Sweet Jesus

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sweet Jesus


Img_capt = The band's second single, "Phonefreak Honey"
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Origin = Birmingham, England
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Genre = Shoegaze, Glam revival, Britpop
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Years_active = 1990–1992
Label = Rough Trade (UK)
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Past_members = Ben Bentley
Roy Priest
Dave Priest
Gavin Priest
Paul Collins
Vicky Gwinnut
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Sweet Jesus was an indie rock band formed in Birmingham in the 1990s. Formed following the break up of rock band "The Mossbacks" [Gibson, R. 1992 (Siren Magazine)] , Sweet Jesus were championed by such magazines as Melody Maker [Lester, P. 1992 (Melody Maker Magazine)] and Volume, the band amassed a modest catalogue of releases before suffering at the hands of the Rough Trade Records demise of the early 90s.

The band were favourites of UK DJ duo Mark and Lard, with them heading the influential "Hit The North Show" on BBC Radio Five. Incidentally, the band's 1992 single "Albino Ballerina" was chosen as Mark Radcliffe's single of 1992 in his NME end-of-year roundup. [ [http://www.peoplesound.com/artist/ben1/ Ben Bentley's profile at Peoplesound] ]

Overview

Sweet Jesus was signed to Rough Trade Records records in the early 1990s, being tipped as "one-to-watch" by the music press [ [http://www.btinternet.com/~birdpoo/jesus.htm Sweet Jesus] ] - along with Suede and PJ Harvey. The collapse of the record label resulted in the band's early departure from the music industry.

Despite this setback, the band formed Venus, releasing a number of singles and an LP on the "PVC" label in 1994. Bassist Dave Priest had been replaced by Gavin Priest prior to Sweet Jesus's final album, and drummer Vicky Gwinnut took over from Paul Collins. Gavin Priest proceeded to form Groupie, albeit on electric guitar - ultimately releasing two singles on the "Sacred Heart" label in 1997.

As of 2008, Ben Bentley has a profile on music networking website "Peoplesound", with [http://www.peoplesound.com/artist/ben1/ two songs available for streaming] . Roy Priest is currently a senior technologist and lecturer of Interactive Media at the Birmingham City University's Technology Innovation Centre.

Discography

As Sweet Jesus

References

External links

* [http://www.btinternet.com/~birdpoo/jesus.htm Bird Poo page on Sweet Jesus]
* [http://www.peoplesound.com/artist/ben1/ Ben Bentley's profile at Peoplesound]