The Jesus Lizard
Encyclopedia
The Jesus Lizard was an American alternative rock
and noise rock
band formed in 1987 in Austin
, Texas
. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground
…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial
noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college-radio
play."
After a brief run as a recording-only project based in Austin, the three founding members relocated to Chicago
, Illinois
in 1989, finding kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini
and the Touch & Go Records imprint. They soon expanded into a four-piece and began operating as a live band, expanding their audience beyond Chicago's alternative and noise rock scenes into an international audience.
Despite releasing a split record with leading alt-rockers Nirvana
and signing to Capitol Records
, they failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the mid-1990s, and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion tour ten years later enjoyed positive responses from audiences and critics.
asked David Yow
, formerly of Scratch Acid
, to play bass on some songs he wanted to record. Yow suggested that he sing and have former Scratch Acid bassist David Wm. Sims
play bass instead. The resultant group took its name from a common nickname for the basilisk, a type of lizard that can run on water. The trio rehearsed several times in Austin with a drum machine. Yow and Sims moved to Chicago in 1988 and Denison followed the next year.
Their first EP, Pure
, was produced by Albini and released by Touch & Go in 1989. It is the only record by the band that uses a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly
was recruited and the band played its first live show on July 1, 1989. Albini produced the band's next four albums – Head, Goat
, Liar
, and Down
. During this era the group also released a live record, Show
, and a split single with Nirvana, Puss/Oh, the Guilt
.
in 1995, later recording the song "Panic in Cicero" for the Clerks
soundtrack and making appearances at Lollapalooza
. Impressed by his work on The Melvins
' Stoner Witch
album, the band hired producer Garth Richardson
to record their next record, Shot
, the following year. While rumors that Albini refused to work with the band due to their involvement with a major label persisted, both Albini and the group have stated this to be false.
McNeilly left the band in late 1996, citing exhaustion from touring and the desire to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by Jim Kimball
, of Mule
and Denison's side project, the Denison Kimball Trio.
After more heavy touring the following year, this lineup recorded 1998's self-titled EP
, their only record whose title is not a four-letter word, on Jetset Records
. The EP featured production and engineering by Andy Gill
of Gang of Four
, John Cale
, and Jim O'Rourke
. Later that year, the band released the album Blue
, also recorded by Gill. A departure, the record explored their experimental instincts previously hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" and "White Hole".
In August 1998 Kimball left the group and was replaced by Chicago-based drummer Brendan Murphy, formerly of the Wesley Willis Fiasco
. They embarked on several more months of heavy touring, playing the final gig of their initial career at the Umeå Open
festival in Umeå
, Sweden
, on March 27, 1999. After being dropped from Capitol Records mid-contract, the band announced its split the following June.
, a CD of 7" tracks and rarities. The members remained musically active: Denison began performing with Tomahawk
, continued to play with Kimball in the Denison Kimball Trio, and backed Hank Williams III
on tour. He also formed U.S.S.A.
with ex-Ministry
bassist Paul Barker
in 2006. McNeilly played drums in P.W. Long's Reelfoot recording "Push Me Again", and continued to play along with his wife in their band Mouse. He recorded with Steve Albini
in February 2007 for Denison's Fuzz label mate Greg Garing.
In 2006, Yow and Sims reformed Scratch Acid, along with original members Rey Washam
(also of Rapeman
, Ministry) and Brett Bradford (also of Sangre de Toro) for the Touch & Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival in Chicago. A week before the Touch & Go Festival, the reunited Scratch Acid played to a sold-out crowd at Emo's
in their hometown of Austin. Sims relocated to New York City
, began working as an accountant, and maintained his solo project Dangerpuss. Yow moved to Los Angeles
, working in graphic design for an advertising agency and joining the band Qui
.
in Chicago, and All Tomorrow's Parties
music festivals in England and New York. On October 6, all of the band's Touch & Go studio albums were re-released with improved sound and bonus tracks. The albums were remastered by Albini and Bob Weston
and packaged with new liner notes and gatefold artwork.
Following their 2009 tour, the individual members returned to other projects and stated that this run of activity was "probably [their] last." In August 2011 MVD released Club, a concert DVD and double LP of the band's Nashville performance from the 2009 tour.
