THE JESUS LIZARD (A Biography) "So the future of rock 'n' roll is the Jesus Lizard - a bunch of saddoes who light their farts, sing about their urine, show us their assholes, still believe that being generally unlistenable is 'challenging,' and who've already been around for years without making any impact. Makes you sad, doesn't it? Me, I'm off. I'll try to like techno. I guess I'll have to. If the best the biggest new hope has to offer is being better than Pearl Jam, then there is little hope for music fans. the Jesus Lizard, you are a hard act to swallow because you are a bucket of shit. Please decompose." Melody Maker 1/15/94 Back in the summer of 1989 at an all-you-can-eat Thai food buffet, the Jesus Lizard played a hell of a set that impressed the pants off of a bunch of Chicago yahoos. 5 years later they still put on quite a show. The media which tends to focus on alleged appalling stage antics must have been at another show. 100 moms say "the Jesus Lizard: I'd throw my panties at 'em." Down was recorded in Chicago during January of 1994 and was released last August 29th. It is their 4th full length release for Touch and Go Records. "the Jesus Lizard were great. I can't say that I would love every piece of their music, but that one song ('Destroy Before Reading') was kind of catchy. I would definitely go to see them in concert." ---Nancy, age 43 and mother of 2 'My goodness, those boys sure do have a lot of energy." ---Doris, age 63 and mother of 2 "It's not so bad, but why does he (David Yow) have to scream all the time?" ---Gloria, age 50, mother of 2 the Jesus Lizard DUANE DENISON guitar MAC McNEILLY drums DAVID Wm SIMS bass DAVID YOW vocals the Jesus Lizard: a historical burp the Jesus Lizard currently reside in Chicago where they all have very modest apartments on quiet, residential streets. David Yow and David Sims relocated to Chicago from Austin, Texas where they played in a band called Scratch Acid with 2 other guys: Brett Bradford and Rey Washam. Scratch Acid began sometime in 1982. Scratch Acid released 3 records: a self-titled EP (July '84/Rabid Cat); Just Keep Eating LP (January '86/Rabid Cat); Berserker LP (fall '86/Touch and Go) before making their last live appearance on May 5, 1987 at the Cave Club in Austin. Touch and Go released The Greatest Gift, a compilation of Scratch Acid's works. For a more detailed accounting of the life and times of Scratch Acid, read The Greatest Gift's liner notes. David Yow and David Sims moved to Chicago in 1988, but not before David Sims began working towards a Bachelors degree in Accounting at the University of Texas. Duane Denison moved to Chicago from Austin as well. Not a native Texan, Duane migrated to Austin from Michigan where he received a degree in music from University of Michigan. Duane was a member of Cargo Cult. Randy "Biscuit" Turner (Big Boys) was also in that band. Cargo Cult released Strange Men Bearing Gifts LP on Touch and Go in 1986. David Sims and Rey Washam did time in Rapeman before David Sims, David Yow and Duane got together with a drum machine and a Steve Albini to record the Jesus Lizard's first EP, Pure for Touch and Go Records in the winter of 1988. Meanwhile, Mac McNeilly was down in Atlanta playing in several bands: 86, Phantom 309, Pygmy Twirl Arounds and Sexy Up. Mac received a degree from Texas Christian University. He moved to Chicago just in time to replace the drum machine and record the Jesus Lizard's first full length album, Head for Touch and Go in April of '90. the Jesus Lizard have toured with lots of good bands including, but not restricted to Helmet, Sonic Youth and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion; as well as playing lots of family style gigs with their label mates on Touch and Go and Quarterstick Records. 5 seven inches and 2 albums after they released their very first album, the Jesus Lizard are still here in Chicago with no plans to move anywhere anytime soon. David Sims recently completed his Accounting degree at DePaul University. David Yow never finished art school.