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/
Swing
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside of a rubber dream
I wish we'd walk and I wish we'd swing
Down to the sunshine thing
I got you and I want my head
I look like I come in death
I don't doubt your word
I don't doubt your word
It means, it's good.
And it seems that I should go on
Back to where I've been it seems I've gone
I wish I'd seen it all
Inside my covered hole
I think I seen my head
I think I seen my head
I wish I'd seen the time
I wish I could walk in time
I'm making sense in my own way
And I dragged you all the way
The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Swing" is a song that is open to interpretation, but one key theme is a desire to escape reality and enter a dream-like state. The lyrics talk about being inside a "rubber dream," and desiring to "walk and swing down to the sunshine thing." The singer wants to leave their current reality behind and enter a more whimsical world, free from the problems and stresses of the real world.
The repeated line "I don't doubt your word" may suggest a trust in someone else who is also a part of this fantasy world. The lyrics also seem to hint at a struggle with mortality, with the line "I look like I come in death" and the mention of a "holy dream."
Overall, the lyrics of "Swing" convey a sense of longing for a more carefree existence, one that is free from constraints and worries. They express a desire to escape reality and enter a fantastical world where anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish that you and me would be
Expressing a desire to be with someone.
Inside of a rubber dream
Fantasizing about an unrealistic, surreal world.
I wish we'd walk and I wish we'd swing
Desiring to engage in playful activities with someone.
Down to the sunshine thing
Wishing to go to a happy, joyful place.
I got you and I want my head
Being in love with someone and desiring to be in control of one's thoughts.
I look like I come in death
Appearing emotionless, maybe due to depression or fear.
I don't doubt your word
Believing in someone's reliability.
And it had to be inside my rubber holy dream
Acknowledging that the unrealistic world is only inside one's head.
It means, it's good.
Summarizing the joy of the fantasy world.
And it seems that I should go on
Realizing that moving forward is necessary.
Back to where I've been it seems I've gone
Reflecting on past experiences and feeling lost.
I wish I'd seen it all
Wishing to have more life experiences.
Inside my covered hole
Referring to being stuck in a mental rut, unable to progress.
I think I seen my head
Feeling lost in one's own thoughts.
I wish I'd seen the time
Regretting not making the most of one's time.
I wish I could walk in time
Wanting to move forward and not repeat past mistakes.
I'm making sense in my own way
Feeling like one's thoughts are valid, even if others don't fully understand them.
And I dragged you all the way
Acknowledging that someone else was brought along on the journey.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: G GOODWIN, GREG O'HANLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S8498
@David Harris - actually, I'd argue that JAMC absolutely had the punk ethos. Unemployed, nothing to do, so they formed a band, made the noise they wanted to and gave a big middle finger and topped it off with a big "fuck you" to the music establishment.
I'd say they were very punk.
As for Leonard Cohen, the guy was an incredibly gifted song writer and poet.
I must admit, the only time I'd really heard of him was a mention on The Young Ones, but I was introduced to his music by REM when they covered First We Take Manhattan on the "I'm Your Fan" tribute album. I bought it for that one song, but liked the rest of them as well. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Robert Forster, Lloyd Cole, Pixies, Ian McCulloch, John Cale and The House of Love also covered his songs for that album.
But Leonard Cohen was pretty hard core himself. Who else could write a song about Janis Joplin giving him head on an unmade bed while the limousines wait in the streets?
No-one except Leonard Cohen.
david crespin
This must be one of the most exciting debut sessions ever.
Simon Wharton
Still remember the shock of hearing it and then playing it in the common room next day
Steve
One of these bands that never fail to surprise. They give the impression they didnt know what they were doing - the basic songs, Gillespie on a stand up snare drum, Douglas Hart playing a bass with 2 strings or something.....but when I saw them on a live bill with Dinosaur Jnr, Blur and My Bloody Valentine - the most impressive act was these guys - yet I expected the least from them. Here again, these songs sound great - perhaps the songs are better without being cloaked in feedback (Never Understand) and with a bit looser vibe from playing live.
agdgdgwngo
No offence to the immortal Mary Chain but nothing they play is complex at all. Especially Psychocandy, some arent even 3 chord!! Compare that to MBV attempting to make it sound anything like their records with 20 different pedals, weird tunings AND having to bend the whammy bar. Wel jealous of that gig man, mostly for JAMC and MBV
Flinchey
What I like about the Mary chain is you don’t need to be Eric fuckin Clapton to start a band these guys could barley play and crated a classic record first try, very simple chords simple bass lines and drum patterns as well, for this record the broken shin ei did everything, the hard part is making a good record and songwriting
Si Mac
'...cloaked in feedback (Never Understand)'... It's one of the most exciting and influential recordings of the '80s, mate
ben read
I saw them on that tour (in London) and it was great. Have seen JAMC (and MBV) many times - the last time I saw them was a couple of years ago on the Pychocandy anniversary tour and I don't think I've heard them sound better!! The band were really tight, and sounded great - they've still got it. Last two time I wanted to see them the gig was postponed due to Covid (April Skies anniversary tour) but fingers crossed it will happen this year!
wearekasule
best peel session ever.
JULIAN SANBY
????
az0r22
@JULIAN SANBY ?