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the Jesus Lizard
David Yow, Duane Denison, Mac McNeilly, and David Wm. Sims
Country	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genres	Noise rock Post Punk alternative Rock record_label = Touch and Go Capitol Records
Members	David Yow David Wm. Sims Duane Denison Mac McNeilly

The Jesus Lizard was a rock music group formed in 1989 in Chicago, Illinois. After the breakup of Scratch Acid, singer David Yow relocated to Chicago where he met guitarist Duane Denison. Finding his abilities on bass guitar lacking, David Yow recruited ex-Scratch Acid bassist David Wm. Sims for a new project. The trio called themselves The Jesus Lizard; using a drum machine for their earliest recordings and performances, before adding drummer Mac McNeilly after recording their first EP Pure.

Contents 1 Sound and Influence 2 History 3 Post-Breakup 4 Discography 5 Chart Positions 5.1 Albums 5.2 Singles 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

The band took their name from a common nickname for the basilisk, a type of lizard that can run on water. While never finding much mainstream success, The Jesus Lizard have been called "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground ... [who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college-radio play."^[1] Members of Nirvana, Helmet, Every Time I Die and other bands, claim the Jesus Lizard as their influence.^{[citation needed]}

Their music was a scathing mix of piercing guitar, machine-like drums, propulsive bass guitar, and psychotic vocals, often reminiscent of The Birthday Party. 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 Yow's frenzied, often incoherent vocals were quite unique, unlike anything past or present. David Sprague suggests that "Yow's disjointed couplets" are reminiscent of a "preacher speaking in tongues."[1]

Through 1994, the Jesus Lizard's studio recordings were recorded and engineered by Steve Albini. 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 kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth; the effect is horrific." (Azerrad, 344)^[2] While appreciated as a unique vocalist, Yow was more often sited for his confrontational antics on-stage.

During a show at the now defunct Odd Rock Cafe in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jesus Lizard's set list included an instrumental titled "Tight and Shiny". Yow set the mike stand at waist-height,dropped his drawers, and pulled out his penis. The band thundered on, while the song title's relevance crept into the audiences' mind as they had a clear view of Yow stretching his scrotal sack over his testicles, giving them a tight and shiny look.

Also in 1994 David Yow tried out his acting chops in the movie "Walls In the City" with the soundtrack done by Denison Kimball Trio and released on SkinGraft Records.

In 1995, The Jesus Lizard signed a contract with Capitol Records, an action which caused a falling out with Albini, famous for his dislike of major record companies. With the major label backing the band put the song "Panic In Cicero" on the Clerks. soundtrack, and made appearances at Lollapalooza.

In 1996 The Jesus Lizard released "Shot." Recorded by GGGarth and moved the band into new territory on all fronts; artistically, sonically, musically, and lyrically.

In 1997 Mac McNeilly left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Jim Kimball, who appeared that year on The Jesus Lizard's self-titled EP on Jetset Records. The EP featured production and engineering by Andy Gill (Gang of Four), John Cale, and Jim O'Rourke.

In 1998 the band released "Blue" recorded by Andy Gill of Gang of Four fame. A departure for The Jesus Lizard, this one was another step in the direction " Shot" took them. Many fans hold this to be the low point of their career. During the following tour Kimball was replaced by Brendan Murphy. Later that year the band announced that they were breaking up.

In 2000, Touch & Go issued a CD of 7" tracks and rarities called Bang.

After the split some of the members moved on to other bands. Denison plays with Tomahawk, continues to play with Kimball in the Denison Kimball Trio (which is actually a duo), and backed up Hank Williams III on a couple of tours.

In 2006, Yow and Sims reformed Scratch Acid, along with Rey Washam (Rapeman, Ministry) and Brett Bradford for the Touch and Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival in Chicago. A week before the Touch & Go Festival, the re-united Scratch Acid played to a sold-out crowd at Emo's in their hometown of Austin, TX.

After The Jesus Lizard, drummer Mac MacNeilly, along with his wife, formed the band Mouse. Bassist David Wm. Sims relocated to New York City and now works as an accountant. Vocalist David Yow moved to Los Angeles to work in graphic design. Yow has joined the Los Angeles band Qui.

Year	Title	Label
1989	Pure	Touch & Go
1990	Head	Touch & Go
1991	Goat	Touch & Go
1992	Liar	Touch & Go
1993	Lash	Touch & Go
1994	Show	Collision Arts
1994	Down	Touch & Go
1996	Shot	Capitol
1997	Self-Titled EP	JetSet
1998	Blue	Capitol
2000	Bang	Touch & Go

Year	Album	Chart	Position
1996	Shot	Heatseekers (US)	No. 28

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1993	Puss/Oh, the Guilt (split single with Nirvana)	Official UK Singles Chart	No. 12

• List of alternative music artists
• Rapeman
• The Love Interest
• Firewater
• Hank Williams III
• Helmet
• The Melvins
• Tomahawk

• Touch & Go Records
• [2] "Legacy of the Jesus Lizard"

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Jesus Lizard". All Music Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2005.
2. ^ Azerrad, Michael. Our Band Could Be Your Life. Little Brown and Company, 2002. ISBN 0-316-78753-1

The Jesus Lizard

Duane Denison | Mac McNeilly | David Wm. Sims | David Yow

Jim Kimball | Brendan Murphy

Discography

Albums and extended plays: Pure | Head | Goat | Liar | Lash (EP) | Show | Down | The Jesus Lizard (EP) | Shot | Blue | Bang