's stops and starts were simultaneously precise and brutal. David Sprague suggests that "Yow's disjointed couplet
s" are reminiscent of a "preacher
speaking in tongues
." Albini typically kept vocals "low in the mix," or much less prominent than was typical of rock and roll recordings. In Our Band Could Be Your Life
, Michael Azerrad
writes that "on the Jesus Lizard albums Albini recorded, singer David Yow sounds like a kidnap
victim trying to howl through the duct tape
over his mouth; the effect is horrific." Interestingly, Yow doesn't consider himself a singer in the usual sense, but rather, thinks of himself as a vocal stylist. While appreciated as a unique vocalist, Yow was more often cited for his confrontational antics on-stage, often leaping into the crowd or taking off his clothes.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band formed in 1987 in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college-radio
Campus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
play."
After a brief run as a recording-only project based in Austin, the three founding members relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1989, finding kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
and the Touch & Go Records imprint. They soon expanded into a four-piece and began operating as a live band, expanding their audience beyond Chicago's alternative and noise rock scenes into an international audience.
Despite releasing a split record with leading alt-rockers Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
and signing to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, they failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the mid-1990s, and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion tour ten years later enjoyed positive responses from audiences and critics.
Formation and the Touch & Go years (1987–1994)
The band began in Austin, Texas, when guitarist Duane DenisonDuane Denison
Duane Denison is an American guitarist. Denison currently plays for Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, The Jesus Lizard, which he recently re-united with after a 9-year break-up, and Tomahawk. He has played for Firewater. He began his musical career by studying classical guitar. Denison and ex-Ministry...
asked David Yow
David Yow
David Yow is an American musician born in Las Vegas, Nevada and best known as the vocalist for the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard.-Biography:...
, formerly of Scratch Acid
Scratch Acid
Scratch Acid was an Austin, Texas noise rock group formed in 1982. When they first began, their lineup was Steve Anderson , David Wm. Sims , Brett Bradford , David Yow , and Rey Washam and Win Vitosky...
, to play bass on some songs he wanted to record. Yow suggested that he sing and have former Scratch Acid bassist David Wm. Sims
David Wm. Sims
David William Sims is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the bands Scratch Acid , Rapeman, and the Jesus Lizard. In addition, he has recorded or performed with Sparklehorse, Rhys Chatham, Shivaree, Pigface, Flour, and others...
play bass instead. The resultant group took its name from a common nickname for the basilisk, a type of lizard that can run on water. The trio rehearsed several times in Austin with a drum machine. Yow and Sims moved to Chicago in 1988 and Denison followed the next year.
Their first EP, Pure
Pure (1989 album)
Pure is the debut EP by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1989. The cover artwork was by bassist David Wm. Sims. This is the only record by the Jesus Lizard recorded with a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly was added to the group soon after it was recorded. The song "Blockbuster" was sung by...
, was produced by Albini and released by Touch & Go in 1989. It is the only record by the band that uses a drum machine. Drummer Mac McNeilly
Mac McNeilly
Mac McNeilly is an American musician, best known as the drummer for The Jesus Lizard. He also played drums in bands P.W. Long's Reelfoot, 86, Mouse, Mule, Come, and played bass in Phantom 309. He is known for his very powerful, solid and hard-hitting style. McNeilly first appeared with The Jesus...
was recruited and the band played its first live show on July 1, 1989. Albini produced the band's next four albums – Head, Goat
Goat (album)
-External links:*...
, Liar
Liar (The Jesus Lizard album)
Liar is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band The Jesus Lizard released in 1992 by Touch and Go Records. The album is considered to be among the band's best work, and according to Mark Demling of Allmusic "Liar isn't quite the wildest or weirdest album the Jesus Lizard ever...
, and Down
Down (The Jesus Lizard album)
-Chart performance:-External links:*...
. During this era the group also released a live record, Show
Show (The Jesus Lizard album)
Show is a live album by the Chicago noise rock band The Jesus Lizard. It was recorded at CBGB's in New York City. It was a joint release by Collision Arts and Warner Bros...
, and a split single with Nirvana, Puss/Oh, the Guilt
Puss/Oh, the Guilt
"Puss"/"Oh, the Guilt" is a split single from the American alternative rock bands The Jesus Lizard and Nirvana. It was released on February 15, 1993, and includes the songs "Puss" by the Jesus Lizard and "Oh, the Guilt" by Nirvana. The cover art for the single is a painting by Malcolm Bucknall...
.
The Capitol years and breakup (1995–1999)
The band signed to Capitol RecordsCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1995, later recording the song "Panic in Cicero" for the Clerks
Clerks
Clerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
soundtrack and making appearances at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
. Impressed by his work on The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
' Stoner Witch
Stoner Witch
-Personnel:*The Melvins – performer, producer**King B – vocals, guitar, and bass**Dale C – drums, guitar and backing vocals**Mark D – bass, guitar and backing vocals*GGGarth – producer*Joe Barresi – engineer*Geetus Guido South Aguto – assistant engineer...
album, the band hired producer Garth Richardson
Garth Richardson
Garth "GGGarth" Richardson is a Canadian music producer and engineer. He is the son of renowned Canadian music producer Jack Richardson . Jack was a pioneer of the music recording industry in the 60's and 70's...
to record their next record, Shot
Shot (album)
Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Impressed by his work on the album "Houdini" by the Melvins, the band hired producer GGGarth to record "Shot". Of note on this album is the very different production of David Yow's vocals, which are now much...
