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The Outcasts




From: Belfast

Active: 1978-86

Style: Punk

Lineup:

Bio:

Legendary Belfast punk group formed by the Cowan brothers who released singles on two of the north's most prominent labels, It Records and Good Vibrations.

They were filmed during recording sessions at Wizard Studios on 21 November 1978 for John T.Davis' Shellshock Rock documentary. One track "You're A Disease" appears in this legendary film. The band's first single for GOod Vibrations sold out it's entire 2000 pressing and was repressed (with a new sleeve design) in April 1979 to coincide with the first Good Vibrations Irish Tour.

The Outcasts played the Dandelion Market in Dublin on the 1st and 2nd of December 1979 and again on 1st March 1980 with Rudi and Big Self.

   


John T. Davis also made a documentary about the band itself called "Self Conscious Over You" which eas centred round a performance at the Ulster Hall in 1980.

In mid-1980 Greg Cowan was injured in a motorbike accident and couldn't play bass for some time. Gordie Blair (ex SLF/Rudi) joined on a temporary basis. He appeared in the Ulster Hall gig filed by John T.Davis for "Self Conscious Over You". Raymond Falls (aged 16) joined as second drummer. Greg was back playing bass by the time the Peel Session was recorded in May 1981.



The band set up it's own Outcasts Only lable in 1981. Colin Cowan was tragically killed in a car crash in May 1982, shortly before the release of the "Angel Face" single. The band unveiled a new rockabilly influenced look and sound at a secret gig at the Crescent Centre Belfast on 9 October 1983 (and a session on Downtown Radio) and began an association with New Rose Records in France. The music was pitched somewhere between the swamp and the garage, music for spaghetti westerns, reminiscent of Kirk Brandon and Theatre of Hate (especially the "Nowhere Left To Run" single). By 1985 this sound had developed in a more rockabilly garage direction.



Besides the Peel sessions listed below, The Outcasts recorded several other radio sessions for Downtown Radio in Belfast, two sessions for Dave Fanning on RTE in Dublin and two session for the Janice Long show on BBC. If anyone can supply the details about these sessions please get in touch.



Discography

• Frustration / You're A Disease / Adult
7" - It Records - IT-4 - March 1978 - PS, 1500 copies
7" - Combat Rock Records - CR020 - France - August 1996 - PS, 800 copies


• Justa Nother Teenage Rebel / Love Is For Sops
7" - Good Vibrations Records - GOT-3 - August 1978 - motorcycle PS, 2000 copies
7" - Good Vibrations Records - GOT-3 - April 1979 - text PS

Notes:
The first pressing of 2000 copies was printed on various coloured paper. The second press features a new, less attractive cover design. It was released to coincide with the Good Vibrations Irish Tour of April 1979.



• various artists - Battle of the Bands
2x7" - Goob Vibrations Records - GOT-7 - February 1979 - 2500 copies
See Compilations section for full track listing.


• Self Conscious Over You / Love You For Never
7" - Good Vibrations Records - GOT-17 - November 1979 - PS



above: Good Vibrations poster 21 February 1980



above: Good Vibrations poster for the debut album
used the band's July 1979 appearance in the NME.





• Self Conscious Over You
LP - Good Vibrations Records - BIG-1 - July 1979
LP - Bliztkrieg Records/SFPP 8601 - France - 1986?
LP - Bagsnatcher Records - BAG1 - Germany? - 200? - red vinyl bootleg? reissue with 3 bonus tracks
CD - Dojo Records - DOJO CD 182 - 1994 - 1 bonus track
CD - Captain Oi - AHOYCD239 - 2005
remastered, bonus tracks
The original LP issue entered the UK indie albums chart on 24 May 1980 for a 1 week run peaking at #20
Produced by Davy Smith, owner of Wizard Studios (see also No Smokin')
     

     

     

    side one:
    Self Conscious Over You
    Clinical Love
    One Day
    Love Is For Sops
    You're A Disease

    side two:
    Love You For Never
    The Princess Grew Up A Frog
    Cyborg
    School Teacher
    Spiteful Sue
    The Cops Are Coming

    bagsnatcher LP bonus tracks:
    Frustration
    Don't Wanna Be No Adult
    You're A Disease (Single Version)

    Dojo CD bonus track:
    Just Another Teenage Rebel

    Captain Oi! CD bonus tracks:
    Frustration
    Don't Wanna Be No Adult
    You're A Disease (Single Version)
    Just Another Teenage Rebel
    Love Is For Sops (Single Version)
    The Cops Are Coming (Single Version)


• various artists - Room To Move
7" - Energy Records - NRG-1 - May 1980
See Compilations section for full track listing.


    track: Cyborg


• Magnum Force / Gangland Warfare
7" - GBH Records - GBH-001 - IRL - April 1981
     



• 1st Peel Session
Recorded 81.05.13, broadcast 81.05.25
Greg back playing bass after his injury; Ross Graham adds percussion and backing vocals.
    tracks:
    Gangland Warfare
    The End of the Rising Sun
    Programme Love
    Machine Gun


• Dave Fanning Session
Recorded 1981? Broadcast ??
    tracks:
    Machine Gun
    Hiroshima (later renamed Princes of Oblivion)
    Magnum Force
    Beating and Screaming


• s/t EP
7" - Outcasts Only Records - OO001 - UK - November 1981 - 5000 copies
     

    side one:
    Programme Love
    Beating and Screaming Part I

    side two:
    Part II
    Mania


• Angel Face / Gangland Warfare (new version)
7" - Outcasts Only Records - OO002 - June 1982
Entered the UK indie singles chart on 19.6.82 for a 9 week run peaking at #21.
A-side is a Glitter Band cover.
     



