The Jesus and Mary Chain’s return with jamcod established a fresh wave of momentum ahead of the March 8th release of their new album ‘Glasgow Eyes’ via Fuzz Club. Bringing long-term fans back into the fold and introducing their influential sound to a whole new audience, the track was premiered by Huw Stephens at 6 Music where it was also playlisted, while key streaming support included Spotify’s Shoegaze Now and Tidal’s Hot Rocks.
Now, The Jesus and Mary Chain keep that momentum racing into 2024 – remarkably their 40th anniversary year – as they share the brand new single ‘Chemical Animal’.
Setting a mood of dense, ominous foreboding, ‘Chemical Animal’ is a dark, oppressive comedown of a track – a tone that’s entirely in tune with the song’s haunted, claustrophobic lyrics. While ‘jamcod’ reflected upon the band’s infamous 1998 show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, which led to their initial break-up, ‘Chemical Animal’ also looks back to the ghosts of their past for inspiration.
Jim Reid says, “Our work on our autobiography definitely bled into our work on the album. ‘jamcod’, the first single from the album, was about that night in 1998 in the House of Blues when the band broke up. ‘Chemical Animal’ is different but related. I was thinking back to those dark days of chemical dependency. When you fall so deep into that hole that everything you do is by instinct. The drugs are the driving force. The thing that gets you from a to b is whether you can score. It was a horrible way to live and I’m thankful I don’t live that way any more. One effect is that it made me aware of how our brains, who we are, how we feel, and what we do, depend on our neural chemistry, a chemistry beyond our control. It’s a biological curse we can’t escape.”
Listen to ‘Chemical Animal’ – BELOW:
This year will see The Jesus and Mary Chain embark upon an extensive tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe, which commences in March. Strong ticket demand has seen additional shows added in London and Manchester after the initial dates rapidly sold out. The remaining tickets for the dates listed below are available HERE. Their festival plans for 2024 are also taking shape, with Festival Tomavistas (Spain), Paredes De Coura (Portugal) and Cruel World (USA) already confirmed.
MARCH
22nd – UK, Manchester, Albert Hall (SOLD OUT)
23rd – UK, Manchester, Albert Hall (ADDED DATE)
25th – Ireland, Dublin, Olympia
26th – UK, Belfast, Limelight 1
27th – UK, Edinburgh, Usher Hall
29th – UK, London, Roundhouse (ADDED DATE)
30th – UK, London, Roundhouse (SOLD OUT)
APRIL
2nd – Denmark, Copenhagen, Amager Bio
3rd – Sweden, Gothenburg, Pustervik
5th – Norway, Oslo, Rockefeller
6th – Sweden, Stockholm, Munich Brewery
7th – Sweden, Malmo, Plan B (SOLD OUT)
9th – Germany, Hamburg, Markthalle
11th – Germany, Berlin, Huxleys
12th – Germany, Cologne, Live Music Hall
13th – France, Paris, Elysée Montmartre
15th – Switzerland, Geneva, L’Usine
16th – Switzerland, Winterthur, Salzhaus
17th – Italy, Milan, Alcatraz
19th – Austria, Krems, Donaufestival
20th – Germany, Heidelberg, Halle O2
21st – Netherlands, Tilburg, Roadburn Festival
23rd – Belgium, Brussels, AB
24th – Netherlands, The Hague, Paard
25th – Luxembourg, Den Atelier
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