The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983.
The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid.
After signing to independent label Creation Records, they released their first single “Upside Down” in 1984.
Their debut album Psychocandy was released to critical acclaim in 1985 on major label WEA.
The band went on to release five more studio albums before disbanding in 1999. They reunited in 2007.
Reunion: 2007-present
They performed at Coachella 2007 in April. During their 27 April 2007 main-stage performance, they were joined onstage for the song “Just Like Honey” by actress Scarlett Johansson (who acted in the film Lost in Translation, which featured the song). At the warm up gig on 26 April 2007, in Pomona, California, they were instead joined by Annie Hardy of Giant Drag. The band’s first UK performance since reforming was at the Meltdown festival in June .
In an interview to Uncut magazine, Jim Reid announced that a new album by the band was in the works.In March 2008, the band released a studio recording of “All Things Must Pass” on the soundtrack album to the NBC television drama Heroes. It was their first new song released since 1998. In September, Rhino Records released a 4-CD box set entitled The Power of Negative Thinking: B-Sides & Rarities. The box set consists of material from the Barbed Wire Kisses, The Sound of Speed and The Jesus And Mary Chain Hate Rock ‘n’ Roll compilations, alongside unreleased tracks and rarities from throughout their career; including early performances, unheard demos, re-mixes, alternate versions of some songs and bootleg recordings.
In 2010, a greatest hits album, Upside Down: The Best of The Jesus and Mary Chain, was released via Music Club Deluxe. In 2012, between March and September, the band went back on tour with a series of dates through North America, which also included their very first gigs in China in May. It was confirmed through the band’s official website that John Moore will be returning on guitar, while Fountains of Wayne drummer Brian Young confirmed via Twitter that he would be replacing Loz Colbert. The Jesus and Mary Chain also performed two gigs in Tel Aviv on 19 and 20 October. In an interview posted to Whopper Jaw in September, Jim Reid revealed that he and his brother William had written songs for a new album, however, they had yet to enter the recording studio.
In 2013, it was announced that a full-discography vinyl box set, dubbed as The Complete Vinyl Collection, would be released for the band’s 30th anniversary, via Demon Music Group. In March 2014 the band signed back to Alan McGee and became the first artists to sign to the newly reformed Creation Management. They announced November 2014 dates in the UK to debut the performance of Psychocandy Live, which toured through 2015 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album’s release.
In September 2015, Jim Reid announced that the band were recording their first studio album since 1998. The album titled Damage and Joy was produced by Youth and released on 24 March 2017.
On 24 August 2017 Bobby Gillespie joined the band on drums for three songs during their performance at Vilar de Mouros Festival in Portugal.
In 2018, they supported industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails on its Cold And Black And Infinite tour.
The band headlined the 10th anniversary of the Burger Boogaloo concert in Mosswood Park in Oakland, California, US on 6 and 7 July 2019, which was hosted again by John Waters.
Tracklist
A1 Up Too High
A2 On The Wall
A3 Never Understand
A4 Taste The Floor
A5 Upside Down
A6 In A Hole
B1 Something’s Wrong
B2 Inside Me
B3 It’s So Hard
B4 Send Me Away
B5 Just Out Of Reach
B6 Vegetable Man
B7 Upside Down #2
The Jesus and Mary Chain discography
Psychocandy (1985)
Darklands (1987)
Automatic (1989)
Honey’s Dead (1992)
Stoned & Dethroned (1994)
Munki (1998)
Damage and Joy (2017)
Members (Current)
Jim Reid – vocals, guitar (1983–1999, 2007–present)
William Reid – guitar, vocals (1983–1999, 2007–present)
Scott Von Ryper – guitar (2015–present)
Brian Young – drums (2012–present)
Mark Crozer – guitar (2007–2008, 2012), bass (2013–present)
Members (Former)
Douglas Hart – bass (1984–1991)
Murray Dalglish – drums (1984)
Bobby Gillespie – drums (1984–1986, 2017)
Martin Hewes – drums (1986)
James Pinker – drums (1986)
Dave Evans – rhythm guitar (1987–1989)
Richard Thomas – drums (1988–1990)
Ben Lurie – rhythm guitar/bass (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/guitar (1998, 2007-2015)
Loz Colbert – drums (2007–2008)
John Moore – guitar (1986–1987, 2012), drums (1985–1986)
Duncan Cameron – guitar (1983–1984)
