The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain
Company type	Group_or_band
Industry	Music
Founded	1983 in East Kilbride, Scotland
Founder	Jim Reid, William Reid
Headquarters	East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles

The Jesus and Mary Chain is a Scottish alternative rock group that originated in East Kilbride in 1983. Established by siblings Jim and William Reid, who have remained the band's sole constant members, they played a pivotal role in shaping the noise pop and shoegaze music styles. The band has secured twelve singles within the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, including two that reached the top 10.

The original ensemble featured Douglas Hart on bass guitar and Murray Dalglish on drums. After signing with the independent label Creation Records, they released their first single, "Upside Down", in 1984. Bobby Gillespie succeeded Dalglish as drummer before the release of their critically lauded debut album Psychocandy in 1985 under major label WEA. Gillespie left to concentrate on his own band, Primal Scream. Their sophomore album, Darklands (1987), marked their greatest commercial achievement in the UK, peaking at No. 5 and featuring the successful single "April Skies" which reached No. 8. The 1989 release Automatic yielded their initial US chart entries with "Blues from a Gun" and "Head On", receiving considerable airplay on alternative radio stations. Hart departed from the group in 1991.

Subsequent records, Honey's Dead (1992) and Stoned & Dethroned (1994), helped maintain their American fanbase, with "Sometimes Always" from Stoned & Dethroned peaking at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100—their highest ranking in the US charts. After ten years with WEA, they signed with Sub Pop Records for US distribution and returned to Creation Records in the UK for the release of Munki (1998). The band dissolved in 1999 following an onstage dispute between the Reid brothers during a tour. They reunited in 2007 and issued Damage and Joy in 2017, their first studio album after a 19-year hiatus. Their 2024 album, Glasgow Eyes, became their first UK top 10 album since 1988.

Early years

In the early 1980s, brothers Jim and William Reid formed a band driven by dissatisfaction with contemporary music trends. William remarked that "It was perfect timing because there weren't any guitar bands. Everybody was making this electronic pop music." Prior to establishing the group, they spent five years unemployed, during which they refined both their musical style and image. Initially called The Poppy Seeds and later Death of Joey, they eventually settled on their final name—originally claiming it referenced a Bing Crosby film but later admitting this was fabricated. Some stories suggest the name originated from a breakfast cereal promotion offering a gold Jesus & Mary chain prize. Jim became the lead vocalist after winning a coin toss.

Beginning in 1983, the brothers utilized a Portastudio financed by their father's redundancy payout to produce demo recordings. By early 1984, they had enlisted bassist Douglas Hart and teenage drummer Murray Dalglish. Their influences included acts such as the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, New York Dolls, Suicide, the Shangri-Las, and Einstürzende Neubauten. William aimed to create music reminiscent of Shangri-Las records. Jim cited Pink Floyd, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Monkees, and Muddy Waters among his favorites. Early demos bore resemblance to Ramones tracks, prompting them to add noise and feedback elements to distinguish themselves. Their initial live performances were minimalist with unconventional stage arrangements.

Struggling to secure bookings, the band often claimed to be supporting other acts to gain brief stage time before leaving venues. After limited success in Scotland, they relocated to Fulham, London in May 1984. A demo tape reached Alan McGee through Bobby Gillespie; McGee organized their London debut gig in June 1984 and signed them to Creation Records on a one-off contract while taking on management duties. Their debut single "Upside Down" was recorded in October and released that November. Produced by Joe Foster with McGee remixing the A-side, it attracted significant media attention; Neil Taylor of NME described them as "the best band in the world."

Dalglish exited in November 1984 due to financial disagreements and was replaced by Gillespie, who had formed Primal Scream in 1982. "Upside Down" repeatedly topped the UK Indie Chart throughout 1985, staying on for 76 weeks and selling approximately 35,000 copies—among the decade’s best-selling indie singles.

