The Story of Psychocandy: The Album That Started Riots and Rewrote Indie Rock
Nothing sounded like The Jesus And Mary Chain in 1985, when their debut album “Psychocandy” hit the airwaves. Brothers Jim and William Reid, trapped in the grey sprawl of East Kilbride, Scotland, transformed pop music into a weapon of noise, birthing a new sound. Fueled by attic 45s and a hatred for 80s gloss, they fused girl-group melodies with feedback-drenched chaos, recording raw demos that ignited Creation Records. From a riotous London debut to the anarchic Southern Studios sessions, their 1985 masterpiece sparked riots and a legacy that shaped shoegaze and indie rock. This is the story of “Psychocandy”
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✉️ Read the transcript & hear the music on the Poetic Wax Substack: https://poeticwax.substack.com
WATCH NEXT:
✓ The Smiths and the Story of Bigmouth Strikes Again: https://youtu.be/_RTDWQ0jM7o
✓ How a Nightmare Shaped a 1985 Masterpiece by The Cure: https://youtu.be/Si12Zd-PJLU
✓ The Wild Story of Soldier by Iggy Pop: https://youtu.be/Hc8tjiyAFUs
🎥 Music from the 80s on Poetic Wax: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLylroYWVYWWU8dkgJcr256bm3capBlRzJ
Get Psychocandy on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/47Yh7do
Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 The Story of Psychocandy
2:50 Birth of a Beautiful Noise (The Early Days of The Jesus and Mary Chain)
5:25 A Major Shift (Recording Psychocandy)
8:25 The Sound of Collapse (The Songs of Psychocandy)
12:20 Chaos, Myth, and Consequence (What Came Next)
15:04 Echoes in the Static (The Legacy of The Jesus And Mary Chain)
CLIP CREDITS:
The Jesus and Mary Chain (Interview & Live at North London Polytechnic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlsL5m1nirs
East Kilbride: The Making of a Town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5M_S80uMMQ
I Want My MTV Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbAX2pN1B5g
The Jesus and Mary Chain Belgian Interview (1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4ZXpsoOUg
The Jesus And Mary Chain: You Trip Me Up (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK2nJWNgZBA
The Jesus and Mary Chain (Electric Ballroom in Camden, Sept. 9, 1985) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrW2J1oHeBc
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@jasongray4517
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
It wasn't long before the British music press turned against the band, particularly the NME.
@albertmorris6162
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
They were so beautiful.
@DavidKilpatrick-w4b
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Stuck in Cambodia waiting for a flight. Your videos are so interesting and well-informed I've forgotten how long I've been waiting for my call. Thanks and keep up the good work.
@patrickthompson9022
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
no mention of spacemen 3?
@seanwinter4784
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
JMC was the soundtrack to my teenage years in the second half of the 80s. Nothing sounded like them at the time and I played those first couple of records and the Darklands long play single incessantly. Jim Reid was right when he said they had made a classic record that would stand up decades later. Pure genius.
@newforestpixie5297
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
i loved their 1st record & the irreverence of their early music seemed authentic & following the whole Live Aid thing, this period in British music was a hinterland in some respects (post synth pop ,post punk & pre rave & thrash etc) which needed JAMC. they weren’t trying to be Cool as with most of the NME approved bands – they didn’t seem to give a toss but if they actually did then they did it well.
@Zoell1s
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
<3
@Keith-c8p
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
WHY YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS COMPERE THIS TO THAT TO`⁉️⁉️⁉️🤔 DAME WHAT FOR ⁉️YES NOW YOU TALKING THIS IS A REVIEW OFF A BAND NO COMPERATION 2 3 🤮
@CGL1966
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
2:00 You could say that. In fact, this is the third time in 2 minutes you've essentially said that 😂. Cool video
@svenbras6735
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
There were two albums I got to listen to and that scared the hell out of me, because I was too young: I was 12, and couldn't even listen to Psychocandy (I grew up with daddy's 60's and 70's rock'n'roll, the Stones, Pink Floyd, you name it). And then this assault. Even now, I can't listen it at full volume. The other album came out a year later, and was Reign in Blood.
@edwardduarte7393
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Psychocandy is genius. Plus you had Bobby there
@TrevorBarre
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
They played for 15 minutes because they had so few songs.
@Seeker12x12
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
"I survived the '80's one time already, I don't recall them all that fondly…." THS
@zxspecticle
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Proud to say that the JAMC were the very first band I saw live – at the tender age of 15 in 1985 – Psychocandy Tour, Nottingham’s Rock City venue.
@scotto4090
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
OK. This has been my favorite album since i bought it in 85 at 15 years old. Best played in the dark, falling asleep, slightly stoned.
@JeremyKeighley-s9m
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
a perfect summary of everything that made the JAMC great.
