The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard | |
|---|---|
| the Jesus Lizard: (L-R) David Yow, Duane Denison, Mac McNeilly, David Wm. Sims David Yow, Duane Denison, Mac McNeilly, and David Wm. Sims | |
| Members | David Yow David Wm. Sims Duane Denison Mac McNeilly |
The Jesus Lizard was a rock music group formed in 1989 in Chicago, Illinois. The band took their name from a common nickname for the basilisk, a type of lizard that can run on water. While never finding much mainstream success, The Jesus Lizard have been called "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."[1]
After the breakup of their band Scratch Acid, singer David Yow and bassist David Wm. Sims eventually regrouped and recruited guitarist Duane Denison for a new project. The trio called themselves The Jesus Lizard; the group used a drum machine for their earliest recordings and performances, before adding drummer Mac McNeilly after recording their first EP Pure. McNeilly was later replaced by Jim Kimball in 1997.
Their music was a scathing mix of piercing guitar, machine-like drums, propulsive bass guitar, and psychotic vocals, often reminiscent of The Birthday Party. Denison's stinging guitar often served more as texture or coloring than as a melody instrument, while the rhythm section's stops and starts were simultaneously precise and brutal. David Yow's frenzied, often incoherent vocals were quite unique, unlike anything past or present. David Sprague suggests that "Yow's disjointed couplets" are reminiscent of a "preacher speaking in tongues."[2]
Through 1994, the Jesus Lizard's studio recordings were recorded and engineered by Steve Albini; he was an avid fan, and his engineering work with the Jesus Lizard may be considered amongst his best. Albini typically keeps vocals "low in the mix," or much less prominent than is 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." (Azerrad, 344)[3]
In 1995, The Jesus Lizard signed a contract with Capitol Records, an action which caused a falling out with Albini, famous for his dislike of major record companies. After two records with Capitol, a song on the Clerks. soundtrack, and appearances at Lollapalooza, the band split in 1999. In 2000, Touch & Go issued a CD of 7" tracks and rarities called Bang.
After the split some of the members moved on to other bands. Denison plays with Tomahawk, and with Kimball in the Denison Kimball Trio (which is actually a duo.)
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1989 | Pure | Touch & Go |
| 1990 | Head | Touch & Go |
| 1991 | Goat | Touch & Go |
| 1992 | Liar | Touch & Go |
| 1993 | Lash | Touch & Go |
| 1994 | Show | Collision Arts |
| 1994 | Down | Touch & Go |
| 1996 | Shot | Capitol |
| 1997 | Self-Titled EP | JetSet |
| 1998 | Blue | Capitol |
| 2000 | Bang | Touch & Go |
See also
- List of alternative music artists
- Rapeman
- The Love Interest
- Firewater
- Hank Williams III
- Helmet
- The Melvins
- Tomahawk
External links
References
- ^ Azerrad, Michael. Our Band Could Be Your Life. Little Brown and Company, 2002. ISBN 0316787531
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Jesus Lizard". All Music Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2005.