Carter USM

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Biography

Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (frequently shortened to Carter USM ) are an English indie rock band formed in 1988 by singer Jim " Jim Bob " Morrison and guitarist Les " Fruitbat " Carter. They made their name with a distinctive style of power pop, fusing sampling (music)|samples , sequenced bass guitar|bass es and drum machine s with rock and roll|rock 'n' roll guitar s and off-beat wordplay-loaded lyrics. They reached the height of their fame in 1992. Over the following years the band took on new members, topping out as a six-piece, but struggled to regain their earlier popularity. They initially split up in 1998 after releasing seven albums.

Starting out: 1988-1990

Based in Lambeth in South London , England, Fruitbat and Jim Bob originally played in an indie band called Jamie Wednesday , which released two singles - "Vote For Love" and "We Three Kings of Orient Aren't". Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine was formed in 1988, when Fruitbat and Jim Bob were the only band members to turn up for a charity gig at the London Astoria , and went on stage to perform as a duo with backing tapes. The debut single "A Sheltered Life" was released later in 1988 on the Big Cat record label|label , but it was not until the second single " Sheriff Fatman " in 1989 that the band began to receive recognition. The song was written about a South London slumlord and was followed by the album 101 Damnations (album)|101 Damnations – a critical account of life south of the River Thames , full of black humour, cynicism, wordplay and puns. The album went straight to the top of the indie charts.

The band's gigs became well known for a wall of white stage lights that threw off enormous heat and contributed to the sweaty, stage diving|stage-diving crowd scenes that became part of the band's image. Such scenes are depicted in the video In Bed With Carter , filmed at the Carling Academy Brixton|Brixton Academy .

Rough Trade: 1991

In 1991 – having signed to Rough Trade Records – Carter USM released the album 30 Something which, thanks to non-stop touring, entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight. The accompanying '30 Something' long-sleeved t-shirt became a defining image of the early 1990s indie generation. One of the singles released from the album, "Bloodsport For All", an attack on racism and bullying in the army, was released at the start of the Gulf War and consequently banned by the BBC . Spurred on by infamy, Jim Bob and Fruitbat toured Japan , Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia and the United States (with EMF (band)|EMF ) and made a second-on-the-bill appearance at the Reading Festival , where some people feel they upstaged the headline act, James (band)|James . The band also made its first Top Of The Pops appearance with the single "After the Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way)", a song about child abuse that would become more famous for its subsequent legal battle with The Rolling Stones ' publisher over the use of the lyrics "Goodbye Ruby Tuesday " in the chorus. The band also hit the headlines when Fruitbat rugby tackled the children's TV presenter Phillip Schofield in front of millions of television viewers at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 1991.

Chrysalis Records: 1992-1995

The demise of Rough Trade records necessitated a change of label, and Carter made the switch to Chrysalis Records to work on their third album. That album, 1992 - The Love Album , went straight to number one in the UK charts, propelling the band to pop stardom. Also, in 1992, the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival where Fruitbat , annoyed at the shortening of their headline set due to other bands overrunning insulted Michael Eavis and was subsequently banned from the festival forever. The band was unhappy, however, and this came across in the anger and cynicism of their next record, Post Historic Monsters .

In 1994, Carter's friend Wez, from former support band Resque, joined the band on drum s and the newly inspired trio played America, Japan and Europe, including a major concert in Croatia which was recorded and later released on video. The recording was also given away as a free live album with Carter's fifth studio LP, Worry Bomb - a Pop punk|punk-pop album with upbeat material such as "Let's Get Tattoos" and slow acoustic music|acoustic songs such as "My Defeatist Attitude".

Cooking Vinyl: 1996-1998

In 1996 Carter left Chrysalis Records and joined Cooking Vinyl . With Salv from the band S*M*A*S*H on bass, Wez's brother Steve on guitar, and teenager Ben Lambert on Keyboard instrument|keyboards , Carter became a six-piece band.

After signing to Cooking Vinyl they released a mini-album, A World Without Dave , and started their longest ever UK tour. The band then went back to Canada and the U.S. They decided to split shortly after their 10th anniversary, and their final studio album, I Blame The Government , was released in January 1998. Two further albums, Live! and BBC Sessions , were released in the same year, in June and October respectively.

