James Robert Morrison, professionally known as Jim Bob, is a British musician, singer-songwriter, and author born on 22 November 1960 in London (associated with Streatham). He rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the indie punk band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (Carter USM), formed in 1987 with guitarist Les “Fruitbat” Carter.
Prior to Carter USM, Morrison performed with Jamie Wednesday in the mid-1980s. Carter USM blended punk energy, sampling, and sharp, socially observant lyrics. The duo achieved major success in the early 1990s with 14 top 40 singles and four top ten albums, including the UK number one 1992 – The Love Album. They sold over a million records, toured extensively, and headlined the 1992 Glastonbury Festival. The band split in 1998, reunited for shows from 2007 to 2014, and then parted ways again.
After the initial breakup, Jim Bob launched a solo career. He briefly worked with Jim’s Super Stereoworld before releasing albums under his own name, including Goodnight Jim Bob (2003), Angelstrike (2004), School (2006), Pop Up Jim Bob (2020), Who Do We Hate Today? (2021), and Thanks For Reaching Out (2023). In August 2025, he released two new studio albums on the same day: Automatic and Stick. Several of his solo releases have charted in the UK top 40. He has released around a dozen solo albums and contributed songs for Ian Dury and a Barbican production of Mark Ravenhill’s Dick Whittington & His Cat.
Beyond music, Jim Bob has a successful writing career. His memoir Goodnight Jim Bob – On The Road With Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine appeared in 2012, followed by a second autobiographical volume and novels (some under J.B. Morrison), including Storage Stories, Driving Jarvis Ham, The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81, and its sequel. He has also published a collection of lyrics and song stories titled Where Songs Come From. In 2010, he debuted as an actor at the Edinburgh Fringe in the musical Gutted – A Revengers Musical.Jim Bob’s work is noted for witty, humorous, and observational lyricism. He remains active with a dedicated fanbase.
In March this year, he embarked on a UK tour with a full band, performing material from Automatic and Stick, solo favourites, and numerous Carter classics. Dates included Leeds (Brudenell Social Club), Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, and others, with further 2026 appearances at festivals and support slots.
Photo Copyright © Gary Mather
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