Professionals, The

Ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook formed The Professionals in 1979 following the demise of that band.

After a fine debut single (1-2-3) in 1980, things went tits-up at striking speed, as Jones’ heroin addiction became a priority.

By the time of their second album, I Didn’t See It Coming (1981), both songwriting abilities and impetus had vanished with a resultant drab set of songs with minor chords, badly airbrushed vocals and lyrics that were just born to date.

Three-quarters of the band were involved in a serious road accident in November 1981 following a Minneapolis show. Cook, McVeigh and Myers were passengers in a car which collided head-on with a car driving on the wrong side of the road.

Cook was thrown through the windscreen receiving severe facial injuries and a skull fracture. He also dislocated his neck. Meyers received facial injuries and a broken leg, while McVeigh escaped with bad cuts and a broken arm. The driver of the other car was killed.

Steve Jones
Guitar, vocals
Ray McVeigh
Guitar
Paul Myers
Bass
Paul Cook
Drums
Andy Allen
Bass