Gene Loves Jezebel is a Welsh gothic rock band from the early 1980s founded… Read Full Bio ↴Gene Loves Jezebel is a Welsh gothic rock band from the early 1980s founded by twin brothers, Michael and Jay Aston.
Michael Aston (vocals) was the poetic, goth-leaning side of the twin brothers while Jay Aston’s distinctive banshee-like, wailing vocals supplied Gene Loves Jezebel with one of their many trademark quirks.
Originally called Slav Aryan, Gene Loves Jezebel began in 1980 with the brothers, guitarist Ian Hudson, and a drum machine. The Astons grew up in Porthcawl, South Wales, making the move to London in 1981. With a new home, and shortly thereafter, the new name, the trio played several live shows and was signed by Situation Two. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo and a single "Shaving My Neck." The band then added bassist Julianne Regan followed, Regan was replaced by Ian Hudson on Bass (and Albi DeLuca took over the guitar role) and went on to form All About Eve, Gene Loves Jezebel underwent a dozen or so line up changes between 1981-1985 alone! The band was really about the twins after all.
The band released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album Promise peaked at number 8 in the U.K.'s indie charts. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peel radio session for BBC and toured America with fellow Welsh artist John Cale. The second album, Immigrant, was released in mid-1985. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson suffered a nervous breakdown and was replaced by former Gen X guitarist James Stevenson.
During 1986, the group moved contract to Situation Two's parent company, Beggar's Banquet Records and distribution rights in USA to Geffen Records. The subsequent promotion increased pop-chart success for the group. The single "Sweetest Thing" briefly hit the Top 75 in U.K. and the album, Discover, reached number 32 in UK Albums Chart. At this time, the group also found heavy rotations on college and alternative radio stations across America. The band had slowly turned their attention to dance music. The slick and catchy guitar hooks of singles "Desire" and "Heartache" leapt to #6 and #72, respectively, on Los Angeles' famous New Wave station, KROQ. Later that year, Chris Bell became the band's fifth drummer.
Gene Loves Jezebel's fourth album, The House of Dolls, was released late in 1987 and yielded the singles, "20 Killer Hurts" and "The Motion of Love" that grazed the U.S. pop charts. The third single from The House of Dolls, "Suspicion", for the first time, surfaced on The Billboard Hot 100. Despite rising mainstream success, the new pop-oriented direction proved to be too polished and commercial for the poetic and more goth-like brother, Michael. He parted ways with Jay in 1989.
While Michael pursued his solo work, Jay continued using the Gene Loves Jezebel name and recorded two albums, Kiss of Life in 1989, followed by Heavenly Bodies. reached #68 on Billboard's Hot 100. Three years later, Jay Aston and company released Heavenly Bodies, which did well in Europe and on American college radio. Unfortunately, after dispointing record sales record sales and the collapse of Savage Records (David Bowie) American label folded one year later, and, after a few more live shows, so did Gene Loves Jezebel.
While Jay performed occasional acoustic shows under his own name, Michael played with members of Scenic, then formed a new band called the Immigrants (re-named Edith Grove) and later released a pimarily acoustic solo album, Why Me, Why This, Why Now. Michael and Jay began working together again throughout the 90's , and also recorded two songs for a GLJ best-of compilation "from the mouths of Babes' on Michael Aston's label Bonnaire records , released in September 1995.
A reunion tour followed in 1997, but the brothers' reconciliation was short-lived. In October 1997, Jay sued his twin brother over rights to the name "Gene Loves Jezebel" after leaving the band. After a protracted court battle, Jay eventually dropped all charges "with prejudice" meaning Michael can never be challenged for the name again and consequently Michael owns the exclusive rights to the mark. Michael also trademarked "Gene Loves Jezebel" and toured both the U.S. and the U.K. extensively supporting Gene Loves Jezebel releases: Love Lies Bleeding (1999) - Live in Voodoo City (1999) - Giving Up the Ghost (2001) – and Exploding Girls (2003)
Michael Aston (vocals) was the poetic, goth-leaning side of the twin brothers while Jay Aston’s distinctive banshee-like, wailing vocals supplied Gene Loves Jezebel with one of their many trademark quirks.
Originally called Slav Aryan, Gene Loves Jezebel began in 1980 with the brothers, guitarist Ian Hudson, and a drum machine. The Astons grew up in Porthcawl, South Wales, making the move to London in 1981. With a new home, and shortly thereafter, the new name, the trio played several live shows and was signed by Situation Two. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo and a single "Shaving My Neck." The band then added bassist Julianne Regan followed, Regan was replaced by Ian Hudson on Bass (and Albi DeLuca took over the guitar role) and went on to form All About Eve, Gene Loves Jezebel underwent a dozen or so line up changes between 1981-1985 alone! The band was really about the twins after all.
The band released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album Promise peaked at number 8 in the U.K.'s indie charts. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peel radio session for BBC and toured America with fellow Welsh artist John Cale. The second album, Immigrant, was released in mid-1985. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson suffered a nervous breakdown and was replaced by former Gen X guitarist James Stevenson.
