Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine

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Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
Also known as	Carter USM
Origin	England
Genre(s)	Alternative Dance Alternative rock Dance-pop
Years active	1987 - 1998 2007 - present
Label(s)	Rough Trade Chrysalis Records Cooking Vinyl
Associated acts	Jamie Wednesday Abdoujaparov Jim's Super Stereoworld Jim Bob
Website	http://www.carterusm.co.uk/

Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (frequently shortened to Carter USM) were a British indie rock band formed in 1987 by singer Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison and guitarist Les "Fruitbat" Carter. They made their name with a distinctive style of power pop, fusing samples, sequenced basses and drum machines with rock 'n' roll guitars 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 split in 1998 after releasing seven albums.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Starting out 1.2 Rough Trade 1.3 Chrysalis Records 1.4 Cooking Vinyl 1.5 Post-USM projects 1.6 Reunions 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Singles 3 External links 4 References

[edit] History

[edit] Starting out

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". 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, and fused Fruitbat's guitar antics with Jim Bob's lyrics. The debut single "A Sheltered Life" was released later in 1988 on the Big Cat label, but it was not 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 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 crowd scenes that became part of the band's image. Such scenes are depicted in the video In Bed With Carter, filmed at the Brixton Academy.

[edit] Rough Trade

In 1991 - having signed to Rough Trade Records - Carter USM released the album 30 Something which, thanks to non-stop touring, entered the official UK 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, Yugoslavia and the United States (with EMF) and made a second-on-the-bill appearance at the Reading Festival, with some feeling they upstaged the headline act 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.

[edit] Chrysalis Records

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 joined the band on drums 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 punk-pop album with upbeat material such as "Let's Get Tattoos" and slow, poignant acoustic songs like "My Defeatist Attitude".

[edit] Cooking Vinyl

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 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 US for what would turn out to be their final expedition. 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.

[edit] Post-USM projects

Les Carter currently plays with the band Abdoujaparov as well as appearing as a presenter on the Brentwood radio station Phoenix FM. James Morrison's projects include the band Jim's Super Stereoworld and solo albums including Angelstrike!. He has also written a book, Goodnight, JimBob, detailing his experiences on the road with Carter USM, and a currently unpublished novel.

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 sees the release of a band-authorised best of compilation album spanning their entire career on EMI, currently under the working title of You Fat Bastard. The title comes from a chant performed by the crowd at gigs, which now haunts the former members. It originated from one time manager Jon "Fat" Beast's topless on stage band introductions.

[edit] 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 would combine 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 former Mega City Four frontman Darren 'Wiz' Brown, who 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 announced - taking place on 2 November 2007 at London's Brixton Academy with support from Sultans of Ping - sold out in five days with little advertising except word of mouth. This sell-out prompted another concert to be arranged, taking place at Glasgow Barrowlands on October 20, 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).

The gig at the Brixton Academy broke the venue's long-standing weekend bar record.

To coincide with the re-union EMI released a two CD anthology entitled "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 February 6, 2008 Jim Bob and Fruitbat hinted at the possibility of further Carter USM gigs when they sent the following email to the members of the band's mailing list.

Hello

Since the victorious Carter gigs last year, we've received a lot of emails and web messages pleading with us to play again. Messages from people who either had such a great time and wanted more or were among the many who missed out on the two shows. There have also been a number of offers from promoters for us to play more Carter shows.

Last November we felt the Brixton and Glasgow gigs were definitely it but because of all the requests and offers and because we enjoyed the gigs so much doubts have begun to creep in... Just that one more time?

So, should we play another gig - or something similar - or do we leave it where we have? We can't think of anyone better to ask than you, so if you have any opinions either way, drop us an email at:

[e-mail removed so no spam will hit it]

Love from

Jim Bob & Fruitbat

Two dates were then announced for Birmingham Academy and London Brixton Academy for 21 and 22 November 2008...(Jim's Birthday). Both shows sold out with minimal promotion and advertising. The Birmingham Academy gig mirrored the show at the Brixton Academy the previous year as Carter displaced The Happy Mondays' long standing bar-take record. These shows were even longer than the re-union shows in 2007 with both lasting over two hours.