Early shows were brief—around twenty minutes—and often fueled by amphetamines; performances were characterized by playing with backs turned to audiences and minimal interaction. At a December 1984 ICA Rock Week event, incidents involving thrown bottles led to sensationalized press coverage alleging riots and focusing on violence and drug use, drawing comparisons to the Sex Pistols. This notoriety resulted in several local authorities banning their performances locally.

Psychocandy

Following the success of "Upside Down," the band secured a contract with WEA's subsidiary, Blanco y Negro Records, in early 1985. Their next single, "Never Understand," was released in February and peaked at number forty-seven on the UK Singles Chart. The label initially hesitated to press the single because of its B-side, "Suck," and later "Jesus Fuck." However, the band insisted on including it, eventually retitling it "Jesus Suck" for the subsequent release. The release of "You Trip Me Up" faced delays due to refusals from pressing plants but was ultimately issued with a new B-side titled "Just Out of Reach." October saw the release of their third Blanco y Negro single, "Just Like Honey," which became their highest-charting hit at number 45.

In an effort to demonstrate their musical range beyond heavy distortion and feedback, the band intended to perform acoustic sets while supporting Sonic Youth. These plans were abandoned after details leaked prematurely. Their debut album, Psychocandy, arrived in November 1985, fusing guitar noise influences from the Stooges and Velvet Underground with pop melodies reminiscent of the Beach Boys and Phil Spector’s production style. The opening track, "Just Like Honey," notably features Hal Blaine’s drum intro from The Ronettes’ 1963 classic "Be My Baby." The album garnered critical praise and is now regarded as a seminal work. Drummer Bobby Gillespie departed in October 1985 to concentrate on Primal Scream; John Moore stepped in after having filled in during recordings and live performances.

After signing with Blanco y Negro, false rumors circulated alleging theft of funds and office vandalism by the band—claims that were unfounded but exploited by manager McGee for publicity. Their habit of destroying equipment onstage became expected and frequently incited violent reactions from audiences, resulting in damaged gear and disrupted concerts.

A significant event took place on 15 March 1985 at North London Polytechnic, where overcrowding led to crowd control difficulties and police intervention after support acts provoked violence. The Jesus and Mary Chain delayed their performance by over an hour and played for less than twenty minutes before leaving the stage amid growing unrest. The venue attributed the problems to technical faults and late start times; meanwhile, manager McGee described the turmoil as "art as terrorism." Such incidents damaged the band's reputation and led to numerous show cancellations over safety concerns. Another violent episode occurred in September 1985 at Camden's Electric Ballroom, involving bottle-throwing and equipment destruction that caused injuries. The band's typically short set lengths—usually under twenty-five minutes—were attributed both to a limited repertoire and their belief that no band could maintain longer performances effectively.

After achieving success in the UK, the band toured the United States in late 1985 and early 1986, followed by a visit to Japan before returning for a UK tour free from previous disturbances. They revisited acoustic arrangements during a November 1985 John Peel session featuring unreleased songs such as "Psychocandy" and "Some Candy Talking," which had been performed live for over a year but excluded from the album. A second version of "Some Candy Talking" was released on a free EP with NME in January 1986; when issued as a single in July, it reached number thirteen on the UK chart but was banned by BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Smith due to alleged drug references—initially denied by the band but later confirmed by William Reid.

Darklands and Automatic

In September 1986, the group ended their professional relationship with manager Alan McGee and nearly disbanded later that year due to Jim Reid's fatigue. John Moore transitioned to rhythm guitar, while former Redskins member Martin Hewes (who denies his involvement) and ex-Dead Can Dance percussionist James Pinker briefly contributed on drums. Management duties were assumed by Geoff Travis of Blanco y Negro, and the band re-emerged in December with London performances featuring new tracks such as "April Skies" and "Hit". Early 1987 was marked by studio sessions for their sophomore album; the single "April Skies," released in April, became their first top ten success. Its B-side included a Beach Boys-inspired rendition of "Surf City," alongside covers honoring Bo Diddley and Can. The subsequent single, "Happy When It Rains," influenced by Smokey Robinson's "My Girl," reached number twenty-five on the charts. During their UK tour, the band utilized a drum machine, eliciting mixed critical responses.

