This is a bizarre and very funny clip (I don't think enough people have commented on the fact that when Letterman asks Jim how he is, the response seems to be "I'm fucked"), and there's a very good story behind it. This is from Zoe Howe's excellent Mary Chain biography, based on interviews with the band members (sans William, unfortunately): "After the release of "Honey's Dead", the Mary Chain would be back in the States for an appearance on The David Letterman Show to perform "Far Gone and Out." Letterman has always been a fan of the Mary chain, despite what happened on this particular occasion. Ben Lurie recalls: "The first thing was that Jerry Jaffe threw us a great big celebratory party, but due to some mix-up in scheduling he threw the after-show party the night before we went on the show." "There were all sorts of temptations," Jim adds. "Drugs, all the things that rock'n'roll bands have at their disposal. We got seriously fucked up. I didn't sleep at all that night, I was just twitching around at five in the morning thinking, I don't know where I am I don't remember what city I'm in... I don't know if I know what my name is ." William was "totally freaking out," as his brother puts it, calling Jim's hotel room repeatedly throughout the night to report that he'd been possessed by the devil during the night, then saved by Jesus, only to be possessed by the devil again. The Letterman show was certainly going to be interesting. A car came to pick up the band from the hotel and take them to the studio, Jim feeling "as fragile as I've ever felt in my life." One of the first things they had to do was liaise with the very sober and very chipper house band, who would be playing the Mary Chain's music. The Reids delegated Ben Lurie to communicate with them as best he could. "I said, 'Just play what's on the record.' Well, they weren't having any of that," Ben says. "They were jazzing it up, and I remember having to tell the bass player to just calm down." The bass player was clearly an excitable fellow, and not only were his bright red blazer and gleaming white trousers proving painful for the excruciatingly hungover Reid brothers, his exuberant manner nearly tipped them over the edge. "This ultra-cheerful bass player came up to me and went, 'Wooh!' I literally jumped in the air," Jim groans. " 'Arrgh!! Can you just . . . not do that?' I could hardly talk. I looked over at William and he looked like a little pussycat who'd been run over by a tractor. I looked at Jerry and said, 'Get me alcohol or this is not going to happen.' " Jerry Jaffe hurried off, returning with two pints of beer. It was all he could find. Jim necked them both. "It was enough to make me remember who I was and what I was there to do," says Jim. "We did it. And you know what? I look back on that and it looks totally together. How? We seriously got away with it." Jerry Jaffe remembers that William, still hiding under his trademark explosion of black hair, kept his back to the audience. Meanwhile Jim, furrowing his brow under his auburn Caesar-cut, "looked like he wanted to be anyplace else. When they finished and they had to shake Letterman's hand, I guess Jim didn't think he was going to do that. David Letterman ended up shaking thin air. I remember him saying, 'Oh, what's with these kids?' " "Oh well," says Ben. "It was nice to be in New York anyway." "
@Fazzat333
4 жыл бұрын
latontolog Great comment,thanx 👍🏴
@dondamon4669
3 жыл бұрын
Nice one mate ! I didn’t think I’d be able to read it coz I’m not Scottish but it was easy enough in the end!
@realsinisterminister
3 жыл бұрын
I just finished reading that book!!!....yea thats what bought me here to look at this....
@tomslick2058
Жыл бұрын
Drum machine? Or Dave's band.
@tomslick2058
Жыл бұрын
Yeah that cocain shit is not for people who easily get anxiety. Never got the idea of how people can enjoy stimulate drugs.
@MegaSlick75
2 жыл бұрын
Letterman -“how you doing “ Jim -“I’m fuct” Lettmena -“good for you “ Classic.
@Tokiofritz
9 жыл бұрын
So funny seeing that guy in the white trousers with the Mary Chain.
@bradhargett3188
4 жыл бұрын
Does no one notice Jim ‘blowing his brains out’ at 3:20? It’s the icing on the cake.
@xmunki1389
7 жыл бұрын
1:02 ... the coolest moment in tv history
@jamesmills4850
Жыл бұрын
"They are an English band" Dave's researchers really pulling out all the stops.
