Jesus Couldn't Drum

Jesus Couldn't Drum were a 1980s eclectic, experimental synth pop duo from Watford, England. They were part of the 80s British loose guitar pop scene[1] and described by Sounds as resembling “The Residents gone crazy in Luton on Eyeless in Gaza demos”. They incorporated humor and parody into their songs, similar to the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.[2] Their theme tune was "two parts Bo Diddley to one part Eighties rockabilly" [3]

Jesus Couldn't Drum
Jesus Couldn't Drum in 1987
Background information
OriginWatford, Hertfordshire, England
Genres
Years active1980 (1980)–1988 (1988)
LabelsCherry Red, Lost Moment
MembersJonathan Lemon, Peter Pengwyn

Formed by Jonathan Lemon and Peter Pengwyn, they recorded three albums and released three singles on the Lost Moment label,[4] the last of which, “I’m a Train”, achieved moderate indie chart success. They toured extensively in Europe in the mid-eighties, did a BBC Radio 1 session, and were regularly featured on the John Peel and Dr. Demento radio shows. The band's name came from a segment in the Günter Grass novel The Tin Drum.[5]

From the second album on, the duo featured Lester Square of The Monochrome Set on guitar. Other members, mostly for touring, included Alan Way, Jennie Cruse and Michele Allerdyce from Frazier Chorus.[6]

The one-second song "This is Fun" was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as being, at that time, the shortest song ever recorded.[7]

The band amicably split in the late 1980s when Lemon moved to Brighton. Pengwyn continued recording as The Cat and Mouse Band, while Lemon joined The Chrysanthemums.

In 2018, the band's back catalog was purchased by Cherry Red, and they feature on the Electrical Language – British Independent Synth Pop 78-84 compilation album, along with The Human League and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.[8][9]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Er...Something About Cows (1984)
  • Good Morning Mr. Square (1984)
  • Ruttling Orange Peel and Blind Lemon Pie (1985)

Singles

  • Even Roses Have Thorns (1984)
  • Autumn Leaves (1985)
  • I'm a Train (1985)

References
  1. "The Monochrome Set: Spaces Everywhere".
  3. "Various Artists: Obscure Independent Classics 1985-1987 - album review". 10 September 2019.
  4. "Jesus Couldn't Drum". Discogs.com. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. "+ Cryptic Salutations +".
  6. "Jesus Couldn't Drum - The Interview". 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  7. "Episode 49 - the Lemon Interview (Rabbits Against Magic) - Comics Coast to Coast". Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. "Electrical Language: Independent British Synth Pop 78-84, Various Artists, 4CD/48pp Bookpack - Cherry Red Records". Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  9. "Various Artists: Electrical Language – British Independent Synth Pop 78-84, PopMatters". 31 May 2019.
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