, the following year. While rumors that Albini refused to work with the band due to their involvement with a major label persisted, both Albini and the group have stated this to be false.
McNeilly left the band in late 1996, citing exhaustion from touring and the desire to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by Jim Kimball
Jim Kimball
Jim Kimball is an American punk drummer. His virtual menagerie of former bands includes Laughing Hyenas, Mule, and The Jesus Lizard, as well as the Denison Kimball Trio . The Laughing Hyenas were a seminal punk/rock/noise outfit. Kimball and Kevin Munro left to form Mule with Wig's P.W...
, of Mule
Mule (band)
Mule was an American punk blues band from Michigan, active in the early 1990s. Formed from the ashes of Wig and Laughing Hyenas, their music incorporated elements of hardcore punk, blues-rock, and alternative country.-History:...
and Denison's side project, the Denison Kimball Trio.
After more heavy touring the following year, this lineup recorded 1998's self-titled EP
The Jesus Lizard (EP)
-Track listing:# "Cold Water" - 2:49# "Inflicted by Hounds" - 3:30# "Eyesore" - 2:47# "Valentine" - 4:23# "Needles for Teeth" - 3:48...
, their only record whose title is not a four-letter word, on Jetset Records
Jetset Records
Jetset Records was a New York-based indie rock record label. The label has released a variety of independent bands, including Firewater, Sun Kil Moon and Mogwai.-Roster:*16 Horsepower*Arab Strap*Black Box Recorder*Dean and Britta*Congo Norvell...
. The EP featured production and engineering by Andy Gill
Andy Gill
Andy Gill is a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group Gang of Four, considered among the most influential post-punk bands...
of Gang of Four
Gang of Four (band)
Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
, and Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
. Later that year, the band released the album Blue
Blue (The Jesus Lizard album)
Blue is the sixth full length album by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1998. Produced by Andy Gill, it is something of a departure for The Jesus Lizard, exploring some of the more experimental instincts hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" on "Pure". It is the only...
, also recorded by Gill. A departure, the record explored their experimental instincts previously hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" and "White Hole".
In August 1998 Kimball left the group and was replaced by Chicago-based drummer Brendan Murphy, formerly of the Wesley Willis Fiasco
Wesley Willis Fiasco
The Wesley Willis Fiasco was an American punk rock band based in Wicker Park, Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed by Wesley Willis on vocals, Pat Barnard on lead guitar, and his friend Dale Meiners on guitar and bass. Dale Meiners previously played guitar in Billy Corgan's pre-Smashing...
. They embarked on several more months of heavy touring, playing the final gig of their initial career at the Umeå Open
Umeå Open
Umeå Open is an annual music festival taking place in Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden at the end of March. Bands and artists from Europe, North America and Japan perform alongside local acts in the Folkets Hus venue in downtown Umeå. Along with music, Umeå Open has a conference and a host of related...
festival in Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, on March 27, 1999. After being dropped from Capitol Records mid-contract, the band announced its split the following June.
Post-breakup (2000–2007)
In 2000, Touch & Go issued BangBang (The Jesus Lizard album)
Bang is a compilation album by The Jesus Lizard, containing tracks previously released on EPs and singles.-Track listing:All songs by The Jesus Lizard, except where noted otherwise.#"Chrome" - 3:51#"7 Vs...
, a CD of 7" tracks and rarities. The members remained musically active: Denison began performing with Tomahawk
Tomahawk (band)
Tomahawk is an experimental alternative metal/alternative rock supergroup from the United States. They formed in 2000 when Fantômas, ex-Mr. Bungle and Faith No More singer/keyboardist Mike Patton and ex-The Jesus Lizard guitar player Duane Denison started swapping tapes with the intention of...
, continued to play with Kimball in the Denison Kimball Trio, and backed Hank Williams III
Hank Williams III
Shelton Hank Williams, known as Hank 3 , is a neotraditional country and punk metal singer, drummer, bassist, and guitarist. In addition to his honky tonk recordings, Williams' style alternates among country, punk and metal...
on tour. He also formed U.S.S.A.
U.S.S.A.
