David Yow (born August 2, 1960) is an American musician and actor best known as the frontman of the influential noise rock bands Scratch Acid and the Jesus Lizard. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Yow first gained attention in the early 1980s as a founding member of Scratch Acid, a chaotic punk/noise outfit based in Austin, Texas. After the band’s disbandment in 1987, he co-founded the Jesus Lizard alongside David Wm. Sims and Duane Denison, relocating to Chicago and helping define the underground rock scene of the 1990s with his confrontational stage presence and raw vocal delivery.
The Jesus Lizard became notorious for their intense live shows, with Yow often performing in a wild, intoxicated state that became a hallmark of the band’s visceral appeal. Despite minimal mainstream success, they earned a cult following and critical acclaim, releasing multiple albums and touring internationally, including a slot on the Lollapalooza tour. Outside of music, Yow has pursued acting and visual art, and in 2013 he released a solo album titled Tonight You Look Like a Spider on Joyful Noise Recordings, further showcasing his boundary-pushing creative style.
