Sweet Jesus
{{Short description|1990s English band}}
{{for|the Venezuelan catcher|Jesús Sucre}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sweet Jesus
| image = Sweet Jesus.jpg
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Birmingham, England
| instrument =
| genre = Shoegaze, Glam revival
| occupation =
| years_active = 1990–1992
| label = Rough Trade (UK)
Chapter 22
| website =
| current_members = Ben Bentley
Roy Priest
Gavin Priest
Paul Collins
| past_members = Dave Priest
}}
Sweet Jesus was an indie rock band formed in Birmingham, UK, in the 1990s. Formed following the breakup of rock band The Mossbacks,{{cite news |first=Robin |last=Gibson |title=Oo-er, it's a Girl |url=http://www.drmango.talktalk.net/birdpoo/jesus/sjsiren.htm |format=Reprint |work=Siren |date=February 1992 |accessdate=19 December 2008 }} the band was championed by such magazines as Melody Maker{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Lester |title=Messiah and Higher |url=http://www.drmango.talktalk.net/birdpoo/jesus/sjmm.htm |format=Reprint |work=Melody Maker |location= London |date=February 1992 |accessdate=19 December 2008 }} and Volume,{{cite news |first=Robin |last=Gibson |title='Volume' Issue 3 (Sweet Jesus feature) |url=http://www.drmango.talktalk.net/birdpoo/jesus/sjvolume.htm |format=Reprint |work=Volume |date=February 1992 |accessdate=4 March 2009 }} and amassed a modest catalogue of releases before suffering at the hands of the Rough Trade Records demise of the early 1990s.
The band were favourites of UK DJ duo Mark and Lard, with them heading the influential "Hit The North Show" on BBC Radio Five. The band's 1992 single Albino Ballerina was chosen as Mark Radcliffe's single of 1992 in his NME end-of-year roundup.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peoplesound.com/artist/ben1/ |title=Ben Bentley's Peoplesound Profile (CACHED VERSION)|accessdate=19 December 2008|author=Ben Bentley|year=2005|work=Musician profile|publisher=PeopleSound.com |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20061207224159/http://www.peoplesound.com/artist/ben1/ |archivedate = 7 December 2006}}
History
Sweet Jesus was signed to Rough Trade Records in the early 1990s, being tipped as "one-to-watch" by the music press{{Cite web|url=http://www.drmango.talktalk.net/birdpoo/jesus.htm|title=Sweet Jesus|accessdate=19 December 2008|author=Birdpoo|year=2004|work=BirdPoo.co.uk}} – along with Suede and PJ Harvey.
On 18 August 1991, the band performed at Manchester's Boardwalk venue, supported by the first live appearance Oasis. Although not yet in the band, Noel Gallagher – along with Inspiral Carpets – watched the show.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.iol.ie/~kglennon/paper/mayvox2.htm|title=BROTHERHOOD OF MANC: THE OASIS STORY|format=Reprint |accessdate=3 March 2009 |author=Paul Moody and Mark Beaumont|date=May 1996|magazine=Vox magazine}} The band released an exclusive single through the Rough Trade Singles Club in November 1991, followed by three individual singles in 1992. In August of the same year, the band performed in the Session Tent at Reading Festival alongside Suede and Sunscreem.{{cite web|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/festival/search.asp?year=1992|title=Groups and artists that have played at the Reading Festival since 1971|work=Museum of Reading|publisher=Reading Museum Service|accessdate=4 December 2009}}
Despite the band's work with producers Ray Shulman and Ian Broudie,{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Sweet-Jesus-Real-Babe/release/554650 |title=Sweet Jesus – Real Babe (CD, Maxi) at Discogs |accessdate=8 January 2009 |publisher=Discogs}} the collapse of Rough Trade resulted in the group's premature disbanding.
= Dissolution =
== Venus ==
== Groupie ==
Following Venus, Bentley and Gavin Priest proceeded to form Groupie (with Priest on electric guitar) – ultimately releasing two singles through Sacred Heart Records in 1997.
== Butterfly Fan the Inferno ==
Paul Collins currently plays drums for Birmingham-based band Butterfly Fan the Inferno.
= Current status =
Until mid-2008, Ben Bentley had a profile on music networking website PeopleSound, streaming two solo songs. Roy Priest is currently assistant centre manager in Interactive Media at Birmingham City University's Technology Innovation Centre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tic-online.com/technologies/profilepopup.asp?staff=118|title=:: Profile of Roy Priest|accessdate=23 January 2009|author=Birmingham City University|year=2008|publisher=Technology Innovation Centre}}
Discography
= Singles =
- Honey Loving Honey (1991)
- Phonefreak Honey (1992) UK No. 108
::Rough Trade (UK)
- Real Babe (1992)
::Rough Trade (UK)
- Albino Ballerina (1992)
::Chapter 22
Band members
- Ben Bentley – lead vocal, rhythm guitar
- Roy Priest – lead guitar
- Dave Priest – bass guitar (prior to "Albino Ballerina")
- Gavin Priest – bass guitar
- Paul Collins – drums
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.drmango.talktalk.net/birdpoo/jesus.htm Bird Poo page on Sweet Jesus]
{{Authority control}}