‘Jesus’ Jellett
Freaky dancer, vibesman BORN 1948
Born in Dorset, William Jellett spent time in care homes before moving to London in the late ’60s. Upon arrival, he made for Covent Garden’s freak-nexus Middle Earth and, in certain important ways, never left, taking the party with him as he relentlessly attended gigs in the capital throughout the ’70s, ’80s and beyond. Tall and thin with a distinctive blond mullet/ pudding bowl hairstyle, his calling card was wholly free bodily movement, termed “idiot dancing” by the press, which often involved maracas playing and nudity. He can be seen expressing himself in footage of Cream, the Stones, Glastonbury Fayre and more, and in images of gigs by the Sex Pistols, Hawkwind, Queen, the MC5 and
many others: John Lydon wrote, “he didn’t give a toss… I loved him for that.” Profiled by the NME in 1974, he possibly took the nickname ‘Jesus’ too literally, and was also to be seen at Speakers Corner espousing his views on spirituality and healthy eating, using nuts and raisins as currency and means of benediction. Still occasionally glimpsed into the noughties, he later retired to sheltered accommodation outside London. Jesus also appeared on the cover of the Chemical Brothers’ 1999 LP Surrender, lost in music at the Kensington Olympia in 1976.
Ian Harrison