The Jesus and Mary Chain

After 14 years, the Singapore return of noise-pop pioneers The Jesus and Mary Chain is nothing but sweet, just like honey.

From the chaos of their debut record Psychocandy to their latest 2024 release Glasgow Eyes, brothers Jim and William Reid have consistently shaped the genres that celebrate fuzzy distortion and dark lyricism: noise-pop, post-punk, alternative rock, shoegaze. After the immense UK success of their debut came 1987’s Darklands, and in 1989, Automatic, which would bring the band their first major USA chart successes with four songs hitting the top 10 and, with Blues From a Gun, their only number 1 Billboard hit. With the feedback of Psychocandy stripped away, these songs revealed the full scope of the brothers’ songwriting artistry later to be recognised in cover versions by Pixies, Richard Hawley, Sandie Shaw, Ninet Tayeb, David Hasselhoff and others.

In the nearly decade-long hiatus post-1998, The Jesus and Mary Chain (JAMC) never strayed far from public consciousness—thanks in part to director Sofia Coppola’s use of Just Like Honey in the film Lost in Translation. In true eclectic fashion, the band made their big comeback in 2007 at Coachella, with Lost in Translation star Scarlett Johansson performing alongside them.

In 2024, their 40th year, came the self-produced album Glasgow Eyesrecorded at Mogwai’s Castle of Doom studio. Praised as a “staggering, swaggering achievement” (The Record Collector) and “as dynamic and engaged as their incendiary debut” (The Times), the album bore all the markers of a JAMC record without forgoing contemporary relevance through its sharp, poignant and often sardonic songwriting. It clearly resonated with fans as well, charting across their home country and the wider UK, reaching the top spot in the UK Independent Album and Scottish Albums charts.

On the heels of a hectic tour schedule in 2024 and 2025, The Jesus and Mary Chain is taking it slow in 2026 while working on new music, making just two stops in Asia. Don’t miss this rare chance to experience this pioneering band’s sonic excellence in the grand Esplanade Concert Hall, right here in Singapore.