Tour Dates
MARCH 2010
23...THEKLA - BRISTOL, UK
24...NORWICH ARTS CENTRE - NORWICH, UK
25...BODEGA SOCIAL - NOTTINGHAM, UK
26...SOUND CONTROL - MANCHESTER, UK
27...GO GO CAGE - LIVERPOOL, UK
28...NEW ROSCOE - LEEDS, UK
31...THE 12 BAR - SWINDON, UK
APRIL 2010
1....TALKING HEADS - SOUTHAMPTON, UK
2....THE SQUARE - HARLOW, UK
3....EQUIRES - BEDFORD, UK
13...BARFLY - CARDIFF, UK
14...CYPRUS AVENUE - CORK, IRELAND
15...CRAWDADDY - DUBLIN, IRELAND
16...THE SPEAKEASY - BELFAST, IRELAND
17...CAPTAINS REST - GLASGOW, UK
18...THE TUNNELS - ABERDEEN, UK
20...SNEAKY PETES - EDINBURGH, UK

“Probably the most exciting live band in the country at the moment”
THE JIM JONES REVUE
play at the Talking Heads on THURSDAY 1st APRIL.
You’d be a damn fool to miss it! JJR INTERVIEW by Ged Babey

America has Jon Spencer, his Blues Explosion and Heavy Trash combos, Nick Caves’ Grinderman caught it on a few songs, Jack White’s damn near lost it, but somehow in the UK there doesn’t seem to have been a proper band that encapsulates and updates the true, raw spirit of Rock’n’Roll for a long time… but at last we have the mighty, Jim Jones Revue and their ‘supercharged’, “raw, untamed, born-with-a-tail rock’n’roll”. Jim’s been in the business for a while; fronting stoner rock band thee Hypnotics and Garage princes Black Moses – but finally he’s got it down to raw, essence; Jerry Lee Lewis, the Sonics being the base elements. Guitarist Rupert Orton promotes Not The Same Old Blues Crap gigs in London and runs www.punkrockblues.co.uk I spoke to him and singer Jim Jones.


Since his death in January I’ve been listening to Rowland S Howards solo albums and the Birthday Party for first time in ages… Were they a band that you felt an affinity with or inspired you to get involved in music?

Rupert: The Birthday Party are hugely important to me and so is Rowland Howard as a guitar player. I was lucky enough to have seen them play a number of times and it was a life changing event. Live they were astonishing and Rowland was an astonishing guitar player. There are very few bands that come close to the intensity of a Birthday Party show. Rowlands playing and songwriting was an integral part of what they were about and his death is a huge loss.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Jim: 'You're The One That I Want' single from Grease ! I thought the T-birds looked cool.

Mine was, a ******’ Showaddywaddy album; at the age of ten, that’s what I thought rock’n’roll was! I soon learnt...

Jim: I did know it wasn't Rock’n’Roll though ... I had already heard old singles belonging to my Dad & Uncle.

RupertI can’t remember, probably something rubbish but the first record I remember hearing was a scratched old 45 of Jail House Rock that a friend had. I was really young and I felt physically & mentally different after hearing it. I just played it again and again all day feeling all these strange sensations!

I’m guessing that, like me, you were too young for Punk Rock in 1977 – in retrospect which bands had ‘it’ from that generation of bands, in your humble opinions?

Jim: The Pistols, Damned, Clash, Heartbreakers, Ramones, and the Dead Boys

Rupert: Yeah, the same for me but with The Clash first!

The Sonics seem to have had a big influence on, not just your band, but loads of others over the years ….yet they had no real success in their life-span as a band. Are truly inspirational bands destined to go unrewarded and only be appreciated after they’ve gone?

Jim: That's a hard one, but in the end I just don't think the world was ready to hear the goodness that that band captured on record at that time.

Your piano-player is part of what make your band so ******’ wonderful – do you bring the real, old, upright piano on tour with you (they’re difficult to transport aint they?) – or do you have to use an electric piano?

Jim: Yeah, we have to use electric ... not just to transport, but also for the volume ... We do have the love & affinity with the acoustic piano, actually Elliot's day job was a piano tuner ... he knows those things inside out !

Jools Holland has single-handedly put people off the piano as a cool rock’n’roll instrument dontcha think?

Jim (hmmm) No comment

Tell me about the forthcoming album; is it gonna be another “48 hours putting it down on 4-track, live and loud” like the last one?

Jim: Live & loud is basic requirement for us. We intend to make an album that has all the ferocity of the first, but also a full bodied-ness & weight that our gigs have !

Rupert: The next record is going to be louder. We’ve gone to a bigger studio this time so we can get bigger volume!

What would you say to your detractors who say you’re just rehashing the past, that you’re a walking, talking cliché?

Rupert: The Jim Jones Revue are a 21st Century rock’n’ roll band - We’re not a revival or nostalgia trip. The music is inspired by the 50’s for sure but also everything dragged through to now. Jim doesn’t write about Cadillac’s and going to the prom because he’s writing what its like to be alive in Dalston in 2010 not Memphis in 1956

Sex, Drugs, Rock’n’Roll ; put them in order of preference or importance

Jim: Rock’n’Roll, Rock’n’Roll, Rock’n’Roll !

I get the picture. (Ged Babey)


Go to www.jimjonesrevue.com and www.punkrockblues.co.uk for more info.

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looked in the mirror, thought who's that f ucking freak

its short aint it? Thats the trouble with these glossy mags - they want big pics and very little content. It doesnt get over either what a thoroughly magnificent band the JJR are. Most of you have already said about trying to see them live. I'm sure that they won't dissapoint.

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looked in the mirror, thought who's that f ucking freak

Really bloody chuffed as I just got a message from our mate that they are opening for Jim Jones in Glasgow.
It's going to be wild. Tragic City Thieves will definitely give them a run for their money.

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O BAILAN TODOS, O NO BAILA NADIE
I don't know. You fist one midget and no one will let you forget it.

We got Tupelo Town Assembly and Los Caballeros doing the support up here, both of whom are decent, so should be a great night.

By the way, TCT's are rescheduled at The Moorings for May 22nd.

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I don't believe you have to be an idiot to get somewhere these days

I wonder if they know that. I'll send CJ a text.

Aye they do. It's on their myspace.

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O BAILAN TODOS, O NO BAILA NADIE
I don't know. You fist one midget and no one will let you forget it.

Just thought bugger it and booked the bus tickets' Less than £20. So Kel and me will see you in the Moorings Billy.

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O BAILAN TODOS, O NO BAILA NADIE
I don't know. You fist one midget and no one will let you forget it.

That was one helluva gig... words fail me as to how MIGHTY that band is.

Gig of the Year so far.

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looked in the mirror, thought who's that f ucking freak