USM (UNITED STATES OF MIND) is the project band of erstwhile KID WICKED, STIGMA, LADY LUCK and BALANCE OF POWER vocalist Tony Ritchie. He would also handle bass duties for the record. His former BALANCE OF POWER colleagues guitarist Pete Southern and drummer Lionel Hicks contribute. Hicks had also been a LADY LUCK and KID WICKED member.

The album 'Silver Step Child', mixed by Dennis Ward of PINK CREAM 69 at House Of Audio in Germany, emerged in 2000 through Germany's Massacre label.