Jesus Jones

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Jesus Jones
File:Jesus Jones 2011.jpg
Jesus Jones performing in 2011
Background information
Origin Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
Genres Alternative rock, alternative dance, grebo, techno, electro-industrial
Years active 1988–present
Labels Food Records (1989–1993, 1997)
SBK Records (US label 1989-1993)
EMI (1993, 1999)
Liberty (2002)
Nebula (2005)
Mi5 Recordings/Koch (2001–2002)
Mi5 (UK) 2004
Website www.jesusjones.com
Members Mike Edwards
Jerry De Borg
Al Doughty
Iain Baker
Gen (Simon Matthews)
Past members Tony Arthy

Jesus Jones are a British alternative rock band. The Wiltshire-based group formed in late 1988, recorded and performed in the late 1980s into the 2000s.[1] Their track "Right Here, Right Now" was an international hit which was subsequently globally licensed for promotional and advertising campaigns. They also achieved chart success with the songs "Real Real Real," "International Bright Young Thing" and "Info Freako".

Career

Formation and Liquidizer (1986-1989)

Incorporating elements of electronic music styles such as house and techno to an indie rock format, along with fellow British groups such as The Shamen, Pop Will Eat Itself and EMF, Jesus Jones were one of the leading purveyors of the early 1990s alternative dance scene. The band is led by Mike Edwards. In late 1988, while on holiday in Spain, Mike Edwards, Iain Baker, and Jerry DeBorg decided to leave the band they were currently in, and form their own band. The name of the band came about when they realised that they were three "Joneses" sitting on a beach in Spain surrounded by people called Jesus.

They achieved initial critical acclaim with their 1989 album Liquidizer, and in particular, the single "Info Freako", which featured buzzing rock guitars with samples and a hip-hop sensibility, relatively new at the time.[1] The track was particularly championed by Bruno Brookes on his BBC Radio 1 programme.

Doubt and Perverse (1990-1995)

In the spring of 1990, Jesus Jones recorded their second album, Doubt, but their record label was forced to delay its release until the beginning of 1991. The album sold well, due to the success of "Right Here, Right Now". The song is about the swift end of the Cold War, and reached No. 2 in the US and No. 31 in the UK.[2][3] In June 1990, Jesus Jones appeared at the Glastonbury Festival.[4]

Other singles from Doubt included "Real, Real, Real" and "International Bright Young Thing", which became two of their biggest hit singles in the UK, reaching No. 19 and No. 7 respectively in the UK Singles Chart.[3] In 1991, Jesus Jones were the only UK winners when they won the 'Best Newcomer' award at the MTV Awards.[5] In April 1991, the British music magazine NME reported that their US tour had sold out before Jesus Jones arrived in the country.[6]

The follow-up to Doubt was Perverse (1993) which, although a big seller, did not reach the worldwide hit status of Doubt. Perverse was one of the first rock albums recorded entirely digitally.[7]

Already and London (1996-2003)

After the release of the Perverse album, Jesus Jones took an extended hiatus and did not return to the recording studio until December 1996. After the recording of their fourth album, drummer Gen left the band before the album was released. They released their fourth album, titled Already, in 1997 after which Jesus Jones and their record label EMI parted company. The final months of the band are chronicled in the PDF book written by Mike Edwards "Death Threats From An 8 Year Old In The Seychelles" which was available for a time from the band's website. The band remained in contact and came back with a new drummer Tony Arthy with the low-selling London in 2001 on the indie record label Mi5 Recordings. EMI issued Never Enough: the Best of Jesus Jones, a greatest hits compilation album whilst the band moved from the North American-only Mi5 to the newly established Mi5 Recordings UK.

Later activities (2004-present)

With the exception of the released of the Culture Vulture EP in 2004 no new material from the band has been released. However, in 2010, a series of download albums were released to Amazon.co.uk. The release consisted of six different albums containing 'in concert' performances at the BBC. Most were EPs but a few were live albums.

