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Never Understood: The Jesus and Mary Chain review – if the Gallaghers were Scottish
This funny and moving oral history of the influential noise-rock band charts the rise – and the rows – of Jim and William Reid, whose versions of events may vary
Languishing on the dole on an East Kilbride council estate in the early 80s, neither the Jesus and Mary Chain’s William Reid, nor his younger brother, Jim, could grasp why no one had yet combined 60s girl-group melodies, the nihilist drones of the Velvet Underground and top notes of screeching feedback. Both William (mostly guitar) and Jim (vocals, because he lost a coin toss) confess to not quite understanding how their aesthetic germinated in this funny, rueful memoir of their band and relationship, one studded with more low points than the ocean floor. The pair deeply regret turning down premier indie label Rough Trade in favour of Blanco Y Negro, a Warner offshoot, where the Mary Chain were absolutely not a priority, even though the same music exec – Geoff Travis – was brokering both deals.
Or read this on The Guardian
