Never Understood

“Art ignites in the mind and, in the case of the Mary Chain, churns relentlessly on to the center stage. Perhaps the definitive outcasts-saved-by-rock ‘n roll story.”–Irvine Welsh“A wonderful book, most enlightening. Jim and William were outsiders among outsiders and being in a band was life or death for them. Somehow against all the odds they created one of the most iconic bands of all time and easily some of the most sublime music of the ‘80s.”–Roisin Murphy“An epic story about the Reid brothers’ war against the world and themselves. An odyssey of rock and roll, class, addiction, self-crucifixion, and resurrection. As diseased and beautiful as their music. I couldn’t put it down.”–Bobby Gillespie“Forget Phil Spector’s wall of sound–the Jesus and Mary Chain didn’t know where to stop, and it led to the most exciting sounds to come out of the UK in a generation. Here is the story of the Reid brothers’ rollercoaster life. Scream if you want to go faster–they’ll almost certainly oblige.”–Ian Rankin

Brothers William and Jim Reid are founding members of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Ben Thompson is a critic, ghostwriter, and radio host.