The Influence and Legacy and The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Early Days
The Jesus and Mary Chain were formed in 1983 by brothers Jim and William Reid. The brothers had grown up in a working-class family in Glasgow, Scotland, and they had been exposed to a wide range of music from an early age. Jim and William were both fans of punk rock, and they were inspired by the DIY ethic of the punk movement. They began experimenting with music in their early teens, and they formed their first band, The Poppy Seeds, in 1979. The Poppy Seeds released a few singles, but they never achieved any major success.
In 1983, Jim and William Reid decided to form a new band. They recruited Douglas Hart on guitar and Bobby Gillespie on drums, and they named the band The Jesus and Mary Chain. The band's early sound was a mix of pop, rock, and noise. They were influenced by bands such as The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, and The Sex Pistols. The Jesus and Mary Chain's early singles, such as "Upside Down" and "Never Understand," were critical and commercial successes.
The Rise to Fame
The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut album, Psychocandy, was released in 1985. In this episode of the podcast, Jim Reid states that the album was inspired by his experience as a teenager in Glasgow. It is a harrowing record which lyrically focuses on drugs, depression, and sexual abuse. Musically, the album was a noisy and chaotic affair, but it was also incredibly catchy. Psychocandy was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish The Jesus and Mary Chain as one of the most important bands of the alternative rock movement.
The Jesus and Mary Chain followed up Psychocandy with a series of successful albums, including Darklands (1987), Automatic (1989), and Honey's Dead (1992). The band's music became more polished and accessible over time, but they never lost their edge. The Jesus and Mary Chain were one of the most popular bands in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and they were influential on a wide range of artists, including Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and The Smashing Pumpkins.
The Tumultuous Relationship Between the Reid Brothers
The relationship between the Reid brothers was one of the defining factors in The Jesus and Mary Chain's career. Jim and William Reid were both strong-willed individuals, and they often clashed over creative and personal issues. The brothers' relationship was particularly strained during the recording of the album Automatic. Jim Reid was unhappy with the album's direction, and he felt that his brother was not pulling his weight. The brothers' relationship reached a breaking point in 1998, when they had a very public falling out on stage during a performance in Los Angeles. The brothers went their separate ways after the incident, and The Jesus and Mary Chain disbanded.
The Jesus and Mary Chain's breakup was a major blow to the alternative rock scene. The band had been one of the most important and influential bands of the 1980s and 1990s, and their breakup left a void in the music world.
Reformation
In 2007 the band reformed to play the Coachella music festival and were joined on-stage by Scarlett Johansson after the single "Just Like Honey" was featured in her movie Lost In Translation. In the late 2000's there was a rarities and b side compilation as well as a greatest hits released. The band continued to tour and were joined for some time by Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream. In 2017 the band released their first full length album since 1998 "Damage and Joy" and in 2024 another new album of material came in the form of "Glasgow Eyes"
Legacy
The Jesus and Mary Chain are one of the most important bands in the history of alternative rock. Their music is a unique blend of pop, rock, and noise, and they were one of the first bands to embrace the use of feedback and distortion. The band's early albums, such as Psychocandy and Darklands, were critical and commercial successes, and they helped to define the sound of the alternative rock movement. The Jesus and Mary Chain's music has influenced a wide range of artists, including Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and The Smashing Pumpkins. The band's legacy is secure, and their music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world. However, the band's career has also been marked by turmoil, including the tumultuous relationship between the Reid brothers and the band's breakup in 1998.
With their last 2 albums Jim and William have shown that they are still a band with something to say, and they show no signs of losing anything of the edge and attitude that made them the force they are in the Alt Rock landscape.
