Scottish band led by brothers William Reid and Jim Reid, founded in 1983 in Glasgow. The following year, Jesus And Mary Chain released their first single, Upside Down, on the English label Creation Records. In addition to the title track, the single featured a version of Syd Barret's "Vegetable Man".
After this record, the band signed a contract with the Blanco y Negro label, and in 1985 the album that placed The Jesus and Mary Chain in the history of rock in the 1980s was released - Psychocand. Jim Reid (vocals, guitar), William Reid (vocals, guitar), Douglas Hart (bass) and Bobby Gillespie (drums) made one of the most influential albums in pop music. Psychocand brings melodious songs that are hazy with layers of distorted guitars, feedback, whispers, in a subtle surf music. Never has chaos been so perfect. The songs "Just Like Honey", "Never Understand" and "You Trip Me Up" represent the album very well.
On their second album, 1987's Darklands, the band had a new drummer, John Moore, replacing Bobby Gillespie, who left to form his own band, Primal Scream. The hits "April Skies", "Happy When It Rains" and "Darklands" are from the album Darklands.
The compilation Barbed Wire Kisses, released in 1988 bringing together b-sides, rarities and versions, preceded the third album Automatic (1989), which highlights the track "Head On", later re-recorded by Pixies on the album Trompe Le Monde.
In 1992, Honey's Dead was released, The Jesus and Mary Chain's most danceable album, but without losing the band's main characteristic, noisy pop/rock.
The band's discography is completed by the albums Stoned & Dethroned (1994), the compilation Hate Rock 'N' Roll (1995) and Munki (1998). Stoned & Dethroned features Hope Sandoval (from Mazzy Star) on the track "Sometimes Always". Hate Rock 'N' Roll brings together b-sides, songs that were part of film soundtracks and four new songs. Munki was the last studio album by the Reid brothers, who, due to conflicts between them, decided to follow different paths in 1999, leaving a discography worthy of good bands.
In 2007, the band reunited for a performance at the American festival Coachella. The show held on April 27th featured vocal collaboration with actress Scarlett Johansson, on the song "Just Like Honey". Still in 2007, The Jesus and Mary Chain performed at the English festival Meltdown. And the following year, the band recorded a song titled "All Things Must Pass", for the soundtrack of the television series "Heroes".
The band returned with a new studio album in 2017, when they released Damage and Joy, featuring collaborations with Isobel Campbell and Sky Ferreira. A new studio work arrived in 2024, titled Glasgow Eyes.
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