The Jesus Lizard

The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard in 2009
Background information
Origin	Austin, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Noise rock post-hardcore alternative rock
Years active	1987–1999, 2008–2010, 2017–present
Labels	Touch and Go, Capitol, Ipecac
Members	David Yow David Wm. Sims Duane Denison Mac McNeilly
Past members	Jim Kimball Brendan Murphy

The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1989, where they found kindred spirits in recording engineer Steve Albini and Touch and Go Records. With the addition of drummer Mac McNeilly, they began performing live, eventually attracting an international audience with their powerful live show.^[1]

The Jesus Lizard were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise."^[2] The albums Goat (1991) and Liar (1992) have since been recognized as two of the most significant noise rock albums of their decade.^[3][4]

Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996, and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later, with McNeilly returning to drums for their reunion shows years later. Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s and disbanded in 1999. Their reunion tour ten years later garnered positive responses from audiences and critics. The band performed another reunion tour in 2017 and 2019.