The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain's 1985 debut Psychocandy gave shoegaze its immediate blueprint, marrying conventional pop melody to sheets of feedback and distortion—Phil Spector's Wall of Sound rebuilt out of Marshall stacks. Alan McGee, who released the record on Creation, later said My Bloody Valentine "changed their style because of The Jesus and Mary Chain," a lineage Kevin Shields has never denied, even while complaining that the internet-era retelling of shoegaze history tends to erase the American bands—Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth—that shaped it just as much. The Mary Chain's influence went beyond sound: their studied disregard for showmanship, their sense of controlled chaos, became part of the aesthetic that followed them.

At a glance

Active

1983–1999, 2007–present

From

East Kilbride, Scotland

Records in the issues

1 (1985), 1 of them a Start here pick

Original label

Blanco y Negro Records

Listening guide track

“Just Like Honey”

Listen

In the C86 and Indie Pop listening guide: “Just Like Honey”

In the issues

• 008
  Shoegaze and Dreampop

  Supporting cast · 1982-1997

  Shoegaze and Dreampop is a genre from Thames Valley and London, UK, 1982–1997. Its principal artists include My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride and Cocteau Twins. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 16 dated events.

• 050
  C86 and Indie Pop

  Supporting cast · 1983-1995 · Members

  C86 and Indie Pop is a music scene from United Kingdom (Scotland, England), 1983–1995. Its principal artists include Primal Scream, The Pastels, Shop Assistants and The Wedding Present. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 15 dated events.

Records

• Psychocandy

  1985 · Start here in Shoegaze and Dreampop

  Original release: Blanco y Negro Records · BYN 7 · 12″ Vinyl · UK 1985

  Psychocandy is shoegaze's immediate ancestor, marrying pop melody to sheets of feedback and distortion. Released in 1985 on Creation Records, it fused Phil Spector's Wall of Sound with the roar of a Marshall stack, and Alan McGee later credited it with pushing My Bloody Valentine to change direction entirely. Every band that followed with a guitar and a fuzz pedal owes it something.

Family tree

Bands that shared members with The Jesus and Mary Chain, and who.

• Curve1989–2005
  Steve Monti
• Lush1987–2016
  Philip King
• Freeheat1999–
  Ben Lurie, Jim Reid
• Primal Scream1982–
  Bobby Gillespie

Terms

Wall of Sound

A dense, layered recording production technique developed by producer Phil Spector, using multiple instruments doubling the same parts to create a thick, reverberant, orchestral sound.