The Outsiders T Shirt

The Outsiders were a pioneering English punk band formed in Wimbledon in 1975 by Adrian Borland, Bob Lawrence, and Adrian Janes, remembered for releasing Calling on Youth (1977), the first self‑released punk album in the UK. Initially called Syndrome, they took their name from Albert Camus’ novel The Outsider and played raw, garage‑punk infused with touches of prog and psychedelia. Though their debut drew harsh reviews from critics like Julie Burchill, it marked them as independent spirits in the punk scene. They followed with the EP One to Infinity (1977) and the album Close Up (1979), which received more favorable attention. After lineup changes, Borland and bassist Graham Bailey went on to form the acclaimed post‑punk band The Sound, leaving The Outsiders as a cult footnote in punk history—valued today for their DIY ethos and early contribution to the UK’s punk explosion.