The single Right Here, Right Now was resurrected in 2006 as an advertising jingle for the American retailer Kmart, an image campaign for CBS News, and was used in promotional advertisements for the now defunct television channel, TechTV. Ford Motors was using "Right Here, Right Now" in their 2010 televisual advertising campaign. A cover of the song was also recorded by The Feelers to be used in advertising for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[8] In 2011 the band released The Collection & Other Rarities which included many of their B-side tracks as well as demos and rarities.[9]

In November 2014 EMI reissued all four of the band's albums in a special CD+DVD bundle. In addition to the original album's tracks the reissues feature radio sessions, long-deleted b-sides, rare remixes and alternate versions. The DVDs include rare live concert footage and other extras.[10]

In a 2015 interview for the online periodical 'Soot Magazine' band leader Mike Edwards acknowledged that, besides re-recording some older tracks with new arrangements, he is in the process of writing material for a new album: "I am writing new stuff – I was actually writing some new material yesterday and I have loads of little bits and pieces ticking over."[11]

Since the mid-2000s, Jesus Jones have continued performing live. In August 2011 the band went on a short tour (dubbed on one poster "The World's Smallest World Tour"), playing 3 shows in Australia before closing with a show in Japan. In November 2011 the band were due to perform in the UK in Birmingham and London, but the dates were postponed due to bass played Al Doughty being ill. They took place in January 2012. The band also toured the UK in December 2013 as part of The Wonder Stuff's 'Sleigh The UK' tour. In March 2015 the band again returned to Australia and New Zealand for a five city tour.[12]

On December 24, 2013 the band announced the resignation of drummer Tony Arthy. Having been with the band for 13 years, Arthy had replaced original drummer Simon 'Gen' Matthew who had left after the rocky completion of Already. On January 1, 2014 the band announced that 'Gen' would be rejoining the band.[13]

The band recently announced on their website that they're working on loads of new songs including rerecording some of the original songs from their previous albums, along with a recording of an old demo called no more roads which has surfaced which they hope to release in 2016.

The band announced on the 24th November 2015 via Facebook & Twitter that they would be releasing an EP early 2016 followed by an album later in the year.

Band members

  • Mike Edwards (born Michael James Edwards, 22 June 1964, Educated at St Laurence Secondary School in Bradford on Avon, Witshire, England) (London) - vocals, guitars, keyboards (1988–present)
  • Jerry De Borg (born 30 October 1960, Kentish Town, London) - guitars (1988–present)
  • Al Doughty (born Alan Jaworski, 31 January 1966, Plymouth) - bass (1988–present)
  • Iain Baker (born Iain Richard Foxwell Baker, 29 September 1965, Carshalton, Surrey) - keyboards, programming(1988–present)
  • Gen (born Simon Matthews, 23 April 1964, Devizes, Wiltshire) - drums, additional percussion (1988-1997 then 2014–present)
Former members
  • Tony Arthy - drums (1999–2013)

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album UK Albums Chart US Top 200
1989 Liquidizer 31 -
1991 Doubt 1 25
1993 Perverse 6 59
1997 Already 161 -
2001 London - -

Compilation albums

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[14]		 US
 US
Main.
 US
Alt.
1989 "Info Freako" 42 — — — Liquidizer
"Never Enough" 42 — — —
"Bring It On Down" 46 — — —
1990 "Real Real Real" 19 4 — 26 Doubt
"Right Here, Right Now" 31 2 7 1
"International Bright Young Thing" 7 — — 6
1991 "Who? Where? Why?" 21 — — —
"Right Here, Right Now" (re-release) 31 — — —
1992 "The Devil You Know" 10 — — 1 Perverse
1993 "The Right Decision" 36 — — 12
"Zeroes And Ones" 30 — — —
1997 "The Next Big Thing" 49 — — — Already
"Chemical No.1" 71 — — —
2002 "Nowhere Slow" — — — — London
"Come On Home" — — — —
"In The Face Of All Of This" — — — —
2005 "Right Here Right Now" (Robbie Rivera featuring Jesus Jones) — — — — Non-album single

Other

  • 1989, The Food Christmas EP 1989 (EP with Crazy Head and Diesel Park West)
  • 1990, Live (a.k.a. Move Mountains & 4 More) (US-only live EP)
  • 1991, Who? Where Why? (Crisis Mix) (Remix EP)
  • 1991, Live in Alaska (German-only live VHS)
  • 1993, A Perverse Conversation with Jesus Jones (US-only interview promo)
  • 1993, Zeroes & Heroes (Double EP)
  • 1997, 4 Track Sampler for Promo Only (Promo EP)
  • 1998, Back 2 Back Hits (US-only 'Best of' with EMF)
  • 2002, Never Enough The Best of Jesus Jones (Videos DVD)
  • 2003, Live at the Marquee (Live DVD)
  • 2005, Live at the Marquee (Live download album)
  • 2008, The Remixes (Remix download album)
  • 2010, BBC in Concert 26th February 1991 (Live download album)

References

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External links

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