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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = The Jesus Lizard| image = Jesus-Lizard_Panorama1.jpg| caption = The Jesus Lizard performing at The London Forum 2009-05-11| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Austin , Texas , United States | genre = Alternative rock , noise rock , post-hardcore | years_active = 19871999, 20082009| label = Touch and Go Records|Touch and Go , Capitol Records|Capitol | associated_acts = Scratch Acid , Rapeman , Qui , Th' Legendary Shack Shakers , U.S.S.A. , Tomahawk (band)|Tomahawk , Unfact|unFact | website =| current_members =| past_members = David Yow David Wm. Sims Duane Denison Mac McNeilly Jim Kimball Brendan Murphy| notable_instruments = The Jesus Lizard was an American alternative rock|alternative and noise rock band formed in 1987 in Austin , Texas . They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground music|underground who turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo- industrial rock|industrial noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy Campus radio|college-radio play."cite web|url= http://allmusic.com/artist/the-jesus-lizard-p13331|title=The Jesus Lizard AllMusic|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas|accessdate=5-9-2012
After a brief run as a recording-only project based in Austin, founding vocalist David Yow , bassist David Wm. Sims and guitarist Duane Denison relocated to Chicago , Illinois in 1989, finding kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and the Touch & Go Records imprint. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly , they began operating as as a live band, expanding their following beyond Chicago's alternative scene into an international audience. Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996, and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later.
Despite releasing a split record with leading alt-rockers Nirvana (band)|Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records , the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s, and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion tour ten years later enjoyed positive responses from audiences and critics.
History
Formation and Touch & Go years (19871994)
The band began in Austin, Texas, when guitarist Duane Denison 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 Basiliscus basiliscus|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 (1989 album)|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 (The Jesus Lizard album)|Head , Goat (album)|Goat , Liar (The Jesus Lizard album)|Liar , and Down (The Jesus Lizard album)|Down . During this era the group also released a live record, Show (The Jesus Lizard album)|Show , and a split single with Nirvana, Puss/Oh, the Guilt .
Capitol years and breakup (19951999)
The band signed to Capitol Records in 1995, recording the song "Panic in Cicero" for the Clerks soundtrack and making appearances at Lollapalooza shortly thereafter. Impressed by his work on The Melvins ' Stoner Witch album, the band hired producer Garth Richardson to record their next record, Shot (album)|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.cite web|last=Dodds |first=Ben |url= http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/the-jesus-lizard-touch-and-go-reissues.html |title=The Jesus Lizard: Touch and Go Reissues :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste |publisher=Pastemagazine.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-20
McNeilly left the band in late 1996,cite web|url= http://www.thejesuslizard.net/conchron.htm |title=The Jesus Lizard Concert Chronology |publisher=Thejesuslizard.net |date= |accessdate=2011-10-20 citing exhaustion from touring and the desire to spend more time with his family.cite web|url= http://www.thejesuslizard.net/inter/gabe.html |title=Interviews & Reviews of the Jesus Lizard |publisher=Thejesuslizard.net |date= |accessdate=2011-10-20 He was replaced by Jim Kimball , of Mule (band)|Mule and Denison's side project, the Denison Kimball Trio.
After more heavy touring the following year, this lineup recorded 1998's The Jesus Lizard (EP)|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 (band)|Gang of Four , John Cale , and Jim O'Rourke (musician)|Jim O'Rourke . Later that year, the band released the album Blue (The Jesus Lizard 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 groupcite web|url= http://www.thejesuslizard.net/news.htm |title=the latest in the Jesus Lizard News |publisher=Thejesuslizard.net |date= |accessdate=2011-10-20 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 Umeε Open festival in Umeε , Sweden , on March 27, 1999. After being dropped from Capitol Records mid-contract, the band announced its split the following June.
Post-breakup (20002007)
In 2000, Touch & Go issued Bang (The Jesus Lizard album)|Bang , a CD of 7" tracks and rarities. The members remained musically active: Denison began performing with Tomahawk (band)|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 (band)|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 (band)|Qui .
Reunion tour (20082009)
The Jesus Lizard reformed in 2008 with McNeilly drumming, and began playing concerts the next year. These shows included appearances at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, and All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties music festivals in England and New York.cite web|url= http://www.atpfestival.com/Events/JesusLizardLondon.php|title=The Jesus Lizard + Harvey Milk + Grails|accessdate=5-9-2012cite web|url= http://exclaim.ca/Interviews/WebExclusive/jesus_lizards_mac_mcneilly|title=Conversations: The Jesus Lizard's Mac McNeilly|publisher= Exclaim! |author=Vish Khanna|date=December 2009|accessdate=5-9-2012 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. http://www.touchandgorecords.com/news/detail.php? id=455 Jesus Lizard Remasters Retrieved October, 2009. Following the tour, the individual members returned to other projects and stated that this run of activity was "probably their last."cite web|url= http://www.thejesuslizard.net/news.htm|title=Official fan site|accessdate=5-9-2012
Post-reunion tour (2010present)
In August 2011 MVD released Club , a concert DVD and double LP of the band's Nashville performance from the 2009 tour.cite web|url= http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/content.php? 1797-Jesus-Lizard-The-Club |title=Jesus Lizard, The - Club |publisher=Rock& #33; Shock& #33; Pop& #33; |date= |accessdate=2011-10-20
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 section 's stops and starts were simultaneously precise and brutal. David Sprague suggests that "Yow's disjointed couplet s" are reminiscent of a " preacher glossolalia|speaking in tongues ."Sprague, David. " http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php? a=jesus_lizard JESUS LIZARD". Trouser Press, 2007. Retrieved on March 4, 2009. 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 kidnapping|kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth; the effect is horrific."Azerrad, Michael. Our Band Could Be Your Life . Little Brown and Company, 2002. ISBN 0-316-78753-1 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.
http://www.myspace.com/thejesuslizardpage The Jesus Lizard's official MySpace page
http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php? id=78 Touch & Go Records
http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/the-jesus-lizard-david-yow-in-conversation David Yow in Conversation (pre-reformation gigs)
http://www.davidwmsims.com/ Blog of bassist David Wm. Sims
The Jesus Lizard DEFAULTSORT:Jesus Lizard, The Category:American post-hardcore musical groups Category:Alternative rock groups from Texas Category:Musical groups from Chicago, Illinois Category:Musical groups established in 1987 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1999 Category:Touch and Go Records artists Category:American noise rock music groups
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