James has confirmed that he won’t be playing with the band on any of this year’s forthcoming shows, including the Gothic Treffen festival in Prague and all US dates in Nevada and California. The dates are still going ahead, with Smiley drumming in Europe and Kevin Tooley (from Belouis Some) on the US dates.
‘Glad To Be Alive’ Live CD release
August 22nd 2025 sees the release of the ‘Glad To Be Alive’ expanded edition live CD. Recorded in concert at Nottingham in March 1986, eight tracks were originally released on a limited edition extra vinyl disc with the ‘Discover’ album that summer. Now, for the first time on CD, the whole concert is available, comprising a total of 17 tracks, including new single of the time, ‘Sweetest Thing’.
The band for this gig featured Jay and Michael Aston with James Stevenson, Pete Rizzo and Marcus Gilvear, and each has contributed to the sleeve notes for the new CD. It is available for pre-order from Iconoclassic Records, who are based in the USA. If you are in the USA or Canada, orders are accepted at the Iconoclassic website here. Otherwise, await links on Amazon and other outlets in due course.
Tracklist:
Drummer Smiley releases solo covers album
Gene Loves Jezebel’s current drummer, Smiley, has released a solo album. Together with a band of musician friends, he has put out a ten-track CD of cover versions, entitled ‘Re-covered’. Order from his website: smileysfriends.co.uk
Tracklist: Like A Rolling Stone, All Along The Watchtower, Venus, Eleanor Rigby, The Mighty Quinn, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Itchycoo Park, Down Under, Mrs Robinson, and Come On Feel The Noize.
Postponed tour collectors pack
The merchandise for the postponed 2024 North American Tour is available in a collectors pack. Containing the tour t-shirt, with gold metallic ink on black, listing all dates for the tour on the back; signed set list for what would have been the opening night at New Orleans; promotional photograph; special VIP pass; and GLJ guitar pick. The tour had been scheduled for summer 2024 and unfortunately postponed at the last minute.
The pack is available in limited numbers from About Being Seen.
Smiley’s podcast featuring James Stevenson
Smiley, Gene Loves Jezebel’s latest drummer, has a new podcast. Entitled ‘Clang – The Podcast’, it is named after his auto-biography. The latest guest is the band’s guitarist, James Stevenson. Smiley and James are bandmates, not only in Gene Loves Jezebel, but also in The Alarm, and Holy Holy.
Check it out here:
North American tour postponed
Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel have announced the unfortunate postponement of the North American tour, which was due to kick off on 1st May and apologise to all fans anticipating it. All acts were greatly looking forward to getting out on the road and meeting North American fans to celebrate music and the MTV years. Unfortunately Mike Peters of headline act The Alarm has to undergo some urgent treatment to combat Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. At such a late stage, with the tour imminent, there were no options for promoters but to put the tour on hold. Health comes first and the band’s thoughts are with Mike Peters and his family with the hope for a speedy recovery.
Mike Peters’ statement released 29th April is as follows:
Meet and Greet on the US tour
The band have added the opportunity to meet and hang out prior to shows on the forthcoming tour of the USA. The ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow MMXXIV’ tour, alongside The Alarm and Belouis Some, begins on 1st May in New Orleans and will carry on into July.
The exclusive pre-shows will begin an hour before doors officially open for the main show. Visitors will be welcomed by the tour host, and be guided to a special intimate acoustic performance by the band. Visitors will meet the band and there will be a chance to ask any questions at a Q&A, where the band will talk about their experiences in music, and have a photo taken with the band. All will have a commemorative tour laminate and a special Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel tote bag. Visitors also get early access to the band’s merchandise and show.
Tickets for this are available separately from the main show tickets, and any pre-show visitor must have a valid show ticket to gain access to this special experience. See the pre-show meet and greet listings here.
Another informative Jay Aston interview
Amongst the recent very positive album reviews and interviews, here is a new interview with an informative conversation between Jay and Thomas S Orwat Jr of the Rock Interview Series YouTube channel and the RockMusicStar website, where the discussion covers the history of Gene Loves Jezebel, influential bands and songwriters, as well as the new album and potential future plans.
USA Tour May 2024
Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel will be joining The Alarm and Belouis Some for the ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow’ tour of the USA in May. Starting off at the House of Blues in New Orleans on Wednesday 1st May and finishing at Ludlow Garage, Cincinatti on Friday 31st, this will be a celebration of the MTV years when the music TV channel established itself.
See the Shows page for full dates and Tickets links.
More dates coming soon.
Jay talks about ‘X – Love Death Sorrow’
Jay Aston has been interviewed by The New Wave Music Podcast for their Season 5, Episode 80 show, released yesterday (5th February). Here the discussion revolves around Gene Loves Jezebel’s new album ‘X – Love Death Sorrow’ and in particular Jay’s songwriting for this. With excerpts of the songs discussed, the interview is informative and acknowledges the popularity of this album in the bands repertoire, whilst bringing in many aspects of the bands career.
You can find the show on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here.
The podcast channel has interviewed both Jay and James Stevenson previously, episodes 23 and 22 respectively, in their Season 2 shows in the summer of 2022. They celebrate many other New Wave artists so, if interested, connect with them through their podcasts and social media listed on their web page here.
