Managing sibling relationships within a band can present challenges, as seen in many bands, including your own. How do you maintain a healthy dynamic between being brothers and bandmates? somecandytalking
According to Jim Reid, being in a band with his brother has taught him how to handle their relationship. In the past, they had unspoken boundaries that they wouldn’t cross, but in the 90s, they couldn’t even stand each other. He’s thankful that most of their conflicts occurred before smartphones were around to capture them and share them on YouTube. On one occasion while DJing, they even got into a physical fight and caused shock and horror among the onlookers.
In 1998, during a performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Jim became heavily intoxicated and was unable to remember the songs. As a result, I had to remove him from the stage and attempt to take on the role of lead singer, but I also struggled to remember the lyrics. This incident caused the band to disband for nine years, but since then, we have not had any conflicts. Our dynamic runs smoothly as long as alcohol is not involved. We have grown and become more mature, and it’s not productive to constantly argue.
Jim: Our relationship was repaired by not having the band. The track “Jamcod” on our new album [Glasgow Eyes] is inspired by that experience, and we have both learned what not to say now.
Jim once stated, “Following each tour, our desire to harm one another was strong, and on the final tour, we actually attempted it.” Who was the intended victim? – Zaropans
I would have taken Jim’s life as I am physically larger.
Jim expressed that he would have harmed William. He referenced the scene from Goldfinger where James Bond was in danger of being killed on a table with lasers.
When I was 15 years old, I returned my vinyl version of Psychocandy to the record store because I believed there was a flaw in it. Can you explain the sound of that album? TopTramp
Jim: Psychocandy was us trying to fix everything that was wrong with the music scene, so if it sounded the opposite of the diarrhoea that was pumping out of the radio at the time, job done.
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I recall a collaboration between you and Shane MacGowan on a song called “God Help Me.” Did the two of you have a good working relationship? -stevelittlefingers
William: I used to see Shane around town. He was always steaming drunk and would always say: “Jim! Jim! You’re a fucking genius!” I’d go: “I’m William,” but it happened so often that I let him call me Jim. We were big Pogues fans. I’d written the song about myself, but thought it would sound good with Shane singing. It wasn’t easy getting that man in the studio. He was doing heroin as well, then, but eventually we did and it was fantastic.
Jim: If life were just, Shane would have abstained from drinking in his forties and lived until his nineties. But he was amazing – everything you could hope for in a person. One time, he even performed that song with us at Madame JoJo’s in Soho. We were incredibly anxious and ended up getting wasted, but he arrived completely sober and gave us a disapproving look. The show was fantastic; he sang with the same energy as when he was in the Nipple Erectors. It was pure punk rock.
In the 1980s, Alan McGee (the boss of the band’s label, Creation Records) stated that you were the greatest thing since the Sex Pistols. Do you agree with this statement? – Galdove19
William: It can be tempting to believe it when someone tells you that you are the best thing that has ever happened, but then you see them say the same thing to someone else. Alan called everything “genius” – even a simple chocolate bar. This exaggerated praise brought us both positive and negative attention. Unfortunately, Jim was physically attacked twice and some people even came to our shows just to throw bottles at us. As a result, we asked McGee to be more restrained in his statements.
Jim believed that either NME or Sounds was the one to initiate it, but McGee, who was going through a Malcolm McLaren phase, was the main force behind it. Jim thought it was risky when he read about it. He got beaten up at a Nick Cave concert. The term “hype” used to irritate him, so he wasn’t convinced that any form of publicity was beneficial. Eventually, they took a break for half a year, hoping that the riots and aggression at their shows would subside. When they returned, it had indeed calmed down.
The song “Mildenhall” by The Shins tells the story of James Mercer’s discovery of alternative music through a classmate who introduced him to a band called Jesus and the Mary Chain. How did you first become interested in music and which artist or band captured your heart? From VerulamiumParkRanger.
Jim received a Dansette as a birthday gift and some records by The Beatles and Bob Dylan. The Beatles sparked my interest in music. From there, I explored different genres from glam rock to punk. It was a way to escape our mundane lives in East Kilbride and enter a fantasy world. When I heard bands like Roxy Music, I never imagined we could achieve something like that. However, after spending all night trying to play the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop, I realized I was capable of being a musician.
William: I had a dirty and dangerous job at a sheet-metal factory in Glasgow. An interview with Johnny Rotten in the Daily Record, where he was talking about not working in a dead-end job, really affected me. Within a year, I quit my job. Before I heard the Ramones, I was playing Coming Round the Mountain from Bert Weedon “play in a day” [guitar tutorial] books.
Was the use of Just Like Honey in the final scene of Lost in Translation (2003) one of the best examples of music in film? How much input did you have in its selection and were you satisfied with the final outcome? VerulamiumParkRanger
William stated that their only role in the situation was agreeing to participate. Initially, they were planning on declining due to the low offer, but a friend who was involved in the production informed them that Sofia Coppola, the writer and director, was passionate about the project despite lacking funds and would be greatly disappointed if they refused.
Jim: It was amazing to have our songs used in films, even if it was just for a short time. But to have our music featured in a pivotal scene in a fantastic film was truly incredible. This exposure also brought us a large number of new supporters.
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What’s the best heckle you’ve ever had? Area3AAM
William: Hecklers are not typically clever. They usually just say, “Fuck you.”
One time in New York, I encountered a man dressed in military gear, resembling Travis Bickle, who was glaring at me and making threatening gestures. I immediately thought, “If he stands up, I’m in trouble.” Eventually, he attempted to climb onto the stage but it took four security guards to restrain him and escort him out.
Could the discotheque Centre Point in East Kilbride compete with the Haçienda in Manchester in terms of slum-pop?
William: During our time living there, the nightclub was known as the Olympia. However, I can attest that the Haçienda was much less aggressive. I still have a lingering pain in my jaw from being kicked by someone at the Olympia in 1975.
Did you actually shout “Guilty!” on the song Drama by Erasure? YorksJambo
William: We were all in the same recording studios and their producer asked for a group of people to shout “Guilty!” It was amusing because their lead singer, Andy Bell, had criticized our latest album in a music publication. When we entered the room, he became visibly nervous. However, he had no need to worry. Despite our reputation, we are actually calm and friendly individuals who enjoy tea and toast.
The initial concert I attended was during the Psychocandy tour at the Royal Court in Liverpool. The performance lasted 29 minutes. Do you have longer sets now? Can I request a refund? – butchoaks
Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds. Currently, our performances typically last for approximately 90 minutes, which is an appropriate length of time. We have also added a significant number of new songs to our repertoire.
Jim expressed that he becomes uninterested after watching bands for more than 30 minutes, even if it was a legendary band like The Beatles. During their prime, they would even perform for only 20 minutes. He acknowledges that audiences expect to hear the songs they paid for, but he would still prefer a shorter performance if possible.
How would the nihilistic and rebellious JAMC react to you still doing it at this moment? MoreSheepThanHumans
William believes that they would feel a sense of pride, as when they first began, interviewers would inquire about their plans for the next five years. At that time, many believed their success would be short-lived. However, after four decades, it is clear that their company will continue to thrive as long as they choose to keep it going.
Jim: We are still the same people we were before. I believe we would be content with who we have become, but surprised to see that we are still pursuing our passions. And if we are doing it out of love and have created a record that we are proud of, then why not continue?
Source: theguardian.com
