Gene Loves Jezebel

Bio

Gene Loves Jezebel is a Welsh gothic rock band from the early 1980s founded by twin brothers, Michael and Jay 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 their 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 signed by Situation Two. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel's demo and a single "Shaving My Neck." The band then added bassist Julianne Regan followed, Regan was replaced by Ian Hudson on Bass (and Albi DeLuca took over the guitar role) and went on to form All About Eve, Gene Loves Jezebel underwent a dozen or so line up changes between 1981-1985 alone! The band was really about the twins after all. The band released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album Promise peaked at number 8 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, was released in mid-1985. However, during an agonizing American tour for Immigrant, founding member Ian Hudson suffered a nervous breakdown and was replaced by former Gen X guitarist James Stevenson. During 1986, the group moved contract to Situation Two's parent company, Beggar's Banquet Records and distribution rights in USA to Geffen Records. The subsequent promotion increased pop-chart success for the group. The single "Sweetest Thing" briefly hit the Top 75 in U.K. and the album, Discover, reached number 32 in UK Albums Chart. At this time, the group also found heavy rotations on college and alternative radio stations across America. The band had slowly turned their attention to dance music. The slick and catchy guitar hooks of singles "Desire" and "Heartache" leapt to #6 and #72, respectively, on Los Angeles' famous New Wave station, KROQ. 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. The third single from The House of Dolls, "Suspicion", for the first time, 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 more goth-like brother, Michael. He parted ways with Jay in 1989. While Michael pursued his solo work, Jay continued using the Gene Loves Jezebel name and recorded two albums, Kiss of Life in 1989, followed by Heavenly Bodies. reached #68 on Billboard's Hot 100. Three years later, Jay Aston and company released Heavenly Bodies, which did well in Europe and on American college radio. Unfortunately, after dispointing record sales record sales and the collapse of Savage Records (David Bowie) American label folded one year later, and, after a few more live shows, so did Gene Loves Jezebel. 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 throughout the 90's , and also recorded two songs for a GLJ best-of compilation "from the mouths of Babes' on Michael Aston's label Bonnaire records , 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" after leaving the band. After a protracted court battle, Jay eventually dropped all charges "with prejudice" meaning Michael can never be challenged for the name again and consequently Michael owns the exclusive rights to the mark. Michael also trademarked "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 Exploding Girls (2003) . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Rosetta Stone, The Mission, The Bolshoi, The Danse Society, Flesh For Lulu

Genres

indie,gothic rock,2008 universal fire victim,new romantic,new wave,synthpop,welsh rock,deathrock,post-punk,darkwave,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

City: 1980

Begin Date: 1980

Last Update:

Artist next concerts

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Song Kick

Gene Loves Jezebel and Bow Wow Wow at The Coach House (January 24, 2026)

Los Angeles (LA) - The Coach House

24/Jan

2026

Gene Loves Jezebel at Middle East - Upstairs (January 28, 2026)

Boston / Cambridge - Middle East - Upstairs

28/Jan

2026

Gene Loves Jezebel at Webster Underground (January 31, 2026)

Springfield - Webster Underground

31/Jan

2026

Gene Loves Jezebel at Whisky a Go Go (May 15, 2026)

Los Angeles (LA) - Whisky a Go Go

15/May

2026

A Flock of Seagulls and Gene Loves Jezebel at Aztec Theatre (March 26, 2026)

San Antonio - Aztec Theatre

26/Mar

2026

A Flock of Seagulls and Gene Loves Jezebel at Echo Lounge & Music Hall (March 27, 2026)

Dallas - Fort Worth - Echo Lounge & Music Hall

27/Mar

2026

A Flock of Seagulls and Gene Loves Jezebel at House of Blues - Houston (March 28, 2026)

Houston - House of Blues - Houston

28/Mar

2026

A Flock of Seagulls and Gene Loves Jezebel at Asbury Lanes (April 3, 2026)

New York (NYC) - Asbury Lanes

3/Apr

2026

Videography

No biography registered

Artist discography

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Last FM

The Thornfield Sessions

The Thornfield Sessions

Apr/2021

How Do You Say Goodbye (To Someone You Love?) - Single

How Do You Say Goodbye (To Someone You Love?) - Single

Jan/2018

Summertime - Single

Summertime - Single

Jun/2017

Summertime

Jun/2017

Dance Underwater

Dance Underwater

Apr/2017

5 Albums

Nov/2013

Dead Sexy

Dead Sexy

Mar/2009

Accept No Substitute - Greatest Hits (Live) Disc One

Accept No Substitute - Greatest Hits (Live) Disc One

May/2007

Greatest Hits, Remixes & More

Greatest Hits, Remixes & More

Dec/2006

Accept No Substitute - Greatest Hits (Live) Disc Two

Accept No Substitute - Greatest Hits (Live) Disc Two

May/2006

Greatest Hits Live: Accept No Substitute (Live) [Disc 1]

Greatest Hits Live: Accept No Substitute (Live) [Disc 1]

May/2006

Dog House Sessions (Rare Michael & Jay Demos 1997)

Dog House Sessions (Rare Michael & Jay Demos 1997)

Jan/2006

The Dog House Sessions

The Dog House Sessions

Mar/2004

Exploding Girl

Aug/2003

How Do You Say Goodbye (To Someone You Love?)

How Do You Say Goodbye (To Someone You Love?)

Jan/2018

The Motion of Love (Re-Recorded) - Single

The Motion of Love (Re-Recorded) - Single

Nov/2022

The Motion of Love (Re-Recorded)

The Motion of Love (Re-Recorded)

Nov/2022

Exploding Girls

Exploding Girls

Jan/2006

X - Love Death Sorrow

X - Love Death Sorrow

Oct/2023

Love Death Sorrow

Love Death Sorrow

Oct/2023

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