Johnny & The Self Abusers

In the mid Eighties a band called Johnny & The Self Abusers would have been far removed from those slipping New Gold Dream onto their expensive turntables while contemplating buying a stadium rock ticket for a Simple Minds evening of bombast. Little did they know that Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Brian McGhee were one time members of that onanistic named punk beat combo.

Formed circa February 1977, the band soon made a name for themselves and as having that ‘something’ that set them apart. A review of a gig in October 1977 says:

The Abusers are shaping up to be the classiest band in Scotland having all the style of early Roxy Music and the power of the Clash. The only problem is that they are band for ’78 not ’77.

Hanging Around Fanzine 7 November 1977

One excellent single Saints & Sinners / Dead Vandals (Chiswick Records 1977) from this brilliantly named band. The NME wrote “…the song is a drab parade of New Wave that jerks off aimlessly into the void.” Charming! It’s not that bad. Compare it to Wordsworth in the image review below!

Dead Vandals is the pick that remained in the Simple Minds’ set for quite some time. Unfortunately on the day the record was released the band split! Divisions had been growing in the band and came to a head. There was also some contention over the name as it wasn’t going to endear them to any radio or positive publicity. There’s another demo track floating around – Pablo Picasso – which is also rather good.

Johnny & The Self Abusers: This came through the post from a journalist friend in Scotland Brian Hogg. We just liked the record so much that Ted lost the first tape, so they sent us another. We pre-sold it on the strength of the name – everyone thought it was great.

At the last minute the manager rang up and said that they had changed their name, but Ted said – sorry too late the labels are printed. This was maybe not completely accurate, but we were determined not to blow the good pre sales. In fact the band had split into the Cuban Heels and Simple Minds. The latter’s demos arrived and were pretty good – sounded a bit like the Sweet if I remember correctly.”

Roger Armstrong, Chiswick


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