Jesus Jones formed at the end of 1988, and quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting and innovative acts of their time. They were one of the first bands to successfully blend rock and dance music, using samples and beats over catchy, commercial pop songs. Catching the mood of the time perfectly, it wasn’t long before they started to enjoy worldwide success, signing to EMI, via the newly founded Food Records – later to be home to blur.
Their first album, 1989’s“Liquidizer” with it’s singles “Never Enough” and “Info Freako” saw them tour the UK and Europe, wowing critics and fans with a high-energy live show that was to become the band’s trademark. Within a year, things really started to happen. When it was first released, at the start of 1991,their second album “doubt” quickly became a phenomenon. It entered the UK charts at number one, and gave the band their first gold disc. It would also see massive sales around the world, including Canada (where it went platinum), as well as Japan and Australia. However, perhaps the album’s greatest success was in the US, where it went platinum, selling well in excess of a million copies.
This was driven by the single “Right Here, Right Now”, which was a huge MTV hit (it was, at the time, the longest-running video on their playlist, ever), and was on constant rotation at virtually every radio station across the country. The single reached number one, and still remains an anthem to this day. The album also spawned a number of other huge worldwide hits, including “International Bright Young Thing”, and “Who? Where? Why?” and the band were awarded an MTV award for “Best New Artist”, as well as being nominated for a Grammy.
The band toured “doubt” extensively, including two tours of the US, which sold out before the band had even boarded an airplane. The success of the album enabled them to play to 200,000 people in Brazil, at the Hollywood Rock Festival, to Support INXS at Wembley Stadium, and to appear on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
Their next album “Perverse” saw them explore the rock/dance crossover even more – and influence other emerging acts such as The Prodigy. Further albums followed in 1997 (“Already”), and 2001’s self-released “London”.
And now they’re back. But talk of any sort of “reunion”, and they’ll point out that to reunite, you had to have called it a day, and that’s something they never did. They never actually split up. “There were no “musical differences”, no acrimonious breakup,” says keyboard player Iain Baker “No burnt bridges to repair, nothing like that at all – we’ve always been together”. Fair point, so where have they been? Well, getting on with their lives, whilst their pioneering dance-rock outfit slumbered in the background. Singer and band leader Mike Edwards became a successful personal fitness trainer and professional cycle coach, bassist Alan played alongside ex-Mekon Jon Langford in Punk/Country crossover act The Waco Brothers in his new hometown of Chicago, keyboard player Iain forged a new career as a Radio DJ on Xfm and NME Radio, and guitarist Jerry busied himself as a professional artist. They never stopped playing together; it was just that real life seemed to get in the way. But, sometime, in 2004, with a change in management, and a newfound enthusiasm, they decided the time had come to fall in love with being in a band all over again. Since then, things have been very busy indeed – they released a brand new compilation of rarities and unheard tracks called “The Collection” – their first album release for almost ten years. This was followed by a live DVD, celebrating the closure of the venue that gave them their big break, the iconic Bull &Gate pub in London’s Kentish Town. The band threw themselves back into touring, with tours of Australia, Japan, and the UK, as well as a select number of festivals. In 2014, each of the bands four EMI albums was reissued and expanded, delighting their fans with a huge amount of rare and unheard material.
After nearly three decades together, 2019 sees the band with exactly the same lineup as when they formed – making them somewhat of a rarity amongst their contemporaries. As singer Mike Edwards explains: “it may be a bit of a cliché to say we do it for fun now, but it couldn’t be more apt – we’ve been friends and band mates for so long, that it just feels right, being onstage, all of us together, playing the songs that have shaped our lives – It’s a fantastic feeling!”
That enthusiasm certainly comes across whenever the band plays, as they still throw themselves around the stage with a manic energy that puts many younger bands to shame. And, not content with live appearances, they’re actively working on new material too, as a very relaxed Edwards explains: “I never thought I’d write another Jesus Jones album, but now we’re back playing live, songs are something that happen naturally, when you fire yourself up creatively. And, without the pressure, I’m thoroughly enjoying the whole process!”
Jesus Jones are:
Mike Edwards – Guitar, Vocals
Jerry De Borg – Guitar, backing vocals
Alan Doughty – Bass, backing vocals
Iain Baker – Keyboards, samples
Simon “Gen” Matthews – Drums, sequences.
Book a table for pre-concert dining
Acapela Studio provides pre-concert dining between 6.00pm and 7.30pm from our pizza oven. To view the current menu visit here.
Please purchase your concert tickets first before booking a table. We will not accept any table bookings that do not have a corresponding ticket purchase.
Then return to the event page to book your table, by selecting the date of your event, number of diners and time you require table. The times shown are the only vacancies left. Please complete your email and phone number as this is required to ensure your table is allocated. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email and text.
If on the date you have chosen no tables are available - no times will be shown and the booking system will revert you back to todays date - PLEASE ENSURE YOU BOOK THE CORRECT DATE!
PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE RELIES ON THE INCOME FROM DINING TO ENSURE WE CAN BOOK ALL THE GREAT ACTS PERFORMING.
Income from the provision of pizzas is very important to the venue and if you have booked a table it is a requirement that all people sat at tables order food - a salad alternative is available to pizzas. Please do ensure that all individuals will be ordering on your table - if this is not the case please cancel your table so others who are looking to dine can do so. Our apologies to raise this but recently we have had many tables (some very large) where less than 50% of those sat at tables have ordered food. Financially this is a real problem to the sustainability of the venue.
- All seating at tables must purchase a pizza - so please do not book a table if everyone is not eating.
- Please ensure that you arrive 10 minutes before the time slot allocated to order your pizzas prior to your booking time.
- Tables not seated within 15 minutes of the allocated time may be lost and allocated to other audience members wishing to order pizzas.
- If you wish to book a table for 6 or more please email info@acapela.co.uk
Please note that all of our pizzas are made fresh to order and cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven. It may take up to 45 minutes to be served during busy periods.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BOOK A TABLE YOU CAN STILL ORDER PIZZAS ON THE NIGHT (USUALLY ON BUSY NIGHTS NO LATER THAN 7.15PM) AND WE WILL SERVE THEM TO YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE SAT IN THE VENUE - IN A PIZZA BOX.