Gene Loves Jezebel

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• Genre: Goth
• Hometown: Los Angeles
• Gene Loves Jezebel Website

About

Gene Loves Jezebel were formed in the early 1980s by twin brothers Jay and Michael Aston. Early on, they utilized the sort of tribal drum attack and processed guitar sound that was making goth superstars out of Siouxsie & The Banshees. Jezebel's murky use of synthesizers and howling vocals made for a vaguely sinister blend. By the mid '80s, songs like "Desire" and "Sweetest Thing" showed that they were more apt to write pop songs than dirges. With their multitude of silk scarves and long hair, they were able to walk the fine line between pop metal and pop goth without anyone spotting the difference. The House Of Dolls was probably their finest hour, with "Gorgeous" and "Suspicion" being great dark, romantic pop songs. The follow-up contained the hair-metal pop of "Jealous," and seemed to complete Jezebel's transformation to rock 'n' rollers. But the group continued to walk the line between sincere rockers and sincere gothic pin-ups for several years, long after the hits had faded away. Jay Aston left the band at the end of the '90s, leaving brother Michael to front the edition that still plays today.

- Jon Pruett