Their second album, Darklands, launched in September amid touring, revealed a more melodic approach primarily recorded by the Reid brothers themselves using drum machines. The album received widespread critical praise. The title track was issued as a single in October; however, their appearance on ITV's The Roxy was cut short due to an unsuccessful miming performance.

In November 1987, Jim Reid was arrested following an incident at a Toronto concert where he struck an audience member with a microphone stand. He spent one night in custody and later received an absolute discharge after making a charitable donation and issuing an apology.

During this period, the band compiled B-sides and rarities for the April 1988 release of Barbed Wire Kisses, which also featured live recordings from a Detroit show. Dave Evans replaced John Moore in September 1987; Richard Thomas joined as drummer in early 1988 after touring with pre-recorded drum tracks. The new track "Sidewalking" was released in March 1988, followed by Barbed Wire Kisses the next month. Later that year, they produced a remix of The Sugarcubes' single "Birthday".

In September 1989, they contributed backing vocals to Erasure's track "Drama!".

Their third studio album, Automatic, arrived in October 1989 with Ben Lurie stepping in for Evans. This record featured extensive use of synthesized bass and keyboards but garnered less favorable critiques compared to earlier works. Singles like "Head On" and "Blues from a Gun" were part of this release. By this stage, the band's previously notorious aggressive image had largely diminished as the Reid brothers adopted a more subdued demeanor. The Rollercoaster EP (August 1990) marked their final release for over a year and coincided with the Rollercoaster tour alongside My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., and Blur.

The 1990s

Douglas Hart departed from the band in 1991 to pursue filmmaking but returned to music in 2006 with acts such as the Sian Alice Group and Le Volume Courbe. Richard Thomas also left to join Renegade Soundwave. Throughout their history, the Mary Chain experienced frequent changes among drummers, bassists, and guitarists, with only the Reid brothers remaining constant members. They enlisted former The Starlings musicians Matthew Parkin and Barry Blackler as replacements for Hart and Thomas.

In 1991, the Reid brothers established their own recording facility, The Drugstore, situated in Elephant & Castle, South London. Their initial release from this studio was the single "Reverence" (1992), which became their most successful UK hit in five years by reaching No. 10 despite being banned by BBC Radio 1 and Top of the Pops due to its provocative lyrics. This success was followed by the album Honey's Dead (1992), which received mixed critical feedback. After supporting this album with the Rollercoaster Tour, they concentrated on expanding into the American market through an appearance on David Letterman and participation in the Lollapalooza tour—an experience William Reid later described as "the worst experience of our lives"—followed by their own headline tour. In December 1992, Ben Lurie and Steve Monti joined as bassist and drummer respectively.

In 1993, another compilation titled The Sound of Speed was released before they recorded their fifth studio album, Stoned & Dethroned (1994), which included guest contributions from Shane MacGowan and William Reid’s then-partner Hope Sandoval. Originally intended as an acoustic project, it evolved away from that concept due to creative constraints with acoustic instrumentation. The 1995 EP released on American Records contained new material later incorporated into Munki.

Following the 1995 compilation Hate Rock 'N' Roll, the band departed Blanco y Negro after more than ten years and returned to their original label Creation Records alongside American label Sub Pop. The lineup now featured former Lush bassist Phil King. Their final album before disbanding in 1999 was Munki (1998). Commercially it underperformed relative to previous releases, peaking at No. 47 on the UK Album Chart. This record included vocal contributions from Linda Reid on "Mo Tucker" and Hope Sandoval on "Perfume".

Breakup

Although the official separation occurred in October 1999, tensions reached their zenith on 12 September 1998 when William clashed with guitarist Lurie just before a sold-out performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Jim appeared visibly intoxicated on stage and struggled to continue performing. Approximately 15 minutes into the set, William exited, prematurely ending the concert; attendees were reimbursed. The band proceeded to fulfill their U.S. and Japanese tour commitments without William, signaling the group's impending dissolution. Reflecting on the discord, Jim Reid remarked, "After every tour, we wanted to kill each other, and after the last one, we actually tried." On the final night of the tour in Providence, Rhode Island, the promoter reportedly absconded with the funds, and the band had a confrontation with members of the Riverdance cast.