Post-USM projects: 1999-present

Les Carter currently plays with the band Abdoujaparov as well as appearing as a presenter on the Brentwood, Essex|Brentwood radio station Phoenix FM . James Morrison's projects included the band Jim's Super Stereoworld before moving on to solo albums including Angelstrike! . He has also written two books, Goodnight, JimBob , detailing his experiences on the road with Carter USM, and a novel - 'Storage Stories'. He also appeared in Gutted - A Revengers Musical that debuted at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

EMI released Anytime Anyplace Anywhere , a "best of" record featuring tracks from the band's birth until their switch to Cooking Vinyl. This reportedly annoyed the band as they were not consulted or even made aware of the release of the record. In 2004 two new Carter CDs were released: a live album of BBC concerts from the early 1990s, and Brixton Mortars , a compilation album of tracks from their final two studio albums. In 2006, Carter released a new compilation of unreleased tracks and rarities called The Good, The Bad, The Average And Unique . Echoing the earlier Starry Eyed And Bollock Naked , the sleeve features a Volkswagen Beetle - this time a bright green new model convertible. Autumn 2007 saw the release of a band-authorised best of compilation album spanning their entire career on EMI, under the title, You Fat Bastard . The title came from a chant performed by the crowd at gigs. It originated from MC (and lighting man) Jon "Fat" Beast's topless on stage band introductions.

Reunions

In 2001 and 2002, Jim Bob and Fruitbat toured as '''Who's The Daddy Now? ''' The pair's two bands, Jim's Super Stereoworld and Abdoujaparov, would play a set each, after which the pair combined to perform a number of Carter USM songs. Until 2006, Who's The Daddy Now? was the closest thing to a Carter USM regrouping after their split in 1997.

On 4 March 2007, almost 10 years after the band last performed, Carter USM's original two-man line-up played a set of four songs as part of a gig to celebrate the life of Darren Brown|Darren 'Wiz' Brown , former frontman of the Mega City Four , who had died in December 2006. The band had been booked to play acoustically but surprised the audience by playing a traditional electric set at the last moment.

Due to the success of this performance, Carter reunited for two 'farewell' gigs later that year. The first show took place on 2 November 2007 at London's Brixton Academy with support from Sultans of Ping . This sell-out prompted another concert to be arranged, which took place at Barrowland Ballroom|Glasgow Barrowlands on 20 October 2007. This was another sell-out show and was recorded for the "Back In Bed With Carter" DVD that contained the whole gig, along with an interview and rehearsal footage. This is the only Carter DVD to be recorded in 5.1 surround sound. Support at The Barrowlands came from The Frank and Walters and Chris T-T .

The re-union celebrated twenty years since the band's foundation and ten years since their split. The gigs were performed as the original two-piece of Fruitbat and Jim Bob, who kept their promise to play "all the hits and all the favourites" with sets that lasted almost two hours (a lot longer than their standard seventy minute headline sets of the nineties).

To coincide with the re-union EMI released a two CD anthology, You Fat Bastard . All 36 songs and running order were decided by Jim Bob and Fruitbat. The artwork was also approved and developed with the band. The songs were digitally remastered at Abbey Road studios. This was released in conjunction with the majority of their back catalogue (albums and promo videos) being made available digitally for the first time by EMI.

On 6 February 2008 Jim Bob and Fruitbat hinted at the possibility of further Carter USM gigs when they sent an e-mail to members of the band's mailing list. Two dates were then announced for Birmingham Academy and Brixton Academy for 21 and 22 November 2008. Support came from EMF at both gigs. Both gigs sold out as Carter played to 8000 people over two nights. Carter also performed at a secret warm-up gig on 17 November at the Southampton Joiners. This sell out show was a tribute for promoter Mint Burston, a friend of the band who helped give them a break in the early 1990s.

Two further sell out gigs followed in London in November 2009, titled " The Drum Machine Years ". Over the course of two nights the band played their first four albums in their entirety, plus encores.

They headlined the Beautiful Days festival in Devon on Saturday 20 August 2011.

Further sell-out reunion concerts followed in November 2011, with the band playing Manchester Academy on Friday 18 November and London O2 Academy Brixton on Saturday 19 November.

