About The Outcasts

There appear to have been at least four groups called The Outcasts: 1) A Northern Irish punk band 2) A 1960s US group from Ohio 3) A 1960s US group from New York 4) A 1960s US group from Texas 1) Belfast, Ireland (1977 - present) The Outcasts were formed in June 1977 in Belfast by the three Cowan brothers, Greg Cowan (vocals / bass), Martin Cowan (guitar/vocals), Colin Cowan (drums) and their friend Colin 'Getty' Getgood (guitar), playing their first gig two months later. 'You're A Disease' / 'Don't Want To Be No Adult' / 'Frustration' (It, 1978) is easily the roughest sounding early Outcasts single, 'You're A Disease' stands out as the best track. 'Frustration' was later re-recorded for the 1982 LP 'Blood & Thunder'. 'Just Another Teenage Rebel' / 'Love Is For Sops' (Good Vibrations, 1978) captures the Outcasts at their best, punk rock with a pop edge, both tracks are classics. Came in the trademark Good Vibes foldout poster sleeve in several different colours, a 2nd pressing was issued in early 1979 with a different cover. 'The Cops Are Comin' (Good Vibrations, 1979) was released as part of a double single package 'Battle Of The Bands' featuring three other local bands, namely Rudi, Spider and the Idiots. A nasty little tale about killing your girlfriend and having sex with her corpse. more info: http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/outcasts.htm (article by James Denholm) 2) Another group consisted of a very young Ralph Morman, Al Collinsworth, Ron Gibson, Nick Wickware and Richard Hall-Hawkins. The song was recorded in Cin. Ohio in 1968. Al did the vocals and wrote the song. It's somewhat silly, but the guys were all of 17 going on 12. DJ Shadow did a remix version of this song on his "Product Placement" CD. 3) From Long Island, the Radiations changed their name to the Outcasts in 1966 and gained a reputation as a strong live act, albeit one that mainly played cover versions. They released two garage singles "You'd Be Surprised" (b/w "Set Me Free") and "Today's the Day" (b/w "I Didn't Have to Make Her Anymore") before disappearing into obscurity. 4) Another garage, this San Antonio band that formed in 1963 also became live favourites, opening for the likes of the 13th Floor Elevators and even the Rolling Stones. Managed for a time by Mike Post, who later found fame as a TV theme writer, they recorded several singles but could not gain a following outside Texas and split in 1968. They are best remembered now for the psych garage classic "1523 Blair" and 'I'm In Pittsburgh (And It's Raining'). Members: Buddy Carson (keyboards, harmonica, percussion, vocals), Rickey Wright (drums), Denny Turner (guitar, autoharp, ?-1966), Jim Carsten (guitar, vocals), Jim Ryan (bass, vocals), Galen Niles (guitar, 1967-68)