the
J A M C
or how to
miss your favourite band twice in 1 month :(
"I gotta
kill surf city
with a nuclear
bomb"
/Kill
Surf City
Jesus & Mary
Chain, the.
Scottish "post punk" pop group from East
Kilbride that was formed in early 1982 by the brothers Jim Reid
(vocals) and William Reid (guitar) and Douglas Hart (bass).
The group did not have a permanent drummer back then. Through their friend
Bobby Gillespie (now the singer of Primal Scream) they contacted
Alan McGee and released their debut single "Upside Down"
on his label Creation. Gillespie joined the JAMC as drummer in late 84
as the group were signed by Blanco Y Negro. They released several
singles in 85 before they released their classic debut album "Psycho
Candy" which the press described as "the album of the year" and "one
of the most important albums of the 80's". The JAMC created a lesser revolution
in the pop scene with their extensive use of feedback combined with their
50's rock roots and flattering, catchy melodies. Gillespie left the group
in october 85 to concentrate on his own group Primal Scream. On the next
album "Darklands" from 87 the JAMC featured only the Reid brothers
- a somewhat poppier yet rockin' album featuring classics as "on the wall"
and "april skies". The next full-lenght album was to be "Barbed Wire
Kisses (b-sides and more)" with, you've guessed it, b-sides and some
odd stuff. (the Beach Boys cover must be one of the coolest cover
tunes ever!) I've included the full lyrics to this album on the "lyrics"
page.In 89 they released "Automatic" where they experimented with
drum machines and synthesizers. 92 came "Honey's Dead" with even
more of a pop sound, featuring the classic tune "Reverence". It was followed
by the collection "The Sound Of Speed" in 92. 96 came the underestimated
acoustic album "stoned & dethroned".Their latest album is "Munki"
(98) ... back to the raw rock'n'roll sound featuring Hope Sandoval!
someone else's flavours...
I've loved the JAMC from the very first
time I heard "reverence". The song just hit me like a greyhound bus, the
sound was overwhelming and the lyrics were naked, honest, and just so much
r'n'r ... The Mary Chain to me is an interesting alternative to the mainstream
and "alternative" pop bands. They have always done their own thing, and
managed to be honest all through. Singing mainly dark and gloomy songs,
they still have a great r'n'r attitude and lots of humour, which separates
them from the so-called gothic bands and other mishaps of the darker side
of Rock'n'roll. Their ultra-cool feedback/rockabilly sound is just that
li'l extra that makes them so phat...
[albums lyrics
miscellaneous links]