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/
Surfin' USA
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If everybody had an ocean
Across the USA
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californi-a
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
? too
Everybody's gone surfin'
You'd catch 'em surfin' at ?
Texas County line
Take a trip to the Ocean
You can feel real fine
All over Manhattan
It's the only way
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' USA
We'll all be planning that route
We're gonna take real soon
We're waxing down our surfboards
We can't wait til June
We'll all be gone for the summer
We're on safari to stay
Tell the teacher we're surfin'
Surfin' USA
Surf, baby, surf
Surf that USA
?
All the way to the USA
?
Surfin' USA
?
The Jesus and Mary Chain's song Surfin' USA is a cover version of the classic song by the Beach Boys. The lyrics describe a world where everyone has access to the ocean, and they are all surfing like they do in California. The singer mentions different parts of the country where people are surfing, including Texas and Manhattan. The song suggests that surfing is a popular and exciting activity that brings people together across the nation.
The lyrics of Surfin' USA also seem to represent American culture and the freedom associated with it. The idea of driving across the country to go surfing in different locations reflects the American spirit of adventure and exploration. Additionally, the lyrics paint a picture of a carefree summer, where students are escaping school to go on a surfing safari. The song captures the youthful energy and excitement that comes with summer vacations and the pursuit of fun.
Line by Line Meaning
If everybody had an ocean
If everyone had an ocean wave or water body
Across the USA
Across the United States of America
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Then everyone would be surfing
Like Californi-a
Just like in California
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
You would see them wearing their baggy surf shorts
? too
Unknown or not clear
Everybody's gone surfin'
Everybody is surfing
Surfin' USA
Surfing in the United States of America
You'd catch 'em surfin' at ?
You would catch them surfing at an unknown or unclear location
Texas County line
A location near the border between Texas and Mexico
Take a trip to the Ocean
Go on a trip to the beach or a water body
You can feel real fine
You can feel really good
All over Manhattan
Surfing is everywhere in Manhattan
It's the only way
Surfing is the only way to enjoy the ocean or water body
We'll all be planning that route
We will all be planning our surfing route
We're gonna take real soon
We are going to take that surfing route very soon
We're waxing down our surfboards
We are preparing our surfboards by waxing them
We can't wait til June
We are eagerly waiting until June to go surfing
We'll all be gone for the summer
We will all be gone surfing for the summer
We're on safari to stay
We are on a surfing adventure and we will stay there for a while
Tell the teacher we're surfin'
Inform the teacher that we are going surfing instead of school
Surf, baby, surf
Keep surfing, baby
Surf that USA
Go surfing all over the United States of America
?
Unknown or not clear
All the way to the USA
All the way to the United States of America
?
Unknown or not clear
Surfin' USA
Surfing in the United States of America
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
astral plane crash
I hope there's an alternate universe where this is the original and Beach Boys did the cover.
Sugar Ocain
There is sort of. Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry.
Bird God
It also has different lyrics
Humiliation Of A Samurai
you are a genius
Roberto Riva
Masterpiece! 🖤
ivorytower99
I remember when the Mary chain came out, well, right after the release of PSYCHOCANDY.
For HS, I went to a boarding school and I used to play them on the local town's high school's radio station. Good times; burned down days like cigarettes.
My Autobiography A Fanfic
They really got that early Velvet Underground guitar tone.
Michael Pockley
I've been surfing in Britain. Don't. It's cold. This is why we're so good at music!
MrBuzzardb8
"in the name of Jesus!"
reuireuiop0
Surfing on a lead guitar board, just wondering what 'appen when we meet the first wave !