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/
Kill Surf City
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lost my baby in the deep blue sea
I'm gonna turn my trick
Gonna blow your head
?
Til I'm almost dead
I'm gonna kill surf city with a loaded gun
I'm gonna fight surf city, got to get it down
I'm gonna kill kill get it down
I got to get, get, surf city
I hate honey and she hates me
But that's the way it's supposed to be
I'm gonna run, gonna run till I hit the sun
Some evil cunt's gonna get my gun
I'm gonna kill surf city, got to get me a gun
Got to fry surf city with a nuclear bomb
Got to get them all day
?
?
I'm gonna ?
surf city
Here she comes now
?
Down to the back where the ? came from
I've gotta sit that mother down
Somebody knows me and I know them
Fuck fuck
?
The Jesus and Mary Chain's song "Kill Surf City" was released in 1988 and is known for its rebellious and provocative lyrics. The opening lines suggest that there is a love between the singer and his partner, but it is quickly revealed that the singer has lost his partner in the deep blue sea. The lyrics then shift to a more aggressive tone, with the singer declaring his intention to "kill surf city with a loaded gun" and "blow [their] head[s] til [he's] almost dead." The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and anger, possibly directed at the commercialization of surf culture, which has overshadowed the true spirit of surfing as a rebellious and counter-cultural activity.
The lyrics convey a desire to rebel against the status quo and assert one's own individuality. Surfing, as a symbol of freedom and independence, becomes the battleground for this fight. The imagery of a loaded gun and a nuclear bomb suggests a violent, even apocalyptic, reckoning, while the repeated phrases "I'm gonna kill surf city" and "got to get it down" express a sense of urgency and determination.
Overall, "Kill Surf City" is a powerful and provocative song that challenges the listener to question their own assumptions and values. The rebellious, anti-establishment spirit of the song continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
I love baby and she loves me
I am really fond of my beloved and I am positive that we both share the same feelings for each other
I lost my baby in the deep blue sea
My significant other is not around and I worry that I have lost her to something or someone
I'm gonna turn my trick
I will use my cunningness and guile to get what I want
Gonna blow your head
I will impress you or shock you so greatly that it will leave you dumbfounded or in awe
?
This line is ambiguous and could be interpreted in different ways based on the listener's perspective
Til I'm almost dead
I will put in a considerable amount of effort in what I'm about to do, even if it takes a toll on me
I'm gonna kill surf city with a loaded gun
I plan to take down a certain location or establishment - referred to as 'surf city' - through violent means
Got to ? surf city like a nuclear bomb
This line is unclear and its meaning is open to interpretation
I'm gonna fight surf city, got to get it down
I will wage a battle against 'surf city' and I aim to bring it to its knees
I'm gonna kill kill get it down
I will employ deadly force to bring about the downfall of 'surf city'
I got to get, get, surf city
I am determined to achieve my goal of bringing destruction upon 'surf city'
I hate honey and she hates me
I have strong dislike for my partner and it seems that she reciprocates those feelings
But that's the way it's supposed to be
Despite our mutual animosity, it seems that this is the norm or the natural state for us
I'm gonna run, gonna run till I hit the sun
I am going to go far and go as high as I can to attain my ultimate objective
Some evil cunt's gonna get my gun
Someone malicious or wicked is going to incur my wrath or feel the effects of my anger
Got to fry surf city with a nuclear bomb
I must destroy 'surf city' with all the ferocity and violence that a nuclear weapon may bring
Got to get them all day
I have to exert a lot of effort to bring an end to 'surf city'
?
This line is unclear and its meaning is open to interpretation
?
This line is ambiguous and could be interpreted in different ways based on the listener's perspective
I'm gonna ? surf city
It is not clear what action the artist intends to take against 'surf city'
Here she comes now
Someone is approaching or arriving in the scene
?
It is unclear what is meant by this line
Down to the back where the ? came from
This line is ambiguous and unclear
I've gotta sit that mother down
I need to have a serious talk with that person
Somebody knows me and I know them
There is someone familiar to me in this location or scenario
Fuck fuck
This line could signify frustration or aggression
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JAMES MCLEISH REID, WILLIAM ADAM REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TONE 007
Got this in the loft on vinyl. Still a brilliant b side all these years on.
Luis Zavan
"I hate honey and shw hates me! thats the way its suppose to be!" fucking brilliant guitar tone
Iza Star
I love this video, love the song, love everything about it. William looks beautiful.
Alto Lung
One of the best fucking songs
Buddy Greenbloom
@zigCARNIVOROUS The Raveonettes admit the JAMC and the Velvet Underground as major influences and their producer even hired Alan Moulder (who engineered three JAMC records) for the Raveonettes first studio album.
Joey Levenson
You can totally hear it!
tommy nowak
thiis song always reminds me of the ramones
EveLang1
Sweet William.
Del N
Noise for suicidal teens to listen to while planning another gun attack at school...
Antonio Carrabba
Today's trck.