Activities After Separation

Post-breakup, William Reid embarked on a solo venture under the name Lazycame, having already released an EP in April 1998. Meanwhile, Jim Reid established Freeheat alongside Lurie, former The Gun Club bassist Romi Mori, and drummer Nick Sanderson; however, neither endeavor achieved notable success. In October 2005, the Reid brothers reunited briefly for a single release: Jim's "Song for a Secret," a duet featuring his wife Julie Barber, coupled with Sister Vanilla's "Can't Stop The Rock," which was written and produced by William and their sister Linda. Released by Transistor Records on 17 October, Jim promoted his track with a rare solo appearance at London's Sonic Cathedral club on John Peel Day (13 October 2005), where he also performed early material from The Jesus and Mary Chain. Subsequently, he showcased new songs during intimate gigs with a backing band that included guitarist Phil King, drummer Loz Colbert (Ride), and bassist Mark Crozer (International Jetsetters).

In 2006, Rhino Records reissued five albums—Psychocandy, Darklands, Automatic, Honey's Dead, and Stoned & Dethroned (released 11 July)—each package accompanied by a DVD containing three promotional videos corresponding to the respective album.

Reunion: 2007 to Present

The Jesus and Mary Chain regrouped to perform at Coachella on 27 April 2007. During their rendition of "Just Like Honey", actress Scarlett Johansson, whose film Lost in Translation featured the song, joined them on stage. Prior to this, they played a warm-up show in Pomona, California with guest Annie Hardy from Giant Drag. Their first live UK appearance since reuniting took place at the Meltdown festival in June.

In June 2007, Jim Reid announced that work had begun on a new album. By March 2008, they released "All Things Must Pass" for NBC's Heroes, marking their first new recording since 1998. Rhino Records issued a four-CD box set titled The Power of Negative Thinking: B-Sides & Rarities in September 2008. A greatest hits compilation, Upside Down: The Best of The Jesus and Mary Chain, was released through Music Club Deluxe in 2010.

The band toured North America in 2012 and performed in China for the first time that May. This lineup featured guitarist John Moore and drummer Brian Young from Fountains of Wayne, who replaced Loz Colbert. Starting with shows in Tel Aviv in October, Mark Crozer took over from Moore on guitar. In celebration of their 30th anniversary in 2013, Demon Music Group released The Complete Vinyl Collection, a comprehensive vinyl box set encompassing their entire discography. In 2014, they became the inaugural act signed to the revived Creation Management under Alan McGee and commemorated three decades of Psychocandy with a full-album tour extending into 2015.

In September 2015, Jim Reid confirmed that they were recording their first studio album since 1998. Produced by Youth, Damage and Joy was released on 24 March 2017. On 24 August that year, Bobby Gillespie joined them on drums for three tracks from Psychocandy during their set at Portugal’s Vilar de Mouros Festival. In autumn 2018, The Jesus and Mary Chain supported Nine Inch Nails on their "Cold and Black and Infinite" North American tour. A European tour celebrating Darklands, originally scheduled for March-April 2020, was postponed until late 2021.

In June 2021, the band initiated legal action against Warner Music Group, seeking ownership rights over their debut album Psychocandy along with other records. They claimed $2.55 million under Section 203 of the US Copyright Act of 1976, which permits artists to reclaim rights after a period of 35 years if proper notice is given. This dispute was resolved through an out-of-court settlement in March 2023.

On 29 November 2023, they unveiled "Jamcod," the lead single from their eighth studio album Glasgow Eyes, which is slated for release on 22 March 2024.

In popular culture

The band received a mention in The Simpsons season 24, episode 22, titled "Dangers on a Train," where Reverend Lovejoy is shown reading The Jesus and Mary Train. Additionally, the group is referenced in the lyrics of "Ebin" by Sublime.

