Never Understood

Art ignites in the mind and, in the case of The Jesus and Mary Chain, churns relentlessly on to the centre stage. Perhaps the definitive outcasts-saved-by-rock ‘n’ roll story – IRVINE WELSHForget 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 RANKINIn this entertaining autobiography, William and Jim Reid emerge as both expert chroniclers and good company … Fraught, funny and occasionally farcical * SCOTSMAN *An epic story about the Reid brothers’ war against the world and themselves. An odyssey of rock ‘n’ roll, class, addiction, self-crucifixion and resurrection. As diseased and beautiful as their music. I couldn’t put it down – BOBBY GILLESPIEFrom the opening line to the last you get it all: addiction, poverty, success, misery, redemption. All told with a brutal, raw honesty and a dry, intoxicating realism – NICKY WIREA wonderful book. 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 MURPHYFunny and moving * Observer *★★★★ * TELEGRAPH *

Brothers William and Jim Reid are founding members of The Jesus and Mary Chain. Many revere them as true rock ‘n’ roll anti-heroes.

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