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Artist
The Jesus and Mary Chain
12+ albums
shoegazepost-punkalternativeindierock
about
The Jesus and Mary Chain is a noise pop and post-punk band formed by brothers Jim Reid and William Reid, from East Kilbride, Glasgow, Scotland. They released albums, singles and EPs until their demise in 1998. Having influenced many alternative rock, indie rock and indie pop bands alike, the group reunited in 2007. The initial line-up, formed in 1983, was augmented by bassist Douglas Hart and drummer Bobby Gillespie. JAMC's early shows were legendary 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 known 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 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 indi