@NickDeenge
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
damn… you really like NPR huh
@peterboels
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I’m more a fan of there “Honey’s dead” album era. That album I miss on your vinyl display.
@KeeleyKaos
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I absolutely love the way you narrated this ❤
@TheFibtastic
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I heard The Hardest Walk when I was 17 and my entire musical direction changed.
@SPSvensk
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I saw them for the first time with 9 Inch Nails opening. I was impressed with 9 Inch Nails's set then JMC came out and blew the venue up. One of the best shows I've ever seen. After their set I said I guess 9 Inch Nails wasn't as good as I thought… Jim is correct.
@dkb219
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
They remind me slightly of The Birthday Party… confrontational, drunk, aggressive- but there's lovely music in there if you're willing to work for it.
@friautz
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Thank you for the video. What can In say…best band, best record and coolest haircuts ever 😉 the they have been my heroes since my youth. No other band managed to be so powerful and noisy and at the same time emotional, heart and soul touching. Best combination of noise, beauty and sadeness.
@grantcampbell2624
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Myself and some mates went to see them about 1986,barrowlands Glasgow 15 minute set. Feedback only,travelled from Ayr. Still it was. Good to have been there.
@lolah3838
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Arguably the most influential band of my teenager experience and my first full on obsession. Saw them live multiple times in NYC, met William once and travelled to the shit hole of East Kilbride when I lived in the Brighton.
@starrywizdom
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I love this album, but my favourite J&M Chain is Munki.
@daveholly9005
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
When Bleach came out my first reation was , someones picked this up again. Yes some of the songs are faster and definitly more punk influenced , but I heard Psycocandy v2
@tsrashotgun9304
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Got to see them live in Austin in the late 90's great show.
@ericpanissidi6761
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I saw them in 1987 san diego California usa with iggy pop. They destroyed thier gear smashing thier guitars. Loved them
@MnGn24
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Glasgow is a relatively small city and East Kilbride is on the edge of it but we do it right. For a city of our size we have produced some great music.
@tomasjegeus461
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
It’s hard to listen to AI written copy – too many similes. Otherwise great channel.
@grotchemagrowbag
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Most of these YouTube unofficial documentaries are unbelievably terrible. But, this is knowledgeable and informative and, more unusually, factually correct 👍
@nickspydiver
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Mcgee was mates with the band before they came to London . He went to school with Bobby .
@saraivatoledo1842
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
06:59 And here the "straight edge " movement was born
@RadianttMeat
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Still have that Upside Down 45…what a game changer!
@TimothyShea-w1d
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Memory and prophesy…I like that. Usually something like that sounds stupid, but it fits for Psychocandy.
@patrickryan5570
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Loveless the second studio album by the Irish rock band My Bloody Valentine (1991) certainly took inspiration for distorted sound from the Jesus & Mary Chain
@ForARide
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
The template to their distorted guitar sound is John Cale's screeching and droning electric viola. Fact!
@p9jpd9
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
i still love J&MC, but JoyDivison is much better. And I just wanted to mention, not covered in this vid, the noise rock influence started by the Velvet Underground and other NYC bands. You can clearly hear in there music
@danpreston564
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
I loved it at the time. Listening back it’s a terrible album. Nursery rhyme songs dressed up in feedback.
@nyalaclub
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
When I first saw The Jesus and Mary Chain Sonic Youth were their support band. I loved TJMC but Sonic Youth were the better performers.
@thevoodoolovegods1680
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Wow Great narration!!!
@MarcoVenosta
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Best Band 🧡
@davidkoenig8592
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
1985 was my first full year in NYC. I had a friend who bought the UK press that summer and then I did. I was lucky enough to see them play in NYC in November '85 at The Ritz and my life was transformed. Saw them play in '87 (with a drum machine!) and in '93. One of the greatest bands ever.
@MrKommunityFK
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Fantastic lecture on my 2nd fave anti-heroes, The Jesus & Mary Chain. Luv the vid clips as visual annotations. Very kool. Thank you. ♤♡♤
@scottboyd3838
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
In ref, to A Place To Bury Strangers, just saw them this past May in Toronto , took my 21yr-old son to the gig, thanks for him getting us Beachouse tickets in 2022, Strangers gig was the loudest thing I've ever heard, and I took out my earplugs, now I have issues with specifically my left ear, so worth it though hahaha
@cggarrod
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
Great video Andy. I think I said somewhere else on YouTube, but when I first got this on cassette, I took it back to my local record store because I thought something was wrong with it!!!! Love it now, of course.
@scottboyd3838
March 4, 2026 at 6:19 am
A guy in my English class in 1990, was forced by our very Catholic teacher, too turn his JAMC tee inside out as she obviously thought the name was some form of blasphemy. Cool dude.
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