



I’m of the opinion that The Jesus and Mary Chain created some of the most beautiful, lulling, sometimes jarring sounds in all of rock ‘n’ roll. But they also gave some of the sourest, most testy interviews of the MTV generation. They were famous for deflecting questions, contradicting interviewers, and refusing to acknowledge any peers or comparable groups. They also lacked no ego when asserting the value and innovation of their own work, describing themselves as one of the few good bands at an overwhelmingly unimpressive moment in music history. Perhaps true, but still, guys!

But I found the best one. I found the best Jesus and Mary Chain interview of all. It’s not because their carefully feigned trademark annoyance and boredom is at a fever pitch. It’s not because they undermine every band compared to them, including The Sex Pistols, who Jim Reid later credited with inspiring he and his brother to start a band. It’s not even because Reid is totally screwing with the interviewer, making snide comments on the band’s commercial ambitions to compete with Duran Duran and Culture Club.

No, this is the best/worst Jesus and Mary Chain interview ever, because in the middle of a question, apropos of nothing, then-drummer Bobby Gillespie just starts making out with an unidentified woman on the couch. It is never explained, announced, or acknowledged, but Gillespie just keeps on macking away. The poor cameraman attempts to focus on Reid, who does most of the talking, and appears oblivious, but after a while the close-up feels awkward, and the shot has to include Gillespie’s stunt. While I find the whole thing amusing, I hope everyone on set got a raise for going with the mighty weird flow here…