U.S.S.A. are a rock music group formed by bassist/programmer/producer Paul Barker and guitarist/composer Duane Denison...
with ex-Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
bassist Paul Barker
Paul Barker
Paul Barker , also referred to as Hermes Pan, is the former bass guitarist, producer and engineer with the industrial metal band Ministry from 1986 to 2004...
in 2006. McNeilly played drums in P.W. Long's Reelfoot recording "Push Me Again", and continued to play along with his wife in their band Mouse. He recorded with Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
in February 2007 for Denison's Fuzz label mate Greg Garing.
In 2006, Yow and Sims reformed Scratch Acid, along with original members Rey Washam
Rey Washam
Rey Washam is a drummer who has been performing for more than 20 years. He has collaborated with many bands, the most notable of which include: Scratch Acid, Rapeman, Ministry, the Big Boys, Helios Creed, the Didjits, Lard, and Tad and Butthole Surfers offshoot Daddy Longhead...
(also of Rapeman
Rapeman
Rapeman was an American post-hardcore/noise rock group founded in 1987 and disbanded in 1989. It consisted of Steve Albini on guitar and vocals, David Wm. Sims on bass, and Rey Washam on drums.-History:In an interview, Albini reported that "'Rapeman' is .....
, Ministry) and Brett Bradford (also of Sangre de Toro) for the Touch & Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival in Chicago. A week before the Touch & Go Festival, the reunited Scratch Acid played to a sold-out crowd at Emo's
Emo's
Emo's is a prominent nightclub located in Austin, Texas. Emo's got its start as a Houston punk club in 1989, with the Austin location opening in 1992. The Houston location closed its doors in September 2001....
in their hometown of Austin. Sims relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, began working as an accountant, and maintained his solo project Dangerpuss. Yow moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, working in graphic design for an advertising agency and joining the band Qui
Qui (band)
Qui are a rock group formed in 2000 in Los Angeles by Paul Christensen and Matt Cronk . A combination of punk, noise and experimental rock, they released their first full-length album Baby Kisses in 2003....
.
Reunion (2008–2009)
The Jesus Lizard reformed in 2008 and began playing concerts the next year with their classic line-up, featuring McNeilly on drums. These shows included appearances at the Pitchfork Music FestivalPitchfork Music Festival
The Pitchfork Music Festival is an annual summer music festival organized by Pitchfork Media and held in Union Park in Chicago, IL. The festival, which is normally held over three days in July, focuses primarily on artists and bands from alternative rock, rap & hip-hop, electronica, and dance...
in Chicago, and All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
music festivals in England and New York. On October 6, all of the band's Touch & Go studio albums were re-released with improved sound and bonus tracks. The albums were remastered by Albini and Bob Weston
Bob Weston
Bob Weston is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason Ankeny declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over the American underground rock of the post-punk era, producing and engineering dates for a seemingly endless number of...
and packaged with new liner notes and gatefold artwork.
Following their 2009 tour, the individual members returned to other projects and stated that this run of activity was "probably [their] last." In August 2011 MVD released Club, a concert DVD and double LP of the band's Nashville performance from the 2009 tour.
Sound and influence
Their music featured a scathing mix of piercing guitar, machine-like drums, propulsive bass guitar, and psychotic vocals. Denison's stinging guitar often served more as texture or coloring than as a melody instrument, while the rhythm sectionRhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
's stops and starts were simultaneously precise and brutal. David Sprague suggests that "Yow's disjointed couplet
Couplet
A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic...
s" are reminiscent of a "preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
speaking in tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
." Albini typically kept vocals "low in the mix," or much less prominent than was typical of rock and roll recordings. In Our Band Could Be Your Life
Our Band Could Be Your Life
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 is a book by Michael Azerrad. It chronicles the careers of several underground rock bands who, while finding little or no mainstream success, were hugely influential in establishing American alternative and indie...
, Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad is an American author, journalist and musician. He grew up in the New York City area and received his BA degree from Columbia College in 1983...
writes that "on the Jesus Lizard albums Albini recorded, singer David Yow sounds like a kidnap
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
victim trying to howl through the duct tape
Duct tape
Duct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
over his mouth; the effect is horrific." Interestingly, Yow doesn't consider himself a singer in the usual sense, but rather, thinks of himself as a vocal stylist. While appreciated as a unique vocalist, Yow was more often cited for his confrontational antics on-stage, often leaping into the crowd or taking off his clothes.
Members
- David YowDavid YowDavid Yow is an American musician born in Las Vegas, Nevada and best known as the vocalist for the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard.-Biography:...
