Ready to cast off

While not quite as seismic as Neil Lennon becoming the next Rangers boss, news that Brian Young has joined The Outcasts would, to punters of a certain vintage, have the same shock value as, say, Gary Neville deciding to come out of retirement to pull on a Liverpool shirt.

Brian spent the punk wars on one side of the Harp Bar, proudly flying the flag for Rudi – the light-footed cavaliers of the scene – channelling Bolan and Johnny Thunders, and cultivating the kind of haircuts, hooks and choruses that would eventually catch Paul Weller and his short-lived Jamming! Records’ attention.
The roundhead side of the room – the one with Greg Cowan & Co. in residence – would have a very different feel. If all proper music scenes have a yin and a yang – a Beatles and a Stones; a Roses and a Mondays – then while Macca and Squire would have felt at home with Brian and Ronnie, there’s little doubt that Keef and Bez would have sidled up in the shadows with The Outcasts.
These pro-biotic and vocal massaging days it probably only takes one online rant to see a band labelled as bad boys, but at the fag-end of the ‘70s, the honour was a tad more hard-won. It’s safe to say, though, that the South Belfast boys made a fair stab at earning the title.
If Rudi were a classic garage/glam rock three-piece (and their love of The New York Dolls led to Brian opening up a correspondence with a certain Stephen Patrick Morrissey), The Outcasts, in the early days anyway, were almost exclusively enamoured by the jack-hammer immediacy of punk. Which may well be small beer in our post mash-up world, but, at the time, was exactly the kind of hair-trigger distinction that could start a row in an empty hall.
The Empire on Saturday July 30, it’s safe to say, won’t be empty.
The prospect of a reformed Outcasts playing their first Belfast show in years should ensure a full house. A full house made up not only by old campaigners, but swollen too by those of any stripe who hold a fondness for yard-dog/guttersnipe anthems.
And – with original member Getty declining the chance to tool up once more – joining them onstage will be no other than Brian Young.
The fact that Brian and Greg have been playing together over the last few years in Shame Academy means this is not as surprising a development as would have seemed a few decades ago. But still – there are fascinating back-stories playing out here. These are individuals who – perhaps unconsciously – have made contributions to Belfast life that extend beyond the music scene.
We will maybe have an opportunity to go over all that in the near future, but for the time being The Empire show should provide the perfect occasion to welcome The Outcasts back into the fold.
For those unfamiliar with Greg and the gang’s oeuvre – find below a few suggestions of where best to jump in...

Justa Nother Teenage Rebel
An anti-anti-hero diatribe that, despite sounding like it was originally recorded in a crypt, retains its dark, acidic, appeal. The band’s second single (but first on Good Vibrations) was a particular favourite of John Peel.

Self Conscious Over You
“It’s really embarrassing at school/When the teachers ask me what I’m doing” – If punk is renowned for introducing notions of despair, boredom and alienation to the pop lexicon, it’s perhaps less lauded for the rampant enthusiasm with which (from the Buzzcocks to the Voidoids)it celebrated the joys of onanism. The Outcasts, as you’d expect, had no trouble knocking off an anthem for the cause.

You’re a Disease
The tune where the attitude, sound and dynamism all come together – this is The Outcasts at their belligerent, straight-in-yer-bake, best. According to legend (or the legend – John T. Davis), it’s also mythical filmmaker DA Pennabeker’s favourite rock and roll lyric.

The Cops Are Coming
Take a dash of casual misogyny, add some homicidal fantasies, sprinkle a dose of late ‘70s Belfast sadism and leave to bubble in a misanthropic stew. Voila – an irresistible and thoroughly disreputable punk classic. Better start running!