show in Strasbourg, and then had to go to London to do a show supporting Jack White," recalls the singer.

"We had a crazy drive back to London that night in heavy fog, and then the next morning drove all the way back to France.

"We got to Le Havre, Rupert (Orton, guitarist) had a heavy flu and was on the verge of passing out, we were all really dishevelled, and we went onstage - and the crowd was just electric.

"They were crowd surfing before we came on, and even being completely exhausted the adrenaline levels went up to 11 and our feet went off the floor.

"It was a moment when you get pushed beyond your limits and something great comes out of it at the end."

The quintet enjoyed their biggest success in France, where they regularly pulled in large crowds, while they also landed TV appearances with Jools Holland and American chat show king David Letterman.

However, mainstream success was never something the group sought out, while they avoided being tied to any trends, too.

"I feel I've always swum against the tide in my whole career," says Jim.

"It's not something I think about - you do what you want to do and it's nice if current trends come in line with that and mean you might get more exposure, but it's a danger if you get too attached to a trend, because I think it can take away from what you're doing.

"There's almost something reassuring about feeling you're out on a limb."

The immediate priority for the group is completing their farewell tour, including their Oran Mor stop.

However Jim isn't planning to take a break from music once the group step into the sunset. He's already got new projects in mind.

"I've got bunch of new songs that I'm working on, so I'm getting excited by that," he explains.

"As soon as I get done with the tour I'll look at that. I've tried before to have a break but I can't have a month go by without me scratching the walls.

"For me, I always feel that I'm trying to do the same thing, it's just working with different people.

"There will be some differences but there's a linage you can follow."

n The Jim Jones Revue Oran Mor, £14 Friday September 26, 7pm