Discover GENE LOVES JEZEBEL

Let's Discover

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL

Christopher Columbus discovered AMERICA in 1492. Ferdinand Magellan discovered the PHILIPPINES in 1521. Who discovered GENE LOVES JEZEBEL here in MANILA? Hmmmp!! Let's think it over. Well, you got it right KABAYAN!! YUP!! WXB102 discovered GENE LOVES JEZEBEL for PINOY WAVERS wayback 1986. WXB102 introduced the band here in MANILA by playing the classic extended version of "DESIRE" back in 1986.

"De...de...de...de...de..DESIIIIRE!!"......."Come and get it(3x)"... for PINOY WAVERS would be the instant memory for this great band. "DISCOVER" album was my very first GLJ Vinyl Record I bought back in 1986 and when I had a chance to buy the CD version last 2001 then I grabbed that opportunity. Wheew!! Then XB played a string of songs from the album like "HEARTACHE", "SWEETEST THING", and "BRAND NEW MOON" that made the band more popular to PINOY WAVERS. Btw, HEARTACHE and BRAND NEW MOON were included on the HIGH ADVENTURE bootleg cassette tape entitled "102 Music" which I featured here in my blog before while "DESIRE" was included on the volume two of that "102 Music" cassette tape. I still remember around October 1987 after school I was listening to the POWER105 tandem of Harry Nolan and Tazmanian Devil mixing DESIRE(12") with Echo And The Bunnymen's"Lips Like Sugar(12")and this was just before BM would finally go back to New Wave format on December 1987. That mix became an instant classic for DJ mixing. Who would forget the party shout of "Liberal Party, Liberal Party wouldn't hurt anyone" in the tune of "HEARTACHE". We have attended parties singing that false lyrics for fun. Ha Ha Ha! Those were the days indeed!! Though XB also played some songs from their "PROMISE" and "IMMIGRANT" albums, "DISCOVER" was still the album to reckon with during those times.


In late 1987,with the release of "HOUSE OF DOLLS", NU107 brought back the energy of the band by introducing songs like "MOTION OF LOVE","GORGEOUS", "SUSPICION" and "TWENTY KILLER HURTS"(sounds like an amount of voltage). In 1988, POWER105 would make "VAGABOND", and "BUGG'S BRUISES" an instant hit for PINOY WAVERS. In 1989, NU107 played "JEALOUS" from the "KISS OF LIFE" album which didn't make that much impact here in MANILA since this was the time when the diffirences between MICHAEL and JAY really errupted.

Photo courtesy of RAMIL

I still remember my friends and I used to joke that the ASTON TWINS names were GENE and JEZEBEL so since they are brothers they love each other thus coming up with a band name "Gene Loves Jezebel". He He He!! Well, that's our form of discussion okay. Not knowing that after two decades the twins would split-up and even formed two "GENE LOVES JEZEBEL" bands WOW!! Weird isn't it? I guess that's their form of excitement and love for each other. Ha Ha Ha!!


GENE LOVES JEZEBEL was formed by the ASTON TWINS namely MICHAEL and JAY ASTON together with IAN HUDSON back in 1980. They were originally called "SLAV ARYAN" before coming up with the name GENE LOVES JEZEBEL also popularly known as GLJ. The trio had several live gigs back then and were able to sign up with an Indie Record label called SITUATION TWO(The same label that released the album of LULU KISS ME DEAD) and released a demo single entitled "Shaving My Neck". In 1986 the band moved it's recording contract to BEGGARS BANQUET which is the parent company of SITUATION TWO and by this time the band would get more exposure on college radio and definitely it included exposure here in MANILA thru XB, BM, and NU.

The news of the band coming over here in MANILA wayback 1989 became a major excitement for PINOY WAVERS like me. My brother, cousin and I were able to buy our tickets at SM NORTH EDSA at the defunct "EVERYTHING ROCKS" shop. YUP!! We will never forget our experience buying those tickets because all the Sales ladies in that shop were wearing a skimpy black and shiny mini-skirt dress that would really make you drool. Ha Ha Ha!! Few weeks after we bought the tickets there was an announcement over at NU107 that the concert was cancelled. Wheew!! The reasons were not totally explained to the fans but what we knew back then was that one of the member's relatives was affected by the 1989 SAN FRANCISCO earthquake. I have no idea if this report was confirmed. Some have said It was because of Gringo Honasan's Coup d'etat attempt on the Cory Aquino Government back then. Of course all of us were very disappointed that time especially when the cancellation of the concert was 100% and we have to get our tickets refunded. Ngek!! So we returned the tickets and got our refund and we came back to the shop again. He He He!! That's life I may say.

Here's a photo of my old GLJ poster that I bought back in 1989 during those SHAMBHU days. YUP!! It's still displayed on a part of my room. As you will notice the four corners have thumbtacks that would cause TETANUS. Ha Ha Ha!! Rusty already through the years.

Finally, GENE LOVES JEZEBEL is coming over here in MANILA. What a relief!! Well, as what I've mentioned just a while back the twins have two GLJ bands and the one that will be doing a concert here would be MICHAEL ASTON's wing. It should have been great if both MICHAEL and JAY were still intact so that PINOY WAVERS would at least see these guys perform together LIVE in the flesh. So how would the crowd be? That I don't definitely know. Well, I just hope MICHAEL will sing our favorites GLJ songs so that we could enjoy the concert. Though, I'm expecting some new stuffs, let's just hope that not that much so that we could get all our money's worth since the tickets are not that cheap and the band would not give us any HEARTACHES. They should beat the smash hit Pinoy Tele-nobela "DYESEBEL". Ha Ha Ha!! I wonder if DYESEBEL stars Dingdong and Marian will watch the concert....with Karylle? Ooows!! PINOY loves DYESEBEL or GENE LOVES JEZEBEL? It's your choice. He He He!!

So if you DESIRE to see GLJ LIVE then better "Come And Get It". I guess this would be the SWEETEST THING to happen this November and they better not bring us some HEARTACHES.

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL (NOVEMBER 15 - DECAGON / NOVEMBER 17 - HARDROCK CAFE)

FEATURING MICHAEL ASHTON. HEAR THEM PLAY THEIR HITS : DESIRE, HEARTACHE, SWEETEST THING, TWENTY KILLER HURTS, MOTION OF LOVE, GORGEOUS, ETC..

DECAGON - WITH SANDWICH AS OPENING ACT AND SPINNERS LITO DAVID, ERWIN YONZON & JOJO GERMINO

HARDROCK CAFE' - WITH DEAD POP STARS AS OPENING ACT AND SPINNERS FIED FONTAMILLAS AND MARLON DELA CRUZ

TICKETS @ PHP 1,500.00

COME AND GET IT!

So PINOY WAVERS,

Let's DISCOVER

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL

-DR. STIRRING RHOD-