Despite releasing a split single with leading alt-rockers Nirvana and signing to Capitol Records, the band failed to find commercial success amid the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s and disbanded in 1999.

The band began in Austin, Texas, when guitarist Duane Denison asked David Yow, formerly of Scratch Acid, to play bass on some songs he wanted to record.

[citation needed] McNeilly left the band in late 1996,[5] citing exhaustion from touring and the desire to spend more time with his family.

A departure, the record explored their experimental instincts previously hinted at on earlier songs like "Happy Bunny Goes Fluff-Fluff Along" and "White Hole".

In August 1998 Kimball left the group[7] and was replaced by Chicago-based drummer Brendan Murphy, formerly of the Wesley Willis Fiasco.

The members remained musically active: Denison began performing with Tomahawk, continued to play with Kimball in The Denison/Kimball Trio, and backed Hank Williams III on tour.

In 2006, Yow and Sims reformed Scratch Acid, along with original members Rey Washam (also of Rapeman, Ministry) and Brett Bradford (also of Sangre de Toro) for the Touch & Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival in Chicago.

A week before the Touch & Go Festival, the reunited Scratch Acid played to a sold-out crowd at Emo's in their hometown of Austin.

"[15] In August 2011 MVD released Club, a concert DVD and double LP of the band's Nashville performance at Exit/In from the 2009 tour.

"[17] In October 2013, the Jesus Lizard was set to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties event Release the Bats in Melbourne, Australia.

In June 2024, The Jesus Lizard announced their first album in 26 years, revealing the title to be Rack, simultaneously releasing the first single, "Hide and Seek", to streaming platforms.

"[24] Duane Denison's playing is influenced by British guitarists such as John McGeoch from Siouxsie and the Banshees and Magazine for his work on Juju in particular,[25] Andy Gill from Gang of Four, Geordie Walker from Killing Joke, Keith Levene from Public Image Ltd,[26] and bands of the US underground scenes like Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, Butthole Surfers and Big Black.

In Our Band Could Be Your Life, Michael Azerrad writes that "on the Jesus Lizard albums Albini recorded, singer David Yow sounds like a kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth; the effect is horrific.

The band have been cited as an influence or as a favorite by acts including Nirvana,[29][30] OK Go frontman Damian Kulash,[31] Gouge Away,[32] KEN Mode,[33] Bill Kelliher of Mastodon,[34] Whores,[35] Botch,[36] Converge,[37] Brand New,[38] Chat Pile,[39] METZ,[40] Alexis Marshall of Daughters,[41] Sara Lund of Unwound,[42] Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids,[43] Jawbreaker,[44] Johnny Temple of Girls Against Boys,[45] Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit,[46] Red Fang,[47][48] Joe Lally of Fugazi,[49] Henry Rollins,[49] Helmet,[50][51] and Lydia Lunch.

"[53] However, he criticized their decision to sign to Capitol, a major label, saying it doomed them to "become a third-string act for a big corporation that didn't give a shit about them or their audience".