The Jesus and Mary Chain is a chaotic, noisy indie quartet formed in Scotla… Read Full Bio ↴The Jesus and Mary Chain is a chaotic, noisy indie quartet formed in Scotland, blending the Beach Boys' sunny pop with the Velvet Underground's black-leather cool. Brothers Jim Reid and William Reid, from East Kilbride, Glasgow, Scotland were the primary songwriters. "The JAMC" released a constant string of albums, singles and EPs until their demise in 1998. Having influenced many post-punk and noise rock bands, the group finally reunited in 2007. The initial line-up, formed in 1983, was augmented by bassist Douglas Hart and drummer Bobby Gillespie. Gillespie played standing up in the manner of The Velvet Underground's Maureen "Moe" Tucker.

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/

The Two of Us
The Jesus and Mary Chain Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I met a girl, she was crazy about me
And in a lifetime this happens once or twice, maybe
And who'd have thought that it would ever happen to me?
I met a girl, she was crazy about me

The two of us are getting high
We don't need drugs 'cause we know how to fly
The two of us are getting high

We don't need the drugs, just the two of us
The two of us are getting high

I met a boy, he was crazy about me
And all my friends say he is the other half of me
And everybody says we are so young and free
I met a boy, he was crazy about me

The two of us are getting high
We don't need drugs 'cause we know how to fly
The two of us are getting high
We don't need the drugs, just the two of us
The two of us are getting high

Well, I was born the day that I met you
I couldn't leave you if I tried
In a thousand years, I couldn't forget you
'Cause you're the reason I'm alive

You're the reason I'm alive
You're the reason I'm alive

The two of us are getting high
We don't need drugs 'cause we know how to fly
The two of us are getting high
We don't need drugs 'cause we know how to fly
The two of us are getting high

We don't need the drugs, just the two of us
The two of us are getting high

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "The Two of Us" by The Jesus and Mary Chain speak of the intense and rare experience of meeting someone who is truly crazy about you. The singer recounts their disbelief and surprise at finding someone who is so enamored with them, a love that only happens once or twice in a lifetime. This newfound connection is described as something unexpected and remarkable that has happened to the singer.

The first verse portrays the singer's encounter with a girl who is crazy about them, emphasizing the rarity of such an intense attraction. The second verse follows a similar theme, but this time the singer meets a boy who is crazy about them. The singer's friends acknowledge the special bond between the two, describing the boy as the other half of the singer.

The chorus highlights the intoxicating effect of their love, portraying the two of them getting high without the need for drugs. They feel a sense of euphoria and transcendence just by being together, a feeling that is only achievable through their connection. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that their love is enough to elevate them and provide the ultimate high.

The final stanza further emphasizes the overwhelming impact of meeting this special person. The singer feels like their life began the day they encountered this person, and they express an unwavering commitment and attachment to this individual. The person they met is not just a lover but also the reason they exist, giving them a sense of purpose and meaning.

Overall, "The Two of Us" presents a tale of intense and remarkable love, capturing the excitement and exhilaration of finding someone who is crazy about you. It speaks to the power of love to lift us up, making us feel like we are soaring even without the need for external substances.

Line by Line Meaning

I met a girl, she was crazy about me
I unexpectedly encountered a girl who was deeply infatuated with me

And in a lifetime this happens once or twice, maybe
It is rare to experience such a strong connection with someone in one's lifetime

And who'd have thought that it would ever happen to me?
I never expected to find someone who would feel this way about me

I met a girl, she was crazy about me
I unexpectedly encountered a girl who was deeply infatuated with me