Their track "Just Like Honey" from the album Psychocandy was featured during the final scene of Sofia Coppola's film Lost in Translation. The album Psychocandy is also recommended in the 2000 movie High Fidelity, which highlights The Jesus and Mary Chain as followers of Echo & the Bunnymen. An acoustic rendition of "Taste of Candy" was included in the 2009 film Adventureland. The song "Reverence" from Honey's Dead appeared in the 1992 movie Pet Sematary II, while "Snakedriver" was part of The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The track “Why’d You Want Me” featured in the 1992 film Encino Man. A poster displaying the band is visible in the 1995 episode "Terror" of the series Bottom.

The acronym J.A.M.C. is used to mention the band by Death Cab for Cutie in their song "We Looked Like Giants" from the album Transatlanticism. Jimmy Eat World refer to them and their third record in "The Authority Song" from Bleed American. The Shins include a nod to them in "Mildenhall" from Heartworms, with frontman James Mercer acknowledging their influence during his years living in Suffolk, England. The song "April Skies" was played in AMC’s The Walking Dead episode "Stradivarius," where it is listened to by the character Jesus.

Pixies produced a cover of "Head On," which was also part of their album Trompe Le Monde. The American rock group Nudie Mag released a single covering “About You”.

In the television show Black Mirror, specifically the episode "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," a poster for the album Damage and Joy is displayed. The artwork for "I Hate Rock 'n' Roll" appears in the 2006 film Lake Mungo.

The band is featured within the book Postcards from Scotland, which documents Scotland’s independent music scene throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Members

Current members

Jim Reid – vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizers (1983–1999, 2007–present)
William Reid – guitar, bass, vocals, synthesizers (1983–1999, 2007–present)
Mark Crozer – rhythm guitar (2007–2008, 2012), bass (2013–present), backing vocals (2007–2008, 2012–present)
Scott Von Ryper – guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
Justin Welch – drums (2021–present)

Former members

Douglas Hart – bass (1984–1991)
Murray Dalglish – drums (1984)
Bobby Gillespie – drums (1984–1986, 2017)
John Moore – rhythm guitar (1986–1987, 2012), drums (1985–1986)
Martin Hewes – drums (1986)
James Pinker – drums (1986)
Dave Evans – rhythm guitar (1987–1989)
Richard Thomas – drums (1988–1990)
Ben Lurie – rhythm guitar, bass, organ (1989–1998)
Steve Monti – drums (1990–1995)
Matthew Parkin – bass (1992)
Barry Blackler – drums (1992)
Nick Sanderson – drums (1993–1998; died 2008)
Lincoln Fong – bass (1994–1995)
Geoff Donkin – drums (1998)
Phil King – bass, rhythm guitar (1998, 2007–2015)
Loz Colbert – drums (2007–2008)
Brian Young – drums (2012–2021)

Timeline

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 id:drums     value:orange   legend:Drums
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 id:organ     value:lavender legend:Organ
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 bar:Matthew text:Matthew Parkin
 bar:Lincoln  text:Lincoln Fong
 bar:Phil text:Phil King
 bar:Murray text:Murray Dalglish
 bar:Bobby  text:Bobby Gillespie
 bar:JMoore   text:John Moore
 bar:Martin   text:Martin Hewes
 bar:James text:James Pinker
 bar:Richard  text:Richard Thomas
 bar:Steve  text:Steve Monti
 bar:Barry text:Barry Blackler
 bar:Nick  text:Nick Sanderson
 bar:Geoff   text:Geoff Donkin
 bar:Loz  text:Loz Colbert
 bar:Brian   text:Brian Young
 bar:Justin   text:Justin Welch

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Discography

Psychocandy (1985)
Darklands (1987)
Automatic (1989)
Honey's Dead (1992)
Stoned & Dethroned (1994)
Munki (1998)
Damage and Joy (2017)
Glasgow Eyes (2024)

References

Bibliography

External links