Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. They released a string of albums, singles and EPs between their 1983 formation and their 1999 breakup, and gained notoriety in their early days for short sets and violence that became common at their live shows. Brothers Jim and William Reid had been inspired to form a band as far back as 1977, having heard groups such as the Sex Pistols, but it would be the early 1980s before they actually formed their own. William stated "It was perfect timing because there weren''t any guitar bands. Everybody was making this electronic pop music."