– vocals (1987–1999, 2008–2009) - Duane DenisonDuane DenisonDuane Denison is an American guitarist. Denison currently plays for Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, The Jesus Lizard, which he recently re-united with after a 9-year break-up, and Tomahawk. He has played for Firewater. He began his musical career by studying classical guitar. Denison and ex-Ministry...
– guitar (1987–1999, 2008–2009) - David Wm. SimsDavid Wm. SimsDavid William Sims is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the bands Scratch Acid , Rapeman, and the Jesus Lizard. In addition, he has recorded or performed with Sparklehorse, Rhys Chatham, Shivaree, Pigface, Flour, and others...
– bass (1987–1999, 2008–2009) - Mac McNeillyMac McNeillyMac McNeilly is an American musician, best known as the drummer for The Jesus Lizard. He also played drums in bands P.W. Long's Reelfoot, 86, Mouse, Mule, Come, and played bass in Phantom 309. He is known for his very powerful, solid and hard-hitting style. McNeilly first appeared with The Jesus...
– drums (1989–1996, 2008–2009) - Jim KimballJim KimballJim Kimball is an American punk drummer. His virtual menagerie of former bands includes Laughing Hyenas, Mule, and The Jesus Lizard, as well as the Denison Kimball Trio . The Laughing Hyenas were a seminal punk/rock/noise outfit. Kimball and Kevin Munro left to form Mule with Wig's P.W...
– drums (1996–1998) - Brendan Murphy – drums (1998–1999)
Studio albums
- Head (1990, Touch and GoTouch and Go RecordsTouch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
) - GoatGoat (album)-External links:*...
(1991, Touch and Go) - LiarLiar (The Jesus Lizard album)Liar is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band The Jesus Lizard released in 1992 by Touch and Go Records. The album is considered to be among the band's best work, and according to Mark Demling of Allmusic "Liar isn't quite the wildest or weirdest album the Jesus Lizard ever...
(1992, Touch and Go) - DownDown (The Jesus Lizard album)-Chart performance:-External links:*...
(1994, Touch and Go) - ShotShot (album)Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Impressed by his work on the album "Houdini" by the Melvins, the band hired producer GGGarth to record "Shot". Of note on this album is the very different production of David Yow's vocals, which are now much...
(1996, CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) - BlueBlue (The Jesus Lizard album)Blue is the sixth full length album by The Jesus Lizard, released in 1998. Produced by Andy Gill, it is something of a departure for The Jesus Lizard, exploring some of the more experimental instincts hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" on "Pure". It is the only...
(1998, Capitol)
Live albums
- ShowShow (The Jesus Lizard album)Show is a live album by the Chicago noise rock band The Jesus Lizard. It was recorded at CBGB's in New York City. It was a joint release by Collision Arts and Warner Bros...
(1994, Collision Arts) - Club (2011, Chunklet)
Compilations
- BangBang (The Jesus Lizard album)Bang is a compilation album by The Jesus Lizard, containing tracks previously released on EPs and singles.-Track listing:All songs by The Jesus Lizard, except where noted otherwise.#"Chrome" - 3:51#"7 Vs...
(2000, Touch and Go) - Inch (2009, Touch and Go)
EPs
- Pure (1989, Touch and Go)
- LashLash (album)Lash is the second EP from The Jesus Lizard .-Track listing:# "Glamorous" - 3:07# "Deaf as a Bat" - 1:40# "Lady Shoes " - 2:37# "Killer McHann " - 2:11# "Bloody Mary " - 2:41...
(1993, Touch and Go) - The Jesus Lizard (EP)The Jesus Lizard (EP)-Track listing:# "Cold Water" - 2:49# "Inflicted by Hounds" - 3:30# "Eyesore" - 2:47# "Valentine" - 4:23# "Needles for Teeth" - 3:48...
(1998, JetSet)
DVDs
- The Jesus Lizard - Live (Music Video Distributors 2007)
- The Jesus Lizard - Club (Music Video Distributors 2011)
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Shot Shot (album) Shot is an album by the band The Jesus Lizard, its first release on Capitol Records. Impressed by his work on the album "Houdini" by the Melvins, the band hired producer GGGarth to record "Shot". Of note on this album is the very different production of David Yow's vocals, which are now much... |
Heatseekers (US) Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
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Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Puss/Oh, the Guilt Puss/Oh, the Guilt "Puss"/"Oh, the Guilt" is a split single from the American alternative rock bands The Jesus Lizard and Nirvana. It was released on February 15, 1993, and includes the songs "Puss" by the Jesus Lizard and "Oh, the Guilt" by Nirvana. The cover art for the single is a painting by Malcolm Bucknall... " (split single with Nirvana Nirvana (band) Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987... ) |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
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