Jezebel 4 Ever

Identical twins Michael (blond) and J (just J) Aston are two of the most talented people in pop. Colourful, jolly and sexy, this Welsh duo front Gene Loves Jezebel, whose eight singles and two album releases make them veterans of the indie scene. 

Following on after The Cult and Cure, GLJ finally look set to embrace the national charts with their unique brand of mysterious and spicy pop. Their latest single 'Heartache' and new LP 'Discover' are very worthy contenders. 

Since their first single in 1983 GLJ have built up a sizable following, and many of them seem to be here tonight at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London. Inside the sanctuary of the dressing room the boys, dressed in suitably bright colours, discuss the shrugging off of those early 'Gothic' tags. 

"I just don't understand how people lumped us in with that whole Goth thing," says Mike. "We've always centered our songwriting around emotion. If, occasionally, illustrating a dark emotion means you're Goth, then, yeah, we're Goth. But then so is James Brown." 

Are GLJ following in the old tradition of pop bands, then? 

"Yeah, in the very old tradition," laughs J. "There was a certain chemistry that went on then, and we've only just begun to understand that. We weren't aware of that before - what made those bands great." 

"I mean," adds Michael, "we sing, dance, design the sleeves…it is an act, we were never a duo." 

On stage the pair live up to all their claims, flouncing round the boards with energy and grace. Their twin attack on vocals is just one of the things that makes them great to watch and the seething mass of fans respond heartily to this most unusual set. At the moment GLJ rely on their older, heavier sounding songs to make up most of their set but songs like 'Heartache' look as if they're going to take a far more dominant role in the future. The sheer colour of the band in their resplendent clothes adds to the excitement they generate to their audience. They're on the verge of big things and they know it. 

Afterwards they try to put their finger on what makes them popular. 

"Most bands that are hip in this country are political social commentators, Gene Loves Jezebel are flamboyant. We moan a lot. We laugh and we cry, it's an emotional experience with us. I don't know why that is. 

"Maybe it's because we're Welsh."
 
 
 

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