Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (frequently shortened to the more politically-correct 'Carter USM') were formed in 1987 by singer Jim Bob and guitar hero Fruitbat. Playing along to tapes, samples, sequenced basses and drum machines as well as rock 'n' roll guitars they would be referred to as 'The Punk Pet Shop Boys', and travelled around Europe in a small hire car playing for petrol money on the pub and club circuit, where they built up a small but loyal following.
Starting out
Fruitbat and Jim Bob originally played in a jangly-indie band called 'Jamie Wednesday' who released a single 'We Three Kings of Orient Aren't'. On discovering they had a gig booked but no-one else to play there, they quickly formed Carter USM, reputedly named for Fruitbat's diligence, aptitude and stamina. They recorded the backing track of drums, synths and samples, fused Fruitbat's guitar antics with JimBob's lyrics. The debut single A Sheltered Life was released later in 1988 on the Big Cat label, but it wasn't until the classic second single Sheriff Fatman in 1989 that the band began to receive real recognition. The song was written about a South London slumlord and was followed by the album 101 Damnations - a critical account of life South of the river, full of black humour, cynicism and clever puns - the album went straight to the top of the Indie charts.
Rough Trade
In 1991 - having signed to Rough Trade - Carter released the album 30 Something which, thanks to non-stop touring, went into the big boys top ten at number eight. 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, Yugoslavia and the U.S.A. (with E.M.F) and made their famous show-stealing Reading Festival appearance. There was also the first Top Of The Pops appearance with the single After the Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way), a song about child abuse that would sadly be 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 with Fruitbat physically attacking children's TV presenter, Phillip Schofield, in front of 13 million viewers at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 1992.
Top of the charts
The demise of Rough Trade records necessitated a change of label, and they 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 pop charts, instantly propelling the band to pop stardom. The band were unhappy though and this came across in their next record, Post Historic Monsters, an incredibly angry and cynical album which no doubt stopped the group ever achieving top boy band status.
In 1994, Carter's friend and top geezer Wez joined the band on drums and the newly inspired and highly excited power trio played America, Japan, Europe and a major concert in Croatia which was recorded and later released on video. It was also given away as a free live album with Carter's fifth studio L.P. Worry Bomb - a fantastic punk pop album with up 'n' at 'em anthems like Let's Get Tattoos and slow poignant acoustic songs like My Defeatist Attitude.
The band expands
In 1996 Carter left Chrysalis Records, changed their name back to 'Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine' from the acronym Carter USM and started playing live as a 'proper' 6 man band. With Salv from the band S*M*A*S*H on bass, Wez's brother Steve on guitar and Ben Lambert - who was very young - on keyboards.
After signing to Cooking Vinyl they released A World Without Dave the mini album, the band 'nicest' record so far and started their longest ever UK tour. The band then went back to Canada and the US for what would turn out to be their final beano - they decided to split shortly after their 10th anniversary.
The end...?
The final Carter studio album I Blame The Government was released in January 1998 and is a glorious album, a fitting curtain drop to ten wonderful years in show business. Two further albums, Live! and BBC Sessions, were released in the same year, in June and October respectively. Les Carter now plays with new band Abdoujaparov as well as appearing as a presenter on Brentwood radio station Phoenix FM. James Morrison's projects include bands Jim's Super Stereo World and Angelstrike. He has also written a book 'Goodnight, JimBob', detailing his experiences on the road.
Posthumous releases
EMI records released Anytime Anyplace Anywhere, a Best Of record featuring tracks from the band's birth until their switch to Cooking Vinyl. This annoyed the band somewhat as they weren't 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.
Discography
- 101 Damnations (January 1990)
- 30 Something (February 1991)
- 1992 -- The Love Album (May 1992)
- Post Historic Monsters (September 1993)
- Starry Eyed And Bollock Naked (A Collection Of B-Sides) (March 1994)
- Worry Bomb (including Doma Sportova... Live At Zagreb May 20 1994) (February 1995)
- Straw Donkey...The Singles (October 1995)
- A World Without Dave (March 1997)
- I Blame The Government (January 1998)
- Sessions (October 1998)
- Live! (February 1999)