Episode 16: Jim Reid – The Jesus And Mary Chain

The world of alternative rock would likely not be anywhere close to what it is today without bands like The Jesus And Mary Chain. Forming in Glasgow back in 1983 by brothers Jim and William Reid, the Scottish outfit are these days considered to be pioneers of genres like alternative rock, shoegaze, and noise-pop. Combining these genres with their own unique take on post-punk and indie-rock, and you’ve got a recipe for something that feels impossible to describe. Having emerged from a world in which punk rock and pop music had reigned supreme, The Jesus And Mary Chain found themselves wanting to make music which sounded different, and thus employed copious amounts of noise and feedback. The result was something jarring, and a sound that made it difficult for the band to get their foot in the door. Eventually, they began making a name for themselves, with the likes of NME calling them “the best band in the world” for their intense live performances, and others labelling them “the new Sex Pistols” due to those aforementioned intense live performances. Despite shows earmarked by drink, drugs, and debauchery, The Jesus And Mary Chain also made some truly amazing music. It’s impossible to look past records like ‘Psychocandy’, ‘Darklands’, and ‘Automatic’ without noticing the brilliance that lies under that noisy, shimmering surface. Likewise, songs like ‘Head On’, ‘April Skies’, and ‘Just Like Honey’ (which you might recognise from the closing scene of Sofia Coppola’s ‘Lost In Translation’) deserve to be listed among some of the best of all time. In 1998, The Jesus And Mary Chain’s existence came to a premature halt due to disagreements between Jim and William that resulted in the latter walking off stage and quitting the tour. In 1999, they formally split, and wouldn’t perform again until 2007. Since then, they’ve continued to tour and record new music, with ‘Damage And Joy’ – their first album in 19 years – arriving in 2017, and ‘Glasgow Eyes’ being released back in March. Now, they’re returning to Australia for the first time in five years this August for their aptly-titled ‘40 Years’ tour. This week, I was lucky enough to be joined by Jim Reid for a wonderful chat about the band’s storied history and their current activities. Check out The Jesus And Mary Chain’s latest album, ‘Glasgow Eyes’, and once you’re done giving that a spin, grab a ticket to their upcoming tour, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.