Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine

Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (frequently shortened to the more politically-correct 'Carter USM') were formed in 1987 by singer Jim Bob and guitar hero Fruitbat. Playing along to tapes, samples, sequenced basses and drum mac

Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (frequently shortened to the more politically-correct 'Carter USM') were formed in 1987 by singer Jim Bob and guitar hero Fruitbat. Playing along to tapes, samples, sequenced basses and drum machines as well as rock 'n' roll guitars they would be referred to as 'The Punk Pet Shop Boys', and travelled around Europe in a small hire car playing for petrol money on the pub and club circuit, where they built up a small but loyal following.

Fruitbat and Jim Bob originally played in a jangly-indie band called 'Jamie Wednesday' who released a single '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, fused Fruitbat's guitar antics with JimBob's lyrics. The debut single A Sheltered Life was released later in 1988 on the Big Cat label, but it wasn't 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, full of black humour, cynicism and clever puns - the album went straight to the top of the Indie charts.