The Jesus Lizard

The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas by vocalist David Yow, guitarist Duane Denison, and bassist David Wm. Sims. They relocated to Chicago in 1989 and began working with producer Steve Albini and Touch and Go Records. Adding drummer Mac McNeilly, they became "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise." The albums Goat (1991) and Liar (1992) have since been recognized as two of the most significant noise rock albums of the era.

Drummer Jim Kimball replaced McNeilly late in 1996 and was himself replaced by Brendan Murphy two years later. Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band did not achieve commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s and disbanded in 1999. With returning drummer McNeilly, their reunion tour ten years later garnered positive responses from audiences and critics. They performed further reunion tours beginning in 2017.