Formed in South London, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine began in 1987. Guitarist Fruitbat (born Les Carter) and singer Jim Bob (born James Morrison), then the only two band members, turned up for a charity gig at the London Astoria and performed on stage with the help of backing tapes.
They fused samples, sequenced basses and drum machines with guitars and off-beat, wordplay loaded lyrics.
Their debut single A Sheltered Life was released in 1988, but it was not until the second single, Sheriff Fatman (1989), that they established themselves in the UK.
The song was written about a South London slumlord and was followed by the album 101 Damnations (1990), a critical account of life south of the River Thames, full of black humour, cynicism and puns. The album went straight to the top of the indie charts.
After the success of their second LP, 30 Something, which reached #8 in the UK album charts in 1991, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine released 1992 – The Love Album, on Chrysalis Records, going straight to #1. The band headlined Glastonbury in the same year.
Carter USM gigs became well known for a wall of white stage-lights that threw off enormous heat and contributed to the sweaty, stage-diving crowd that became part of the band’s image.
In 1994, Carter’s friend Wez, from former support band Resque, joined the band on drums and the newly inspired trio played America, Japan and Europe.
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.
The group decided to split soon after their 10th anniversary, and their final studio album, I Blame The Government, was released in January 1998
James ‘Jim Bob’ Morrison
Vocals, guitar
Les ‘Fruitbat’ Carter
Vocals, guitar, bass
Wez Boynton
Drums
Steve Boynton
Guitar
Salv
Bass
Ben Lambert
Keyboards
