Gene Loves Jezebel
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Gene Loves Jezebel is a gothic rock band from the early 1980s founded by Michael and John Aston.

Michael Aston (vocals) was the poetic, goth-leaning side of the twin brothers while Jay Aston’s distinctive banshee-like, wailing vocals supplied Gene Loves Jezebel with one of many trademark quirks.

Originally called Slav Aryan, Gene Loves Jezebel began in 1980 with the brothers, guitarist Ian Hudson, and a drum machine. The Astons grew up in Porthcawl, South Wales, making the move to London in 1981. With a new home, and shortly thereafter, the new name, the trio played several live shows and was quickly signed by Situation 2. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo single "Shaving My Neck." The band then added Guitarist Albi DeLuca (later of UKDK) and bassist Julianne Regan followed, Regan left within a year to form All About Eve, leaving Ian Hudson on bass , Stephen marshall took up the bass role for PROMISE until Peter Rizzo (Troy Tate) joined in 1985. Gene Loves Jezebel underwent a dozen or so line up changes between 1981-1985.

The band released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album Promise hit number one in the U.K.'s indie charts. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peel radio session for BBC and toured America with fellow Welsh artist John Cale. The second album, Immigrant, appeared in mid-1985. Immigrant also hit number one on the indie charts. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson left the band and was replaced by former Kym Wylde (Oddly titled, "We're the kids in America" most notable) Gen X (Not generation X as is oft misreported)guitarist James Stevenson (Stevenson did not record with Gen X though performed briefly on a short U.K. tour before Billy Idol went solo).

1986 brought GLJ a contract with Beggar's Banquet Records and, subsequently, increasing pop-chart success for the group. The single "Sweetest Thing" hit the Top 75 in England. The resulting album, Discover, reached the U.K.'s indie-chart top spot and found heavy rotations on college and countercultural radio stations across America. The slick and catchy guitar hooks of singles "Desire" and "Heartache" leapt to #6 and #72 (respectively) on Los Angeles' infamous New Wave station, KROQ, Top 106.7 Countdown of 1986. Later that year, Chris Bell became the band's fifth drummer.

Gene Loves Jezebel's fourth album, The House of Dolls, was released late in 1987 and yielded the singles, "20 Killer Hurts" and "The Motion of Love" that grazed the U.S. pop charts. Both singles appeared in the top 25 of the Top 106.7 of 1987, where "Desire" had held on for it's second year, making Gene Loves Jezebel a KROQ staple. The band gained global recognition when Philippine radio station DWXB-FM got hit with the GLJ wave.

By 1988, Gene Loves Jezebel was played in the hippest dance clubs from London to Los Angeles to Manila. The third consecutive single from The House of Dolls, "Suspicious," showed up in KROQ's annual countdown and, for the first time, GLJ surfaced on The Billboard Hot 100. Despite rising mainstream success, the new pop-oriented direction proved to be too polished and commercial for the poetic and deeper brother, Michael. He parted ways with Jay in 1989 and later moved to Los Angeles.

While Michael went solo, Jay kept the Gene Loves Jezebel name and recorded two albums, Kiss of Life in 1989, followed by Heavenly Bodies. GLJ sans Michael proved impossible to sustain despite heavy promotion the band dissolved in 1993 after disappointing sales.

While Jay performed occasional acoustic shows under his own name, Michael played with members of Scenic, then formed a new band called the Immigrants (re-named Edith Grove) and later released a pimarily acoustic solo album, Why Me, Why This, Why Now. Michael and Jay began working together again that same year, and recorded two songs with Stevenson, Bell and Rizzo for a GLJ best-of compilation, released in September 1995. A reunion tour followed in 1997.

But the brothers' reconciliation was short-lived. In October 1997, Jay sued his twin brother over rights to the name "Gene Loves Jezebel" because Michael continued using the name, and s court battle ensued. Jay conceded and eventually dropped all charges "with prejudice" meaning Michael can never be challenged for the name again and consequently owns the exclusive rights to the mark. Jay Aston went on to release his solo debut, Unpopular Songs. VII, released in 1999, followed by The Thornfield Sessions in 2002, and Accept No Substitute in 2003. Meanwhile, Michael trademarked the moniker "Gene Loves Jezebel" and toured both the U.S. and the U.K. extensively supporting Gene Loves Jezebel releases: Love Lies Bleeding (1999) - Live in Voodoo City (1999) - Giving Up the Ghost (2001) – and the critically acclaimed and current release Exploding Girl (2005)

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Categories: Welsh musical groups | Goth