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/
Stardust Remedy
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got drunk on punk and then I found my feet
Tried to make a mad man sane
But I jumped aboard his psychopathic train
You gotta try some
You better try some
I was lost but now I know I'm found
I don't need no way rainy day
All I really need is Sister Ray
You gotta try some
You better try some
Stardusted coming on
Stardusted coming on
Sister loves my noise distorted soul
Mister brother leather plays his role
What became of the teenage jesus freak
He's still making noise and making heat
The Jesus and Mary Chain's song Stardust Remedy describes the experience of a former Jesus freak, who became disillusioned with his faith and found solace in punk music. The lyrics talk about how he tried to make a "mad man" sane but ended up joining him on his psychopathic train, suggesting that he was trying to help someone who was mentally unwell, but got caught up in their own struggles. The Velvet Underground, a famous experimental rock band, is mentioned as an influence, indicating the singer's shift towards more alternative genres of music.
The chorus, "You gotta try some, you better try some" can be interpreted as a call to try new things and explore different lifestyles, or it could be a reference to drugs (specifically, Stardust, a euphemism for cocaine). The lines, "All I really need is Sister Ray" and "Sister loves my noise distorted soul" could suggest that the singer has found acceptance and validation in the punk music scene and has found a sense of community with like-minded individuals.
Overall, the song seems to be about finding one's identity and purpose outside of a religious context, and discovering a new sense of belonging in a subculture that embraces individuality and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just a teenage Jesus freak
I was a young believer of Jesus.
Got drunk on punk and then I found my feet
I turned to punk rock and found my identity.
Tried to make a mad man sane
I attempted to help a crazy person.
But I jumped aboard his psychopathic train
But I ended up joining him on his insane journey.
You gotta try some
You need to experience it for yourself.
You better try some
You really should try it.
Velvet skies and the Velvet Underground
The beautiful nighttime sky and the famous rock band.
I was lost but now I know I'm found
I was confused before, but now I understand.
I don't need no way rainy day
I don't need anything to make me sad.
All I really need is Sister Ray
All I need is this song by The Velvet Underground.
Stardusted coming on
I'm feeling the magical effects of stardust.
Sister loves my noise distorted soul
This song speaks to my troubled spirit.
Mister brother leather plays his role
The tough man does what he does best.
What became of the teenage jesus freak
What happened to the young man who believed in Jesus.
He's still making noise and making heat
He's still causing a stir with his rebellious ways.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Jim Reid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind