The Professionals (band)
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| The Professionals | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Years active | 1979 – 1982 |
| Past members | Steve Jones Paul Cook Ray McVeigh Andy Allen |
After the break up of the Sex Pistols and the debacle of the Sham Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook formed The Professionals. Andy Allen, a friend of Jones, joined the band as bass player. He was later ousted and was replaced by bassist Paul Myers (ex Subway Sect). Also joining the band was guitarist Ray McVeigh.
They signed to Virgin Records in early 1980. Their first release with Virgin was the single "Just Another Dream".
The album I Didn't See It Coming was released in November 1981.
In 1982 after the end of their second US tour the band split up. This was prompted in part by a nasty car accident involving all the band apart from Jones and the fact that Jones remained in the US when the rest of the band went back to the UK.
The album was issued on CD in 1999. A best-of album was released in 2005 despite the band only ever recording one album, four singles and an album of demos.
Their song "Black Leather" was covered by The Runaways on their 1978 album And Now... The Runaways and by Guns N' Roses on their 1993 album The Spaghetti Incident?. Their song "Join The Professionals" was covered by The Epoxies. "The Magnificent" was said to be about Sid Vicious.
Cook and Jones featured in the 1981 film Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.
[edit] Discography
Singles
- "A Merry Jingle" (B-side "Justifiable Homicide") (Anthem Records, 1979). Appeared on Top of the Pops. First pressings were credited to "The Greedies", an early name of The Professionals. NOTE: In the UK this was only ever released under the name 'The Greedies' which in fact is a band made up of Cook, Jones and various members of Thin Lizzy. This was their only recorded work and the B-side was "A Merry Jangle". "Justifiable Homicide" was by former Sex Pistols soundman Dave Goodman. 'The Greedies' played live as 'The Greedy Bastards"
- "Black Leather" (B-side "Here We Go Again") (1979, Anthem Records) NOTE: In the UK this was in fact released under the name Sex Pistols as part of the 'Pistols Pack' - a limited edition 6x7" singles compilation.
- "Just Another Dream" (B-side "Action Man") (1980, Virgin Records)
- "1-2-3" (B-side "Baby, I Don't Care" & "White Light, White Heat") (1980, Virgin Records)
- "Join The Professionals" (B-side "Has Anybody Got An Alibi?") (1981, Virgin Records)
- "The Magnificent" (B-side "All The Way") (1982, Virgin Records).
Albums
- I Didn't See It Coming (1981)
- Join The Professionals (1990) NOTE: This is actually an aborted album which was recorded and never released at the time. It features rawer more punk versions of many of the tracks which would make it onto 'I Didn't See It Coming' and a few tracks that didn't.
- The Professionals (1997) Another album primarily made up of tracks from the aborted album
- Best of The Professionals (2005)
[edit] Members
- Steve Jones − lead guitar and vocals
- Ray McVeigh − rhythm guitar
- Andy Allen − bass (replaced by Paul Myers in 1980)
- Paul Cook − drums
[edit] References
| Sex Pistols |
|---|
| Johnny Rotten | Steve Jones | Glen Matlock | Paul Cook | Sid Vicious |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Never Mind the Bollocks, 1977 |
| Singles: Anarchy in the UK, 1976 | God Save the Queen, 1977 | Pretty Vacant, 1977 | Holidays in the Sun, 1977 | No One Is Innocent, 1978 |
| Live and compilation releases: Some Product: Carri on Sex Pistols, 1979 | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, 1980 | Flogging a Dead Horse, 1980 |
| Related articles |
| Public Image Ltd. | Malcolm McLaren | Jamie Reid | Ronnie Biggs | Edward Tudor-Pole | The Professionals | The Filth and the Fury | Punk rock |