In February 2012, yet more reunion concerts were announced, in Leeds O2 Academy on 9th November and London O2 Academy Brixton on Saturday 10th November. EMI have also announced re-mastered versions of classic albums 30 Something and 1992: A Love Album to coincide with these concerts.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Chart positions		Certifications ( List of music recording sales certifications	Notes
Year	Title	UK cite web	SWE cite web		Notes
1989	101 Damnations Released: 1989 Labels: Big Cat UK Records, Chrysalis Records	29	–		Reissued on Chrysalis Records in September 1991, originally did not chart.
1991	30 Something Released: February 1991 Labels: Rough Trade, Chrysalis Records	8	–	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Gold	Reissued on Chrysalis Records in February 1992, charted UK #21.
1992	1992 - The Love Album Released: May 1992 Labels: Chrysalis Records	1	35	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Gold
1993	Post Historic Monsters Released: September 1993 Labels: Chrysalis Records	5	–
1995	Worry Bomb Released: February 1995 Labels: Chrysalis Records	9	–		Early versions include Doma Sportova... Live At Zagreb May 20, 1994
1997	A World Without Dave Released: March 1997 Labels: Cooking Vinyl	73	–		Mini-album
1998	I Blame The Government Released: January 1998 Labels: Cooking Vinyl	92 cite web	–

Compilation and live albums

Year	Title	UK	Notes
1994	Starry Eyed And Bollock Naked (A Collection Of B-Sides) Released: March 1994 Label: Chrysalis Records	22
1995	Straw Donkey... The Singles Released: October 1995 Label: Chrysalis Records	37
1998	Sessions Released: October 1998 Label: Cooking Vinyl	–
1999	Live! Released: February 1999 Label: Cooking Vinyl	–
2000	Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere... The Very Best Of Carter USM Released: 2000 Label: EMI Gold	–	Un-endorsed compilation http:/ / www.carterusm.co.uk/ disco/ discs/ album/ albums.html Carter Album Discography - maintained by Jim Bob - "Yes, the sleeve is rather scary, not one of ours& #33; Can't fully endorse this CD as we weren't consulted or even informed of its existence by EMI!"
2004	Brixton Mortars Released: February 2004 Label: Recall	–	2 CD Compilation that collects together A World Without Dave and I Blame The Government
2005	The Good, the Bad, the Average and Unique (A Collection of B-Sides) Released: December 2005 Label: Who's The Daddy Now?	–
2007	You Fat Bastard Released: October 2007 Label: EMI	–
2007	This Is the Sound of an Eclectic Guitar Released: October 2007 Label: Chrysalis Records	–	Collection of cover versions
2009	The Drum Machine Years Released: 13 November 2009 Label: Concert Live	–	2 Volumes of 3 CDs of Live Recordings. Recorded Live on 13 November 2009 at London (HMV) Forum and on 14 November 2009 at Brixton (O2) Academy.

Singles

Release date		Title	Chart Positions			Album
Release date		Title	UK	IRL cite web	U.S. Modern Rock cite web	Album
1988	Oct	"A Sheltered Life"	–	–	–	—
1989	Nov	" Sheriff Fatman "	–	–	–	101 Damnations
1990	Jun	"R.u.b.b.i.s.h"	–	–	–	—
1990	Oct	"Anytime Anyplace Anywhere"	83	–	–	30 Something
1991	Jan	"Bloodsport For All"	48	–	–	30 Something
	Jun	"Sheriff Fatman" (Reissue)	23	–	29	101 Damnations
	Oct	" After the Watershed (Early Learning the Hard Way) "	11	21	–	—
1992	Jan	"R.u.b.b.i.s.h" (Reissue)	14	13	–	—
	Apr	"The Only Living Boy In New Cross"	7	18	26	1992 - The Love Album
	Jun	"Do Re Me So Far So Good"	22	–	–
	Nov	The Impossible Dream "	21	–	–
1993	Aug	"Lean On Me I Won't Fall Over"	16	–	–	Post Historic Monsters
1993	Oct	"Lenny and Terence"	40	–	–	Post Historic Monsters
1994	Feb	"Glam Rock Cops"	24	–	–	Starry Eyed and Bollock Naked
1994	Nov	"Let's Get Tattoos"	30	–	–	Worry Bomb
1995	Jan	"The Young Offender's Mum"	34	–	–	Worry Bomb
1995	Sep	"Born On The 5th Of November"	35	–	–	Straw Donkey

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