Jane Bond & The Undercover Men were an 80's American alternative group consisting primarily of producer Ethan James (also known as Ralph Burns Kellogg), who used to be a member of Blue Cheer, and Lisa Mitchell, who was the vocalist, as well as other musicians helping including Joe Nolte and John Mauceri, who was formerly the drummer of the Flying Burrito Bros. The ensemble was a project of Ethan James, who released two albums and one single with the group before disbanding.
In 2002 Ethan James released a folk album of his own called Learning Chinese The Hard Way, where the self titled track was written by him and former Jane Bond & The Undercover Men vocalist, Lisa Mitchell, who was now known as Lisa Mitchell Silverman after getting married.
A year later in 2003, Ethan James died of complications from liver cancer in San Francisco at the age of 56.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have discovered the group in 1983 when he played tracks from their self titled debut album. He would continue play material from the band through the mid/late 80's, when they re-issued their second album, Politically Correct, through the UK based, Dreamworld label. He described their second album as one of his favourites of 1985 on his 15th January 1986 show. On the album, a special thanks was given to John Peel amongst others.
On his 14th August 1990 show, Peel recalled writing the group fan letters and begging them to record special tracks to broadcast as sessions, but this never happened and became the Sessions That Never Happened.
In the late 90's, Peel re-visited the group by playing tracks mainly from their Politically Correct album in an attempt to do a Jane Bond And The Undercover Men revival.
After JP's death, it was later found out that a copy of their single, Hot Rod Lincoln, was found in his Record Box, which consisted of 142 singles that he would take if there was a fire at his home.
Shows Played[]
- 1983
- 28 July 1983: Hot Rod Lincoln (7") Ear Movie
- 31 July 1983 (BFBS): Debutants (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 31 July 1983 (BFBS): We're Gonna Get That Boy (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 31 July 1983 (BFBS): This Is A Recording (LP - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 01 August 1983: This Is A Recording (LP - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 07 August 1983 (BFBS): Hot Rod Lincoln (7") Ear Movie
- 07 August 1983 (BFBS): Debutants (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 07 August 1983 (BFBS): Dancing With My Boyfriend (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 20 August 1983 (BFBS): Debutants (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 07 September 1983: We're Gonna Get That Boy (LP - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 29 September 1983: Hot Rod Lincoln (7") Ear Movie
- 07 September 1983 (BFBS): This Is A Recording (LP - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Ear Movie
- 01 October 1983 (BFBS): Hot Rod Lincoln (7") Ear Movie
- 12 November 1983 (BFBS): We're Gonna Get That Boy (album - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Normal
- 1985
- 20 February 1985: Debutantes (LP - Jane Bond And The Undercover Men) Normal
- 19 March 1985: I Made Love To A Communist (LP - Politically Correct) Normal
- 24 March 1985 (BFBS): 'I Made Love To A Communist (LP-Politically Correct)' (Dreamworld)
- 31 March 1985 (BFBS): 'The Girl Who Knew Too Much (LP - Politically Correct)' (Normal)
- 01 April 1985: 'Kiss My Gun (LP-Politically Correct)' (Normal)
- 14 April 1985 (BFBS): 'Politically Correct (album - Politically Correct) Normal
- 22 April 1985: Teen Heaven (album - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 01 May 1985: Politically Correct (LP-Politically Correct) Normal
- 07 May 1985: Kiss My Gun (LP - Politically Correct) Normal
- 15 May 1985: Confidential Story (LP-Politically Correct) Normal
- 1986
- 15 January 1986: Kiss My Gun (LP - Politically Correct) Normal
- 04 February 1986: Confidential Story (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 12 May 1986: The Spy Movie (LP - Jane Bond & The Undercovermen) Normal
- 15 September 1986: Kiss My Gun (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 17 September 1986 (VPRO): Kiss My Gun (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 30 September 1986: Confidential Story (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 06 October 1986: Politically Correct (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 21 October 1986: Hot Rod Lincoln (LP - Politically Correct) Normal
- 29 October 1986: Kiss My Gun (LP - Politically Correct) Dreamworld
- 1987
- 02 January 1987 (BFBS): 'Hot Rod Lincoln (7")' (Ear Movie)
- 16 January 1987 (BFBS): 'Hot Rod Lincoln (7")' (Ear Movie)
- 04 October 1987 (BFBS): 'I Made Love To A Communist (LP-Politically Correct)' (Dreamworld)
- 1990
- 14 August 1990: 'The Girl Who Knew Too Much (LP-Politically Correct)' (Normal)
- 1997
- 27 March 1997: ‘I Made Love To A Communist (LP – Politically Correct)’ Normal
- 01 April 1997: ‘Kiss My Gun (LP – Politically Correct)’ Normal
- 10 April 1997 (BFBS): 'Kiss My Gun (LP-Politically Correct)' (Dreamworld)
- 1999
- 19 January 1999: I Made Love To A Communist (LP - Politically Correct) Normal
- 08 June 1999: ‘Kiss My Gun (LP – Politically Correct)’ Normal
- 10 June 1999: Hot Rod Lincoln (single) Ear Movies