@ExternalInputs
11 ай бұрын
It's an American audience, keep it simple.
@flickeringgreenflame8493
7 ай бұрын
I bet Scottish folks **hate** that...
@jamesmills4850
6 ай бұрын
@@flickeringgreenflame8493 Hate what?
@flickeringgreenflame8493
6 ай бұрын
@@jamesmills4850 Being called "English". They had wars and stuff -- eventually got taken over by the English. But they ain't.
@PsychologyForLife-ug4le
2 ай бұрын
@@jamesmills4850 Scotland isn't England
@alexjewell2351
3 жыл бұрын
Letterman : "Hi, nice to see you? How are ya?" Jim Reid : "I'm Fucked." Letterman : "Good for you."
@hoffnerburns
6 жыл бұрын
This is comedy gold. I love the bass player! A good sport filling in.
@agdgdgwngo
5 жыл бұрын
That bass player is fucking awesome. Not gonna lie if I was playing with JAMC I would be just as stoked
@dondamon4669
3 жыл бұрын
I love this band man. What’s not to like the stranga las, Lou Reed, velvets,Spector, punk attitude, Brian beach boy Wilson, funny, wanting wanting to piss everyone off and be massive infamous stars in the process etc all rolled into one! Can’t believe it’s took me so long to give them a proper listen and for me there one of those bands that I can connect with on some way ! It’s great they stuck to there guns as well and never lost there artistic integrity and never sold out but I’m different to most people into this music in that regard I want them to be known all over and become rich and not have to worry and when they were in all that spotlight all they had to do was one sell out album and two sell out singles !
@billyhendoe4170
Жыл бұрын
The 2006 remasters are killer.
@faunaflage
7 жыл бұрын
Oh man, Jim doing the gunshot to his head as the Letterman house band stretches the ending? Ha ha ha!
@AlexanderLaurence
8 жыл бұрын
The bass player is holding it together.
@egocandy
Жыл бұрын
I GUARANTEE Letterman knew what he was doing calling them “English”. Dave underplayed his intelligence behind “gee whiz”-Indiana Persona only to turn around and eviscerate people when they don’t expect it. The band had been insufferable dicks during rehearsal. Dave was probably turning the knife knowing it wouldn’t land until they sobered up and watched the tape.
@meatbeatca
7 жыл бұрын
Love these guys! Hilarious contrast in style/demeanor with the Letterman band.
@billyhendoe4170
Жыл бұрын
Staying up for Letterman was must see TV.
@pearlfisher2813
5 жыл бұрын
I think I saw him playing bass with PIL in 1984 at the Appollo in glasgow. ☺
@MrDobolinaMrBobDobolina
Жыл бұрын
I remember watching this when it originally aired. After the commercial break, Dave and Paul had the following conversation: Dave: “Was something bothering them?” Paul: “They’re really nice, well-behaved kids.” Dave: “Do me a favor, Paul; talk to them will ya?”
@egocandy
Жыл бұрын
That exchange was a running joke between me and one of the writers on Conan. It was sooooo clear they’d just been utter pricks.
@sammencia7945
11 ай бұрын
@@egocandy They were hungover, still tripping, and sleep deprived. Didn't sleep a wink.
@smecking
10 жыл бұрын
Scottish, Dave. Ugh.Anyway, love this band. Always amusing to watch the show band play with the guest. Who dressed the bass player?
@SomaSplit
7 жыл бұрын
bass player's attitude from 1:55 to 2:15 is pure gold
@sammencia7945
11 ай бұрын
Bass player was too much for Jim who told the bassist to not be so effusively upbeat.
@marcusjoaquin7914
Жыл бұрын
Aww.. This reminds me of my High school years. Lol early 90s alternative on Arizona's old alternative am station KUKQ. Jonathan L. Dj. I miss those days but still love the music.
@billypilgrim1
9 жыл бұрын
English? Come on Letterman do your job
@exkirkby
9 жыл бұрын
+BillyPilgrim lol
@emptysresponse
8 жыл бұрын
+BillyPilgrim Yeah what a muppet eh?
@tomt6142
7 жыл бұрын
He's reading a cue card. His job isn't to do research
@BookClubDisaster
3 жыл бұрын
It's all the same to us Americans!
@billypilgrim1
3 жыл бұрын
@@BookClubDisaster And then you wonder why people think Americans are ignorant...
@duncan-rmi
6 жыл бұрын
"guys, whaddya think, for a gag... you use the house-band's rhythm section, & I introduce you as english?" "sure dave, why not? your show..."
@duncan-rmi
3 жыл бұрын
& if you dare say "well, what's the difference?", I & a hundred thousand other brits will climb into the internet, find you & mess you up. okay? :-)
@thewhiteelephant
2 жыл бұрын
Anton Fig kicking ass as per usual.
@CandyPsycho
10 жыл бұрын
I think the reason Ben ended up being eaten by William was because of his penchant for uncool guitars s/a the Telly on display here or the Strat showcased in a certain later video. In short, he was asking for it!
@Cruithneach
9 жыл бұрын
Geography was never Letterman's strong point, but, then again, what is?
@neilsun2521
6 жыл бұрын
Being a masonic gatekeeper shill host?
@davidcoyle7999
5 жыл бұрын
Strong points: Extra curricular marital activities with vulnerable employees. But, still, he has a beard now and pretended to enjoy a cool band back in the day.
@chillwinston71
10 жыл бұрын
Brilliant...
@peterfischer3189
7 жыл бұрын
Hey, if you're going on live T V in New York and your bass player is too high to perform--then Dave's studio band is steppin' in
@HarryHood96
9 жыл бұрын
Scottish, goddammit.
@deegeekay
6 жыл бұрын
Ha English! In fairness to Dave, Mexicans like him frequently make that mistake.
@pearlfisher2813
5 жыл бұрын
I thought he was Canadian. ☺
@bigbisb
12 жыл бұрын
Scotland the Brave
@theonlyantony
7 жыл бұрын
One of the reasons i found Oasis to be nonentities, musically speaking, is that i saw the j & M Chain a few times. Mum Pop versions of them, did not pass muster, with me.
@egocandy
Жыл бұрын
Amen
@madpogue
2 жыл бұрын
Shaffer singularly responsible for a city-wide maraca shortage that evening.....
@faunoram
7 жыл бұрын
the bass player is digging it : )
@gibsona01
12 жыл бұрын
'English band'?
@stephendonnelly327
3 ай бұрын
Dave's "English band" flub deserved a Mike Myers "All things Scottish " correction.
@2ndbleak
7 жыл бұрын
The bass player is perfect - humour-wise, this is some Nirvana level shit
@spaceengineer1452
6 ай бұрын
I thought they were a Scottish band ?
@marvelharris9540
Жыл бұрын
guitarist playing that marshall jubilee...
@anarkey2956
6 жыл бұрын
The next band is an English band... (who are Scottish). Like is a bit like saying "This band is Chinese" when they are really from Japan. If you still don't understand?! You need to read more books, and probably need to question what it means to be "American" these days.
@klausrain111
3 жыл бұрын
Dave says they're English. Good one!
@jonkxoo
Ай бұрын
the frontman is so Ian Mcculloch
@iknowwhereiam178
7 жыл бұрын
Lou reed?
@MoiraRussell
7 жыл бұрын
ENGLISH??
@ninguemdasilva8748
5 жыл бұрын
I can't explain exactly what I'm doing standing in the rain Don't do it for fun Do it if you feel it Kiss it on the tongue I'm taking my thoughts to a railway station Put 'em on a train just to see what's coming back What's coming back It's coming like a heart attack Ice melts too fast So nothing stays forever nothing's gonna last She's dressed in black A black that ends in nowhere and I just got to have her back And I'm television sick and I'm television crazy No one works so hard just to make me feel so bad I'm feeling bad Oh that's too sad Hey. hey. hey. she's as mean as mean. Hey. hey. hey. she's as black as black. Hey. hey. hey. she's as mean as mean. Hey. hey. hey. she's as black as black. Hey. hey. hey. I got to get her back. Hey. hey. hey. I got to get her back. Hey. hey. hey. I got to get her back. Hey. hey. hey. she's as mean as mean. Hey. hey. hey. she's as sick as sick. Hey. hey. hey. she's as cool as cool. Hey. hey. hey. she's as black as black
@sidfernandez7569
9 жыл бұрын
jesus and mary chain, a great act and superb songwriters. but i've seen so many artist performances ruined by that crappy letterman house band. thankfully, no more.
@matthewjones3524
9 жыл бұрын
You have to give the show credit though for having a lot of non mainstream music like this over the years that would have never gotten a chance on any other network shows at the time. But yes, that house band is brutal, and insisted on playing along with everything.
@chiefchunky-muffin4708
9 жыл бұрын
If they were on tour then why were they using the house band?
@MrDobolinaMrBobDobolina
Жыл бұрын
That was the norm when Letterman was on NBC.
@harrydeanbentzel
4 жыл бұрын
I have never laughed at any Letterman joke in my life
@ShakespearesBruv
3 жыл бұрын
Who’s the dude on the bass?
@markallen2984
3 жыл бұрын
I think he used to be with "Wild Cherry"
@Engage1987
Жыл бұрын
This is awesome ! But they’re Scottish , Dave , not English
@roberto8679
Жыл бұрын
An English band? I'm amazed letterman got away with that
@DezSUrban
2 жыл бұрын
Not bad for an"english" band from SCOTLAND ................................................
@reeceweir4743
5 жыл бұрын
ENGLISH ?
@HardcoreZen
6 ай бұрын
English??? Ow!
@dammbleth2
8 жыл бұрын
Not nearly loud enough!!!!!!
@danielscissorhands
7 жыл бұрын
Shoulda done Reverence, from the same album. Maybe too edgy for American TV?
@ajuk1
7 жыл бұрын
Wrong bass player?
@TheRakes1989
11 жыл бұрын
What's this fucking bassist? Lol
@harrydeanbentzel
6 жыл бұрын
I have never laughed at a letterman joke in my life. Never. What did anyone see in him
@colinswartz6022
2 жыл бұрын
Scottish band, Dave, not English.
@spacem4n375
14 күн бұрын
Scottish David….
@saulorocha3755
4 жыл бұрын
The music sucked me in.
@kenworthspy545
7 жыл бұрын
Scottish.
@cmonman3639
6 ай бұрын
"English band" lmfao
@arcitejack
4 жыл бұрын
English.
@jlinbkk7184
3 жыл бұрын
Reid brothers cool..Bass player not cool..Plays good though.
@johnmurray9038
3 жыл бұрын
"English band"? Really?
@veras7thenstan
8 жыл бұрын
That bass player is so asinine! I started to think that he was making fun of them. - F that dude!!! Look at those parachute pants! Guess the band really needed him for this performance. Sounds great though. They were the genuine article.
@wesleybreard6562
6 жыл бұрын
Meh, he just looks like he's actually enjoying playing music - not trying as hard as them to look Velvet Underground. Scots are kinda sour people, sometimes. He plays well. Whatever.
@rm009z0858
5 ай бұрын
Scottish, not English.
@robertbentzel8105
2 жыл бұрын
Letterman was the lamest. I’ve never laughed at at any joke he told. I don’t get his popularity
@slimjim4239
Жыл бұрын
english band? what an insult
@sophiam878
7 жыл бұрын
Couldn't be less English 😂. Bet they were pissed at that comment.
@jupiter-8405
7 жыл бұрын
Are they actually atheists? I never know...
@BookClubDisaster
3 жыл бұрын
Total Velvet Underground knockoffs.
@yaboyreege7158
3 жыл бұрын
Not really, but nice try
@markallen2984
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah....what did you read one review of JAMC?
@BookClubDisaster
3 жыл бұрын
@@markallen2984 Never read a single review of them. All you need is a pair of ears.
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