Support came from EMF at both gigs.

Carter also performed at a secret warm-up gig on November 17 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 nineties.

2009

Carter USM are to give two gigs in London this year. More specificaly, on November 13, 2009, they will be on stage at the HMV Forum, London Kentish Town, while on the next day they will be on stage at O2 Academy, Brixton. Their first four albums will be performed in their entirety. First night they will be playing 1992: THE LOVE ALBUM and POST HISTORIC MONSTERS and the second night they will be playing 101 DAMNATIONS and 30 SOMETHING. These are heavily rumored to be the last Carter shows for a while/ever due to other commitments in 2010 for Jim Bob and Fruitbat.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year	Title	U.K. Album Peak[1] [2] [3]
1989	101 Damnations Release date: 1989 Label: Big Cat UK Records Notes: Reissued on Chrysalis Records in September 1991, originally did not chart.	29
1991	30 Something Release date: February 1991 Label: Rough Trade Notes: Reissued on Chrysalis Records in February 1992, charted UK #21.	8
1992	1992 - The Love Album Release date: May 1992 Label: Chrysalis Records	1
1993	Post Historic Monsters Release date: September 1993 Label: Chrysalis Records	5
1994	Starry Eyed And Bollock Naked (A Collection Of B-Sides) Release date: March 1994 Label: Chrysalis Records	22
1995	Worry Bomb (including Doma Sportova... Live At Zagreb May 20 1994) Release date: February 1995 Label: Chrysalis Records	9
	Straw Donkey... The Singles Release date: October 1995 Label: Chrysalis Records	37
1997	A World Without Dave Release date: March 1997 Label: Cooking Vinyl Notes: Mini-album	73
1998	I Blame The Government Release date: January 1998 Label: Cooking Vinyl	92
	Sessions Release date: October 1998 Label: Cooking Vinyl	–
1999	Live! Release date: February 1999 Label: Cooking Vinyl	–
2000	Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere... The Very Best Of Carter USM Release date: 2000 Label: EMI Gold Notes: Un-endorsed compilation [4]	–
2004	Brixton Mortars Release date: February 2004 Label: Recall Notes: 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 Besides) Release date: December 2005 Label:	–
2007	You Fat Bastard Release date: October 2007 Label: EMI Notes: 2 CD compilation	–

[edit] Singles

Release date		Title	Album	Chart Positions
				U.K. Singles Peak[1]	Irish Singles Chart[5]	U.S. Modern Rock[6]
1988	Oct	"A Sheltered Life"	—	-	-	-
1989	Nov	"Sheriff Fatman"	101 Damnations	-	-	-
1990	Jun	"R.u.b.b.i.s.h"	—	-	-	-
	Oct	"Anytime Anyplace Anywhere"	30 Something	83	-	-
1991	Jan	"Bloodsport For All"		48	-	-
	Jun	"Sheriff Fatman" (Reissue)	101 Damnations	23	-	29
	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"	1992 - The Love Album	7	18	26
	Jun	"Do Re Me So Far So Good"		22	-	-
	Nov	"The Impossible Dream"		21	-	-
1993	Aug	"Lean On Me I Won't Fall Over"	Post Historic Monsters	16	-	-
	Oct	"Lenny And Terence"		40	-	-
1994	Feb	"Glam Rock Cops"	Starry Eyed and Bollock Naked	24	-	-
	Nov	"Let's Get Tattoos"	Worry Bomb	30	-	-
1995	Jan	"The Young Offender's Mum"		34	-	-
	Sep	"Born On The 5th Of November"	Straw Donkey	35	-	-

[edit] External links

• Official Carter USM website - Maintained by Fruitbat
• Carter USM's AMG entry
• An essay on Carter from Freakytrigger
• An essay on Carter USM from Rob Townsend
• An interview with Fruitbat about the 2008 shows from Culturedeluxe

[edit] References