The Jesus and Mary Chain – in session for John Peel – October 29, 1985 – BBC Radio 1 –
The Jesus and Mary Chain tonight- in session for John Peel and recorded (as Jim and William Reid) on October 29, 1985. A band with no easy road to stardom, the brothers Jim and William Reid, the nucleus of The Jesus and Mary Chain, struggled for several years before gaining notice from record labels, and it was largely due to the influence of fellow Scot Bobby Gillespie that they managed to secure their first 1-record deal for Creation Records in 1984.
Known early on as the band that played 20 minute sets, fueled by Amphetamines and antagonizing the audience into violence, they managed to get themselves banned from several clubs during their climb upwards. Gaining a reputation as an 80s equivalent to the Sex Pistols, much of the violence at their gigs took mythic proportions, but it was good enough to attract a following based on the assumption they were going to reek mayhem wherever they went.
After a fashion, with a growing following, along with signing to a new label, Blanco y Negro in 1985 as well as scoring a few hits, the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. and Japan. They still had the reputation for inciting violence, and even though much of it was hype, they did nothing to dispel it. Although after a while, the violence and disruption became real and subsequently turned out to be a hinderance, despite having a string of hit albums and singles. They finally packed it in in 1999. But reunited in 2007.
This gig for John Peel was their third and was a stylistic departure for the band, who decided to do it as an acoustic set. It also signaled one of their most successful (and controversial singles), Some Candy Talking, which was issued shortly after this set, but was soon banned by the BBC because it was thought to be all about taking drugs.
Maybe you remember it – maybe you forgot about it – maybe you never heard it before. In any case, turn it up and enjoy it.
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