In the middle of the 1990s, Los Angeles saw the formation of Neurotic Outsiders, a supergroup assembled from secondary figures in prominent rock acts. An impromptu benefit performance at the Viper Room unexpectedly turned into a standing house-band slot, drawing a dedicated audience. Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, John Taylor of Duran Duran, Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, and Matt Sorum of both the Cult and Guns N' Roses anchored the lineup. Their earliest sets leaned heavily on punk covers. Growing interest prompted Maverick Records to offer a deal, resulting in the lone release, the self-titled Neurotic Outsiders, which appeared in 1996. Jones supplied the bulk of the material, Taylor contributed the rest, and the remaining members lent songwriting input on several tracks. Jones and McKagan split guitar responsibilities while every participant added vocals. The recordings fused frantic, shadowy punk with the pre-grunge hard-rock approach associated with Guns N' Roses. The explicit track “Jerk” secured modest airplay. Following the album’s arrival, the band mounted a nationwide circuit of club shows. Upon completion, they briefly resumed their weekly residency at the Viper Room before entering hiatus in 1998. Subsequent commitments—Sorum’s return to the Cult in 1999 and Taylor’s return to Duran Duran in 2001—have left little prospect of resumption.