• various artists - Now In Session
LP - Downtown Radio - DTR SC1 - 1982
See Compilations section for full track listing.


    tracks: Programme Love


• 2nd Peel Session
Recorded 82.09.15, broadcast 82.09.25
    tracks:
    Winter
    Magnum Force
    Sex and Glory
    Frustration


• Blood and Thunder
LP - Abstract Records - ABT004 - UK - 30 November 1982
LP - New Rose Records - ROSE16 - France - 1982
Entered the UK indie albums chart on 18.12.82 for a 8 week run peaking at #20
     



    side one:
    Winter
    Machine Gun
    Sex And Glory
    Gangland Warfare
    Programme Love
    Princes Of Oblivion

    side two:
    Frustration
    Angel Face
    Magnum Force
    Beating & Screaming Parts 1 & 2
    Mania


• Nowhere Left To Run / Running Over
7" - Abstract Records - ABS017 - UK - June 1983 - PS
• Nowhere Left To Run / The Running's Over Time To Pray // Nowhere / Ruby(live)
12" - Abstract Records - 12ANA12 - UK - September 1983 - blue PS
• Nowhere Left To Run / The Running's Over Time To Pray // Ruby(studio) / Cops Are Comin'(live)
12" - New Rose Records - NEW21 - France - 1983 - different grey PS
     

     

     


• Seven Deadly Sins / Swamp Fever
7" - New Rose Records - NEW38 - France - August 1984
Entered the UK indie singles chart on 6.10.84 for a 5 week run peaking at #40
     


• Seven Deadly Sins
mini-LP - New Rose Records - NEW40 - France - 1984
Entered the UK indie albums chart on 18.8.84 for a 3 week run peaking at #19
     

    side one:
    Seven Deadly Sins
    The Chase
    Five Years

    side two: Swamp Fever
    Waiting for the Rain


• 1969 / Psychotic Breakdown
7"/12" - New Rose Records - NEW52 - France - 1985 - PS
     


• The Punk Singles Collection
CD - Anagram Records - CDPUNK62 - 1996?
     

    tracks:
    You're A Disease / Don't Want To Be No Adult / Frustration / Justa Nother Teenage Rebel / Love Is For Sops / The Cops Are Comin' / Self Conscious Over You / Love You For Never / Cyborg / Magnum Force / Gangland Warfare / Programme Love / Beating And Screaming Parts 1 & 2 / Mania / Angel Face / Gangland Warfare (1982 version) / Nowhere Left To Run / The Running Over Time To Pray / Ruby / Seven Deadly Sins / Swamp Fever (7" Version) / Psychotic Shakedown / Blue Murder


• Outcasts By Choice
LP - no label - OBC-82 - EU - 2002
Collects Peel Sessions 1981-82 & live in France 1982
     


• Blood and Thunder / Seven Deadly Sins
CD - Captain Oi - AHOYCD68 - 2005
     

    tracks:
    Winter
    Machine Gun
    Sex And Glory
    Gangland Warfare
    Programme Love
    Princes Of Oblivion
    Frustration
    Angel Face
    Magnum Force
    Beating & Screaming Parts 1 & 2
    Mania

    Seven Deadly Sins
    The Chase
    Five Years
    Swamp Fever
    Waiting For The Rain

    Nowhere Left To Run
    1969
    The Running's Over Time To Pray (Instrumental)

Notes:
Comprehensive but not exhaustive compilation CD of the 1981-85 period. Tracks 1-11 are the Blood And Thunder album; tracks 12-16 are the Seven Deadly Sins mini-LP; and the remaining tracks 17-19 are from singles.



• Live at Belfast Ulster Hall
CDR - no label - 200?


    tracks:
    Self Conscious Over You
    Mania
    Clinical Love
    You're A Disease
    The Cops Are Comin
    Just Another Teenage Rebel
    Laugh At Me (Terri Hooley)
    Da Do Ron Ron (Terri Hooley)

Notes:
Bootleg CDR of the soundtrack of John T.Davis' "Self Conscious Over You" film. It ends with a performance by Terri Hooley backed by The Outcasts and others performing genuinely awful versions of "Laugh At Me" and "Da Do Ron Ron".



• Vive Lyon!
CD - Spit Records - GOB 1 - 18 March 2011
Live CD culled from two live shows at the West Side Club in Lyon, France on January 1983 and September 1984.
This is an official release, available from http://www.spitrecords.co.uk


    tracklisting:
    Nowhere Left To Run
    Magnum Force
    Seven Deadly Sins
    1969
    The Cops Are Coming
    Swamp Fever
    Programme Love
    Clinical Love
    Ghetto Blaster
    Mania
    Machine Gun
    Ruby
    Gangland Warfare
    Winter



Help!

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.



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