The Jim Carroll Band was a new wave/punk rock group formed by poet and writer Jim Carroll, in 1978, after encouragement from Patti Smith. The band was formerly called Amsterdam, based San Francisco, California. The musicians were: Steve Linsley (bass), Wayne Woods (drums), Brian Linsley and Terrell Winn (guitars). Their biggest commercial success was the single "People Who Died", from their 1980 debut album, Catholic Boy; the album featured contributions from Allen Lanier and Bobby Keys. The song was covered by John Cale on his Antártida soundtrack.

Later albums were Dry Dreams (1982) and I Write Your Name (1983), both with contributions from Lenny Kaye. The band split around 1984 He was the author of "The Basketball Diaries" later turned into a movie of the same name.

It was an account of his high school years spent hustling and as a part of the hard drug scene of the late 60's New York. Carroll died on September 13, 2009 in Manhattan.