During 1986, the group moved contract to Situation Two's parent company, Beggar's Banquet Records and distribution rights in USA to Geffen Records. The subsequent promotion increased pop-chart success for the group. The single "Sweetest Thing" briefly hit the Top 75 in U.K. and the album, Discover, reached number 32 in UK Albums Chart. At this time, the group also found heavy rotations on college and alternative radio stations across America. The band had slowly turned their attention to dance music. The slick and catchy guitar hooks of singles "Desire" and "Heartache" leapt to #6 and #72, respectively, on Los Angeles' famous New Wave station, KROQ. Later that year, Chris Bell became the band's fifth drummer.
Gene Loves Jezebel's fourth album, The House of Dolls, was released late in 1987 and yielded the singles, "20 Killer Hurts" and "The Motion of Love" that grazed the U.S. pop charts. The third single from The House of Dolls, "Suspicion", for the first time, surfaced on The Billboard Hot 100. Despite rising mainstream success, the new pop-oriented direction proved to be too polished and commercial for the poetic and more goth-like brother, Michael. He parted ways with Jay in 1989.
While Michael pursued his solo work, Jay continued using the Gene Loves Jezebel name and recorded two albums, Kiss of Life in 1989, followed by Heavenly Bodies. reached #68 on Billboard's Hot 100. Three years later, Jay Aston and company released Heavenly Bodies, which did well in Europe and on American college radio. Unfortunately, after dispointing record sales record sales and the collapse of Savage Records (David Bowie) American label folded one year later, and, after a few more live shows, so did Gene Loves Jezebel.
While Jay performed occasional acoustic shows under his own name, Michael played with members of Scenic, then formed a new band called the Immigrants (re-named Edith Grove) and later released a pimarily acoustic solo album, Why Me, Why This, Why Now. Michael and Jay began working together again throughout the 90's , and also recorded two songs for a GLJ best-of compilation "from the mouths of Babes' on Michael Aston's label Bonnaire records , released in September 1995.
A reunion tour followed in 1997, but the brothers' reconciliation was short-lived. In October 1997, Jay sued his twin brother over rights to the name "Gene Loves Jezebel" after leaving the band. After a protracted court battle, Jay eventually dropped all charges "with prejudice" meaning Michael can never be challenged for the name again and consequently Michael owns the exclusive rights to the mark. Michael also trademarked "Gene Loves Jezebel" and toured both the U.S. and the U.K. extensively supporting Gene Loves Jezebel releases: Love Lies Bleeding (1999) - Live in Voodoo City (1999) - Giving Up the Ghost (2001) – and Exploding Girls (2003)
Desire
Gene Loves Jezebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugar I've been missing you
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
Honey, I won't be kissing you
'Cause I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
I've had my ears to the ground, to the ground
I'm just trying to find out what you're hiding
What is the mystery?
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Honey, I won't be kissing you
'Cause I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
I've had my ears to the ground, to the ground
I'm just trying to find out what you're hiding
What is the mystery?
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
What you get is what you seek
Desire
In Gene Loves Jezebel's song Desire, the lyrics describe someone who is missing and yearning for their lover. The singer is trying to find their lover who is hiding from them. The phrase "I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire" emphasizes the intensity of the singer's feelings for their lover. However, the singer is unable to find their lover and is left to wonder where they are hiding.
The repeated phrase "What you get is what you seek, desire" suggests that the singer believes that one can only receive what they are actively looking for. The last line of the song "What you get is what you seek, desire" is repeated multiple times, driving the message home that if you want something, you have to actively seek it out.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar I've been missing you
I have been longing for you, my dear one
And I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
I am curious about where you have been lately
I've been a ball of fire in your arms desire
When I am close to you, I feel an intense passion
What you get is what you seek
Your actions lead to the outcomes you desired
Desire
A strong feeling of wanting to have or do something
Honey, I won't be kissing you
I will not show affection towards you, my darling
'Cause I've been wondering, where it is you're hiding
Because I am curious about your whereabouts
I've had my ears to the ground, to the ground
I have been keeping informed and alert of your movements
What is the mystery?
What is the secret that you are keeping?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER, EDDIE HOLLAND, BRIAN HOLLAND, TROY DONALD JAMERSON, ALAN MAMAN, LURONER LETHEL BROOKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@RelatosdelLadoOscuro
Los acabamos de ver hace poco en ciudad de México, octubre 2022, junto con The Mission Uk. Espectaculares, aquello sonó muy bien y aún cuando rondan los 70 años, hicieron magia.
@user-rk7gn9sg1s
🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
@MrAureli224
this is an other example of how great the 80's were.
@edwardroy3401
Yes
@frankgell69
Fkin A
@tennantlisa
Like, Totally!!
@tendraftsdeep
How it should be now
@jimweiss
If you were not lucky enough to experience the 80’s I am sorry for you but truly it was a wonderful time to be young and alive and the music will never ever get old it’s still young and alive , and that is why the people who don’t know the 80’s call it the 19hatees bunch of hater’s.
@eryc817
I’m 51 years old and Gene love Jezebel was my first concert ever saw them in 1983 at Fender’s in Long Beach..
@smokeycretin9
I'm so happy to have been a moody teenager in the 80s. Now 51