JAMC's early gigs have become the stuff of legend in underground circles. Playing in front of small audiences, the band earned their notoriety by playing very short gigs, some lasting no more than ten minutes and consisting of a constant wall of feedback and distortion. The group became know as well for playing with their backs to the audience and refusing to speak to them. Many shows culminated with the Reids trashing their equipment, which was often followed by the audience rioting. All of this delighted manager and Creation Records boss Alan McGee, who obviously found it very easy to get attention for the band, as well as aliened more commercially-minded music business figures.
Their debut single, "Upside Down", came out in 1984 on Creation, but they signed to the WEA-backed Blanco y Negro the following year. Said label released their debut album, titled 'Psychocandy', which fused together the Reid's two primary influences, the guitar noise and avant-garde rock of The Velvet Underground with the 60s pop leanings of Phil Spector and The Beach Boys. It included songs such as the indie sensation "Just Like Honey". The record divided many music fans due to its deliberately abrasive sound yet still received positive critical reviews and is now considered a landmark recording in the history of alternative music.
Gillespie left the band before the next album, 'Darklands, came out, going on to front Primal Scream. He was briefly replaced by John Moore (later of Black Box Recorder), before former Biff Bang Pow! drummer Dave Evans. The aforementioned 'Darklands' also received supportive reviews, and it showed a less noisy and more contemplative sound that was welcomed by both many post-punk fans and many mainstream rock fans. Notable songs from that period include "April Skies" and "Happy When It Rains".
Albums
# Psychocandy (November 1985)
# Darklands (September 1987)
# Automatic (September 1989)
# Honey's Dead (March 1992)
# Stoned & Dethroned (1994)
# Munki (June 1998)
# Damage and Joy (2017)
Plus the following - (sessions, singles, b-sides, live recordings et cetera)
# Barbed Wire Kisses (April 1988)
# The Sound of Speed (1993)
# Hate Rock N' Roll (1995)
# 21 Singles (2002)
# BBC Live in Concert (2003)
# The Complete John Peel Sessions (2003)
# The Power of Negative Thinking: B-Sides & Rarities (2008)
For the iconic indie label Sub Pop, the band recorded 1998's 'Munki' album, which would turn out to be their last before splitting the following year. The album is often thought of as sounding 'divided' due to the Reids' crumbling relationship. Jim Reid has recalled: "Me and William weren't really getting along at all. That last year we barely even spoke. 'Munki' is one of my favorite albums, but it was really divided. William would go into the studio with the rest of the band and record while I wasn't there, and then I'd go in with them when William wasn't there."
William Reid then recorded as the artist Lazycame. Brother Jim formed the band Freeheat, which disbanded in 2003. Jim Reid is currently recording solo material and he has, to date, recorded and released one single Song For A Secret which was released on Transistor Records.
Like some of their influences such as Dee Dee Ramone, Lee Hazelwood, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, throughout their career the boys were rumored to have ongoing substance abuse issues, which may have contributed to their notoriety. They reportedly dabbled in regular use of things like amphetamines and heroin, which made for lyrical reference in songs like Some Candy Talking and the album title Stoned & Dethroned.
Despite not having huge commercial success, they've gone on to influence a range of other music groups such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Butthole Surfers, My Bloody Valentine, and Spacemen 3.
The Jesus and Mary Chain reunited to play at the Coachella Festival on April 27, 2007, followed by two more shows in Spain at the Summercase Festival. More shows followed in late 2007 and early 2008 in London.
Calling themselves 'Sister Vanilla' an LP, Little Pop Rock, was released in 2007 and reunites the brothers along with their sister, Linda, singing on most tracks.
Damage And Joy is the brand new studio album by The Jesus And Mary Chain, released on March 24th, 2017.
Other personnel;
Richard Thomas (drums 1988-1990)
Ben Lurie (bass/rhythm guitar/backing vocals 1989-1998)
Steve Monti (drums 1990-1995)
Matthew Parkin (bass 1992)
Barry Blackler (drums 1992)
Nick Sanderson (drums 1993-1998)
Mark Crozer (rhythm guitar 2007-now)
Loz Colbert (drums 2007-now)
JAMC singer Jim Reid is name-checked in the 2017 song "Lollipop (Ode to Jim)" by Canadian band Alvvays which begins "I saw Jim Reid in the corridor.." and contains other allusions to JAMC themes.
http://thejesusandmarychain.uk.com/
Heat
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still I couldn't understand my fears
Never had the time or an easy ride
Kicking up the noise of a suicide
And I see the heat coming down
Heat coming round feels like I'm coming on
Seen what I've seen and it's gone
But I don't know
Yeah I don't know
Tell me what you're saying
All these things I've been praying
Tell me what you're saying
All these things I've been praying
Tell me what you're saying
All these things I've been praying
Tell me what you're saying
All these things I've been praying
The lyrics to The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Heat" discuss the overwhelming and inexplicable nature of fear, and the feelings of confusion and anxiety that go along with it. The opening lines state that even if the singer lived for 100 years, they still wouldn't be able to fully comprehend their fears. The next two lines suggest that life hasn't been easy for the singer, and that they may have considered suicide as a result of the noise and chaos around them. As the heat comes down and the intensity builds, the singer feels like they're coming apart at the seams. They've seen things that they can't unsee, but they don't really understand them.
Repeated throughout the song are the lines "Tell me what you're saying / All these things I've been praying". This can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be the singer begging someone to explain things to them, or asking a higher power for guidance. The repetition of the phrase itself could also represent a sort of mantra, with the singer repeating it over and over in an attempt to calm themselves or gain clarity.
Overall, "Heat" is a somewhat abstract and introspective meditation on fear and confusion, with a hint of desperation and longing for answers.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could live for 100 years
Despite having a long life, the fear within me will still be unclear
Still I couldn't understand my fears
My fears still puzzle me despite living for a century
Never had the time or an easy ride
Life has never been easy for me; I never had a chance to relax
Kicking up the noise of a suicide
My internal cries and screams are so loud that they sound like a suicidal person's commotion
And I see the heat coming down
I foresee the consequences of my actions and the repercussions coming towards me
Heat coming round feels like I'm coming on
The troublesome heat waves feel like they are suffocating me, leaving me no other option but to move on
Seen what I've seen and it's gone
I have witnessed the events in my life, but they have passed
But I don't know
Despite everything, I still have no idea what to do
Tell me what you're saying
Please speak clearly to me and let me know what to do
All these things I've been praying
I have been praying to be granted clarity and the ability to overcome my fears
Tell me what you're saying
Please, I plead that you communicate with me and give me direction
All these things I've been praying
I have been faithfully seeking help and answers to my struggles
Tell me what you're saying
Please don't ignore me, I need guidance and understanding
All these things I've been praying
I have continuously asked for the strength to carry on and to be enlightened
Tell me what you're saying
So tell me, what should I be doing?
All these things I've been praying
I am holding on to hope that my prayers will be answered
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KERI LEWIS, TONI BRAXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind