What you get is what you see interview to jay aston by diego centurión
A couple of back issues ago, we had the possibility to have the words of a Gene Loves Jezebel James Stevenson. Today we have the opportunity to have the word of one of the Aston brothers, the most involved with the band. While he is working with his new project “Ugly Buggs” (with another Gene Loves Jezebel, Peter Rizzo), paused for a moment to answer my questions. So, with you, Jay Aston! How were the days of “Slav Aryan”? It was very free form. I made a lot of noise with a few pedals Flange / Chorus / Echo & a drum machine. My friend Steven Davies played bass & my brother moaned about “White Walls” over the top of it all. We were pretty “artsy” I guess. We hung out at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff & hustled a couple of gigs. Our first gig was in a Porthcawl Pub & we got switched off a few times, but we were happy to lose our virginity as it were. Our second gig was “Rock Against Racism” benefit with a few other bands in Cardiff. We were received well & we got to open for Crass in Barry as a result. That was it for us in Wales. Next stop was London.
The first formations of Gene Loves Jezebel have included several musicians, Julianne Regan, Steve Goulding, until 1983, when editing “Promise”. What do you remember of those early years? Julianne is a naturally gifted musician. I asked her to join & gave hera bass. Not her first instrument, but she was great. Very creative. I’d have to write a book to cover that period, but I would say that there really was no one else quite like us & we grew quickly thanks to people like John Brand {Producer}. How was the decision to replace Ian? was painful? We were very worried by Ian’s decline. Of course it was a harrowing time & painful for us all. I felt guilty for bringing him into the band. He had to return to the U.K. after a couple of dates on what would prove to be a very hard first tour of the U.S.A We were very fortunate to get James Stevenson. James is very, very reliable & obviously, a great guitar player/writer. Thank God he was available. Saved us. I’ve seen Ian a couple of times since {as recently as April 2013} & he was in good spirits.