The Jesus Lizard

About

The Jesus Lizard: a name synonymous with corrosive noise-rock, a band that clawed its way out of the fertile Chicago underground in the late '80s and early '90s, leaving a trail of broken glass and bewildered mosh pits in its wake. Fronted by the convulsing, sardonic David Yow, their sound was a brutal tapestry woven from Duane Denison's angular, unorthodox guitar riffs, Mac McNeilly's relentless, almost tribal drumming, and the foundational bass lines of David Wm. Sims. Think a mangled collision between post-punk, hardcore aggression, and art-rock abstraction. Their ascent was gradual but deliberate. Albums like "Head," "Goat," and "Liar" on Touch and Go Records cemented their reputation as a band that prioritized visceral impact over commercial appeal. Their live shows, legendary for Yow's performance antics – often involving stage diving and self-inflicted injuries – became the stuff of legend. A brief stint on Capitol Records with "Down" and "Shot" marked a period of experimentation before their initial dissolution in 1999. While many bands of their era faded into obscurity, The Jesus Lizard's influence continued to resonate, inspiring a generation of noise-rock and post-hardcore acts. After years of dormancy, the band reunited in the late 2000s for sporadic tours, proving that their brand of sonic mayhem remained as potent as ever. More recently, a full-fledged return has seen them back on stages, reminding the world why they remain revered as architects of controlled chaos.