Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 6 August 1987 |
| Founder | Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison, Les "Fruitbat" Carter |
| Defunct | 1998; reunited 2007–2014 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | www |
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine—often abbreviated as Carter USM or simply Carter—was an English indie rock group established in 1987 by vocalist Jim "Jim Bob" Morrison alongside guitarist Les "Fruitbat" Carter. The band became known for their unique fusion of power pop, sampled sounds, sequenced bass lines, drum machines, and rock guitar, complemented by clever, pun-filled lyrics. Their highest commercial acclaim occurred between 1992 and 1993. Initially a duo, the lineup eventually expanded to six members before the group dissolved in 1998 after producing seven albums.
In 2007, Carter USM reunited for occasional live performances each year but did not release new material until they amicably disbanded again in 2014.
Formation and Early Years: 1987–1990
Hailing from Lambeth, South London, both Carter and Morrison had previously been involved with the indie outfit Jamie Wednesday, which issued two singles. Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine officially came into existence on 6 August 1987 when only Carter and Morrison showed up for a charity event at the London Astoria, performing as a duo supported by pre-recorded backing tracks. Their first single, "A Sheltered Life," was released in 1988 through Big Cat Records; however, it was the 1989 single "Sheriff Fatman" that brought them wider attention. This success was followed by their debut album 101 Damnations, which offered a satirical and darkly humorous depiction of South London life, featuring sharp, witty lyrics. The album climbed to number 29 on the UK Albums Chart.
Their concerts became distinguished by intense white lighting that generated heat and fueled energetic crowd participation including stage diving—elements that became synonymous with their live identity. This dynamic performance style is documented in the concert film In Bed With Carter, shot at the Brixton Academy.
Rough Trade Era: 1991
In 1991, Carter USM signed a deal with Rough Trade Records and released 30 Something, which debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart amid extensive touring efforts. The track "Bloodsport for All," which condemned racism and bullying within the military, was banned by the BBC due to its release coinciding with the Gulf War. Capitalizing on this controversy, Jim Bob and Fruitbat embarked on tours across Japan, Yugoslavia, and the United States (supporting EMF) and secured the second billing spot at the Reading Festival. Their inaugural appearance on Top of the Pops came with "After the Watershed (Early Learning The Hard Way)," a song addressing child abuse that later sparked legal issues over lyrics referencing "Ruby Tuesday." The band also attracted media buzz when Fruitbat famously rugby tackled television host Phillip Schofield during the 1991 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.
Chrysalis Records Period: 1992–1995
After Rough Trade folded, Carter USM signed with Chrysalis Records to release their third album. 1992 – The Love Album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, propelling them into mainstream popularity. That same year, they headlined the prestigious Glastonbury Festival, but Fruitbat’s public insult directed at organizer Michael Eavis over a reduced set length resulted in a permanent ban from the festival. This conflict influenced their following release, Post Historic Monsters, which conveyed themes of frustration and cynicism.
In 1994, drummer Wez—previously part of support act Resque—joined Carter USM. The trio toured extensively across America, Japan, and Europe, including a significant concert in Croatia that was recorded for video distribution. This live recording was also included as a complimentary album with their fifth studio release, Worry Bomb, which blended energetic punk-pop songs like "Let's Get Tattoos" with more introspective acoustic numbers such as "My Defeatist Attitude".
Cooking Vinyl Era: 1996–1998
In 1996, Carter parted ways with Chrysalis and joined Cooking Vinyl. The lineup grew to six members, featuring Salv from S*M*A*S*H on bass, Steve—Wez's brother—on guitar, and the young Ben Lambert handling keyboards.[1]
During their time with Cooking Vinyl, the band released the mini-album A World Without Dave[1] and undertook their most extensive UK tour to date. This was followed by tours across Canada and the United States. After celebrating a decade together, Carter disbanded; their last studio album, I Blame The Government, came out in January 1998. Later that year, two more albums were issued: Live! in June and BBC Sessions in October.
Activities after USM: 1999–present
Les Carter continues his musical career with the group Abdoujaparov and was announced as the new guitarist for Ferocious Dog on 27 November 2014. He also plays bass for Keith TOTP and hosted a weekly radio show on Brentwood's Phoenix FM from 2001 until 2011. James Morrison went on to form Jim's Super Stereoworld before releasing solo albums such as Angelstrike!. Additionally, he has written four books—including Goodnight, Jim Bob, which details his time with Carter USM—and three novels. Morrison also took part in the production Gutted – A Revengers Musical at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
EMI issued Anytime Anyplace Anywhere, a "best of" compilation covering the band's early period through their Cooking Vinyl years, reportedly without involving the band. In 2004, two Carter albums were released: a live BBC concert recording from the early 1990s and Brixton Mortars, a compilation drawing from their final studio releases. The rarities collection The Good, The Bad, The Average And Unique, featuring a Volkswagen Beetle on its cover, appeared in 2006. In autumn 2007, an officially endorsed career-spanning best-of set titled You Fat Bastard was released—named after a chant originating from MC Jon "Fat" Beast’s live introductions. Jon "Fat" Beast passed away on 27 July 2014.
Members
- James Morrison (Jim Bob) – vocals, guitar (1987–1998, 2007–2014)
- Lesley Carter (Fruitbat) – guitar, vocals, keyboards, programming (1987–1998, 2007–2014)
- Wez – drums (1994–1998)
- Steve – guitar (1996–1998)
- Ben Lambert – keyboards, programming (1996–1998)
- Salvatore Alessi (Salv) – bass (1996–1998)
Timeline
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Studio albums
| Year | Album Title | Chart Rankings | Certifications (sales levels) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | SWE | |||
| 1990 | 101 Damnations
|
29 | – | – | |
| 1991 | 30 Something
|
8 | 138 | – |
|
| 1992 | 1992 – The Love Album
|
1 | 89 | 35 |
|
| 1993 | Post Historic Monsters
|
5 | 128 | – | |
| 1995 | Worry Bomb
|
9 | – | – | |
| 1998 | I Blame the Government
|
92 | – | – | |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album Title | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Handbuilt by Perverts
|
– |
| 1993 | This Is the Sound of an Eclectic Guitar
|
– |
| 1994 | Starry Eyed and Bollock Naked
|
22 |
| 1995 | Straw Donkey... The Singles
|
37 |
| 2005 | The Good, the Bad, the Average and Unique
|
– |
| 2007 | You Fat Bastard
|
– |
Live albums
- Released: December 2014
- Label: Nyquest
| Year | Album Title |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Sessions
|
| 1999 | Live!
|
| 2009 | The Drum Machine Years
|
EPs
- Released: March 1997
- Label: Cooking Vinyl
| Year | Title | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 73 |
Singles
| Release date |
Song Title | Chart Rankings | Source album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | IRL | US Alt | ||||
| 153 | – | – | – | chart ranking for the reissue in 1994 | |||
| – | – | – | – | 101 Damnations | |||
External links
- Official Carter USM website – Managed by Fruitbat
- [ Carter USM's AMG profile]
- A detailed essay on Carter from Freakytrigger
- Culturedeluxe interview with Fruitbat discussing the 2008 concerts
- Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
- English alternative rock groups
- Indie rock groups from London
- Alternative dance musical groups
- English punk rock groups
- Chrysalis Records artists
- Rough Trade Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1987
- Musical groups disbanded in 1998
- Rock music groups from the London Borough of Lambeth
- Musical groups disestablished in 1998