The Outsiders (British band)
The Outsiders were an English punk rock group, formed in 1975 in Wimbledon, England and consisting of singer-guitarist Adrian Borland, bass guitarist Bob Lawrence and drummer Adrian "Jan" Janes. The former two would go on to form the critically successful post-punk band the Sound. History. The Outsiders formed in Wimbledon, London, England in 1975 . They were originally called "Syndrome" but changed their name to the Outsiders in 1976, inspired by Albert Camus' novel "The Outsider". Their debut studio album, "Calling on Youth", was self-released on their Raw Edge label in May 1977, and  won them unfavourable reviews: "Apple-cheeked Ade has a complexion that would turn a Devon milkmaid green with envy", reported Julie Burchill of the "New Musical Express". It was the first self-released punk album in the UK. The band released an EP in November 1977, "One to Infinity". "NME" writer Tony Parsons commented: "tuneless, gormless, gutless... I like them a lot". The EP was praised in a less contradictory manner by other critics, including Mick Mercer. A second album, "Close Up", was released in 1979. This received better, but still cautious, reviews from the press. A "NME" review concluded  that it was a patchy album, but from "a band with a future". After this album, Lawrence and Janes left, and Borland went on to front the critically successful post-punk group the Sound. Borland died 26 April 1999. In 1993, Three Lines Records issued the "Vital Years" compilation.