The Users (band)

In 1977, Cambridge record dealer Lee Wood founded Raw Records, and quickly recorded The Users in March of the year, releasing the single "Sick of You" / "(I'm) In Love With Today" on May 5, 1977. Sounds magazine stated that it "burns into your brain without compromise."Heylin, Clinton. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iSgJAQAAMAAJ Babylon's burning: from punk to grunge], p. 265-66 (2007)

Despite only releasing two singles and being active for less than three years, the band developed a lasting cult following. BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel placed their first single "Sick of You" in his chosen Festive Fifty chart of 1977, and after his death it was revealed that he'd kept it as part of his favourite singles of all time.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110616195813/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article581143.ece?token=null&offset=96&page=9 Times Online - Inside John Peel's record box] {{subscription required}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/festive50lists.htm|title=John Peel's Festive 50's - 1977 - 2003|website=Rocklistmusic.co.uk|accessdate=2020-06-22}} The single was later reissued in 1999 and 2006 by Damaged Goods.{{Cite web|url=https://damagedgoods.co.uk/discography/band-aids-on-bullet-holes/|title=Band Aids On Bullet Holes|website=Damagedgoods.co.uk|accessdate=2020-06-22}}

Guitarist Chris Free, would find some success as the writer of Tracie Young's 1983 hit single, "Give It Some Emotion".{{Cite web|url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/users_history2.htm|title=The Users - History Part 2|website=Punk77.co.uk|accessdate=2020-06-22}}

& now writes and plays for The Sound Of Pop Art {{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/thesoundofpopart/|title=The Sound Of Pop Art|website=Facebook.com|accessdate=2020-06-22}}

The drummer's son Sean Patrick O’Hanrahan is now the keyboard player in Max Bianco & The Blue Hearts.[https://books.google.com/books?id=HJfGtREyuSAC&pg=RA10-PA80 The Great Indie Discography], p. 80 (1999)

Bass player Rick Tucker went on to be a lead for mental health nursing in secure environments before returning to music and becoming becoming a novelist. His album Paint the Blue Grass Green is available online and his novels A Dog Unchained, and Under the Flamboyant Tree, both set in Trinidad and Tobago have gained him a wider audience.

In October 2008, a discography compilation, Secondary Modern: 1976-1979, was released on Bin Liner records (part of Detour Records).{{Cite web|url=http://shop.detourrecords.co.uk/|title=DETOUR RECORDS|website=Shop.detourrecords.co.uk|accessdate=2020-06-22}}

In 2007, Spin magazine named "Sick of You" one of the 20 best singles of 1977 by bands who not yet released an album.[https://books.google.com/books?id=VyT02nDttPYC&pg=PA71 The 20 Bets Singles of '77], Spin (magazine), October 2007, p. 71 Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys has cited the single as one of his favorite singles in terms of production when his band recorded 1980's Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.(1 October 2005). [http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_dead_kennedys/ Dead Kennedys' "California Uber Alles"], Mixonline.com

• "Sick of You" / "(I'm) in Love With Today" 7" (1977, Raw Records) (Reissued 2006, Damaged Goods){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Users-Sick-Of-You/release/727312|title=The Users - Sick Of You|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=2020-06-22}}
• "Kicks in Style" / "Dead On Arrival" 7" (1978, Warped Records) (Reissued 2010, 1977 Records){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Users-Kicks-In-Style/release/3422398|title=The Users - Kicks In Style|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=2020-06-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://1977records.com/?og=1|title=1977 RECORDS|website=1977records.com}}
• "Now That It's Over" / "Listen" 7" (2018, Love Child Records) {{Cite web|url=https://www.mrfreeshirts.com/collections/vinyl-cd/products/the-users-now-that-its-over-pink-vinyl-7-unrel-79-punk-power-pop-250-copies|title=THE USERS 'Now That It's Over' Pink vinyl 7" – Mr Free Shirts|date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161054/https://www.mrfreeshirts.com/collections/vinyl-cd/products/the-users-now-that-its-over-pink-vinyl-7-unrel-79-punk-power-pop-250-copies|accessdate=28 September 2020|archive-date=2018-06-25}}

• Secondary Modern 1976-1979 CD, (2008, Bin Liner Records)
• Kicks In Style (2012, Rave Up Records) 12" vinyl
• Lo-Fi EP, (2012, Rave Up Records) 7" vinyl

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.detour-records.co.uk/USERSINFOPAGE.htm The Users - Official Album Website at Detour Records]
• [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/usersdiscography.htm/ Punk history website]

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Category:English punk rock groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1976