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Neurotic Outsiders
An album seemed inevitable, and it came on Madonna’s Maverick label no less. Steve Jones, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, both Guns N’ Roses, and Duran Duran’s John Taylor. They didn’t disappoint. If it’s guitar sleaze power you need in your life, this is for you. The bulk of song writing - and consequently lead vocals - was courtesy of Steve. In many ways it feels like a Jonesy solo album, there's tales about hookers and so on, but mostly due to the incredible guitar. Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) handled the production and did a fantastic job in capturing Steve’s trademark sound; it never sounded better. Nasty Ho, Good News, and Jerk simply soar. There’s also time for a spot of reflection with Story Of My Life and Steve’s ode to the Pistols, Union, which builds into an aural monster. Getting
the band heard on the radio was restricted by swearing and
sexual content. Jerk was selected as a single, albeit as a cleaned up
version, but still wasn’t going to find much The press gave the LP a predictably negative spin, finding some lyrics immature and puerile. I guess there was an element of truth in this, but you can’t accuse Jonesy of being anything less than honest in airing his desires, irrespective of age. In some ways it wouldn’t be Steve if he didn’t. More importantly, only Jonesy could produce such an electrifying sound. Sadly, this would be his last full group project of any kind, and as such should be embraced and enjoyed. The album was released as the Sex Pistols reformed for the Filthy Lucre world tour in 1996 and despite a batch of Outsiders gigs in September - slotted between the Pistols’ North American and Australasian legs - momentum was lost. There would be no more studio output, but at least we have this to remember them by. The Neurotic Outsiders gave us a ferocious beast to wrestle with, and its adrenalin is still kicking today. The years have not diminished its thrill. A re-issue is long, long, overdue, and now we have a 16 track one. Supermegabot have faithfully reproduced the original booklet which is a nice touch, and if you buy it direct from the company you get a I'm A Jerk badge. If you are new to Steve’s work, or love a bit of 90s Guns N’ Roses, treat yourselves. ©Phil
Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net 2022 |
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Over a quarter of a century has
passed
since the release of the one and only Neurotic Outsiders album. What a
group they were; emerging in 1995 from the Viper Room in LA, this
superstar jamming band caused plenty of excitement with their live
shows where punk classics rubbed shoulders with cuts from their own
back catalogues plus some originals. 