The Users (band)
The Users | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cambridge, England |
| Genres | Punk |
| Years active | 1976–1979 |
| Labels | Raw Records, Warped Records, Damaged Goods, Bin Liner (Detour Records) |
| Past members | James "James" Haight Chris "Panic" Free Andrew Bor Bobby Kwock Pete Bevington Rick Tucker Alvin Gibbs |
The Users were a punk rock band formed in Cambridge, UK, that was active between 1977 and 1979.[1]
History
In 1977, Cambridge record dealer Lee Wood founded Raw Records, and quickly recorded The Users in March of the year, releasing the single Sick of You/I'm In Love Today on May 5, 1977. Sounds magazine stated that it "burns into your brain without compromise."[2]
Despite only releasing two singles and being active for less than three years, the band developed a lasting cult following. BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel placed their first single Sick of You in his chosen Festive Fifty chart of 1977, and after his death it was revealed that he'd kept it as part of his favourite singles of all time.[3][4] The single was later reissued in 1999 and 2006 by Damaged Goods.[5]
Guitarist Chris Free, would find some success as the writer of Tracie Young's 1983 hit single, "Give It Some Emotion".[6]
In October 2008 they finally released their first album, Secondary Modern: 1976-1979, on Bin Liner records (part of Detour Records).[7]
In 2007, Spin magazine named "Sick of You" one of the 20 best singles of 1977 by bands who not yet released an album.[8] Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys has cited the single as one of his favorite singles in terms of production when his band recorded 1980's Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.[9]
Discography
Singles
- Sick of You/(I'm) in Love With Today 7" (1977, Raw Records) (Reissued 2006, Damaged Goods)[10]
- Kicks in Style/Dead On Arrival 7" (1978, Warped Records) (Reissued 2010, 1977 Records)[11][12]
Albums
References
- ^ The Great Indie Discography, p. 80 (1999)
- ^ Heylin, Clinton. Babylon's burning: from punk to grunge, p. 265-66 (2007)
- ^ Times Online - Inside John Peel's record box (subscription required)
- ^ John Peel's 1977 Festive Fifty
- ^ Raw Records - Official Website
- ^ Punk77 - History of The Users
- ^ a b "Secondary Modern" at Detour Records - Official
- ^ The 20 Bets Singles of '77, Spin (magazine), October 2007, p. 71
- ^ (1 October 2005). Dead Kennedys' "California Uber Alles", mixonline.com
- ^ "Sick of You" at Discogs.com
- ^ "Kicks in Style" at Discogs.com
- ^ "Kicks in Style" at 1977 Records - Official
- ^ The Users - Official MySpace
External links
- The Users - Official Website at Damaged Records
- The Users - Official Album Website at Detour Records
- Punk history website
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