The Jesus Lizard

Willfully abrasive, melodically angular, capable of stop-on-a-dime dynamics, and physically powerful, the Jesus Lizard are one of the leading noise rock bands in the American underground. During the first part of the '90s, the band turned out a series of independent records -- including 1991's Goat and 1992's Liar -- filled with scathing, guitar-driven noise from Duane Denison and over-the-top vocals from David Yow, which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college radio play. By the mid-'90s, the group's following had grown large enough to convince a major-label, Capitol Records, to sign the band, though their two LPs for the label didn't please most fans and were ignored by mainstream listeners. The band broke up in 1999, but after several celebrated reunion tours, they returned with a bracing studio effort in 2024, Rack. The Jesus Lizard was formed in 1987 by Duane Denison (guitar), David Yow (vocals), and David Wm. Sims (bass) -- the latter two are former members of the Austin-based post-hardcore noise group Scratch Acid. After Scratch Acid disbanded, Sims joined Rapeman, a similarly abrasive indie group led by Steve Albini. Rapeman proved to be short-lived, and Sims formed the Jesus Lizard with Yow and Denison in 1987. Originally, the group performed with a drum machine, much like Albini's previous band Big Black. Albini produced the group's debut EP, Pure, which was released on Touch & Go in 1989; the producer would work on every Jesus Lizard release on Touch & Go and would come to be closely associated with the band. The Jesus Lizard added a human drummer, Mac McNeilly, in late 1989 and he appeared on the band's first full-length album, 1990's Head. The following year, the group released its second album, Goat, which received positive reviews from underground music journals like Option and mainstream music publications such as Spin alike. By the time of the release of Goat, the band had cultivated a large cult following among the American indie rock underground, based on both their records and their notoriously reckless, occasionally violent and vulgar, live performances, which often found Yow diving into the audience several times during the set. In 1992, the Jesus Lizard got a major endorsement from alternative superstars Nirvana, who persuaded the Jesus Lizard to issue a split single with them, "Puss" [Jesus Lizard] b/w "Oh the Guilt" [Nirvana], not long after the unprecedented success of Nirvana's second album, Nevermind. That same year, Jesus Lizard released its third album, Liar. In 1993, the group was relatively quiet, releasing only the "Lash" single. Early in 1994, the Jesus Lizard released a one-shot live album on Giant Records called Show, their first appearance on a major label. Originally recorded for an unreleased live compilation marking the 20th birthday of N.Y.C. punk venue CBGB, Show's appearance on a major label shocked some fans, and rumors spread that it caused a rift between the band and indie advocate Albini, though both sides said this was not the case. While Albini would work on 1994's Down, it proved to be his last project with the Jesus Lizard, just as it would be their final album for Touch & Go. In 1995, the Jesus Lizard signed with Capitol Records and the band joined that year's Lollapalooza Tour alongside Sonic Youth, Hole, Pavement, and Beck. At one of the shows on the tour, David Yow was arrested for exposing himself on-stage. Later in 1995, the group recorded their major-label debut, Shot, produced by GGGarth (aka Garth Richardson) and issued in early 1996. The album wasn't up to the standards of their work on Touch & Go, yet it was still too abrasive to cross over to mainstream audiences. Before the year was out, McNeilly had left the band, having become disenchanted with touring. Jim Kimball, who played with the Laughing Hyenas, Mule, and in Denison's side project the Denison/Kimball Trio, took over on drums. In 1998, Jetset Records, in cooperation with Capitol, issued an EP that saw the band working with several different producers, including John Cale, Jim O'Rourke, and Andy Gill of Gang of Four. Gill returned to produce their sixth studio album, 1998's Blue, which added atmospheric touches to their trademark attack. Like Shot, it didn't click with old fans or win them new ones, and Kimball quit the Jesus Lizard in mid-1998. Brendan Murphy was their drummer for several rounds of touring that ended with an appearance at a Swedish music festival on March 27, 1999. Around this time, Capitol dropped the Jesus Lizard, and the band soon broke up. The classic Jesus Lizard lineup of Denison, Sims, McNeilly, and Yow reunited for a 2009 concert tour that was well received by fans old and new, while Touch & Go brought out remastered editions of their four LPs for the label, remastered by Albini and Bob Weston. 2011's Club documented their appearance in Nashville on the reunion tour, and was issued on LP, CD, and DVD. In late 2017, the Jesus Lizard reunited for another tour, which once again packed venues and earned enthusiastic reviews. In June 2024, to the surprise of many, the Jesus Lizard revealed they had recorded their seventh studio album, Rack, which was issued by Ipecac Records in September 2024. Produced by Paul Allen in cooperation with the group, the Jesus Lizard supported the release with an international concert tour that extended into May 2025.
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