THESE days Jesus Jones having nothing to prove, other than having themselves a good time.

"We have a list of priorities when we tour now, and number one on the list, is 'will it be fun?'" said Mike Edwards, front man.

The band who were riding high in the late Eighties and Nineties with their innovative blend of guitar rock and electronic dance music, have just released a new single - "the first one in God knows how many years" says Mike - and with it are doing a short tour of shows, one of which will take place at Chinnerys on Southend seafront.

The single, titled How's This Even Going Down, he says is a link to a forthcoming album due out in November, which will also coincide with a tour, the general theme of the single and the album being about getting more mature, how life is different now to how it was when the band were in their Twenties, whether that's a good or bad thing.

"I would say we are more relaxed now" said Mike. "I think it's mainly because nothing is expected of us anymore. When we were younger, with every record contract, there were more terms created, because you are expected to sell more and make more money, and with that came a huge pressure. I remember at the time of our third album, thinking we were responsible for about 12 people's livelihoods. We'd have said yes to doing anything back then if it was important that we did it.

"Touring itself is much the same as it always was, although the venues are better equipped. Some of the places we were touring at the end of the Eighties were awful in comparison.

"But the nature of the music industry has changed massively, which has all been driven because of downloading. I think it must be very hard to get excited about new music coming out now. I don't think people buy music any more... there is so much free music... although I am very happy to be wrong.

"From our perspective, as a band we are very excited - we love getting new stuff out and we've had some fantastic comments about the new track."

When Jesus Jones first formed at the end of 1988, they quickly established themselves as one of the most exciting acts of their time. They were one of the first bands to successfully blend rock and dance music, using samples and beats over catchy, commercial pop songs.

"I had a definite, fixed idea of how I wanted us to sound back then at the time, I was very focused on that" said Mike. "I wanted that hybrid of rock music with guitars, but was very excited by the new electronic music coming out. I felt there just had to be a way to blend the guitar based songs with stuff like hip hop and house, and that hasn't really changed for me, other than it evolving.

"The new single wouldn't sound like it does if it wasn't for dub-step. Electronic music evolves so rapidly which is one of the reasons I like the approach of using it with guitar music, that mutant will always sound new because the electronic side is always changing. I don't really listen to guitar based music much but I will listen to electronic music on Spotify and get excited by it, and think 'well there is something new I haven't heard before'."

However, when it comes to writing, the progression of technology is in some ways a hindrance, says Mike.

"Obviously we were very into technology back then, but writing has become a very different process to what it used to be. I used to have a four track porta studio. Now I have a laptop with unlimited options to record. It can slow the writing process down because there are so many options to choose from. A good song should be about the melody, the chords, the core of it. Now I can spend hours choosing a certain kind of bass sound and matching it to a high hat beat. Who gives a damn? I'm not sure if it's a good thing. I can over complicate the process."

The band released their first album - Liquidizer - in 1989, with its singles Never Enough and Info Freako seeing them tour the UK and Europe, wowing critics and fans with a high-energy live show that was to become the band’s trademark.

At the start of 1991, their second album Doubt quickly became a huge success. It entered the UK charts at number one, and gave the band their first gold disc. It would also see massive sales around the world, including Canada (where it went platinum), as well as Japan and Australia. However, perhaps the album’s greatest success was in the US, where it went platinum, selling well in excess of a million copies. This was driven by the single Right Here, Right Now, which was a huge MTV hit (it was, at the time, the longest-running video on their playlist), and was on constant rotation at virtually every radio station across the country.

The single reached number one, and still remains an anthem to this day. The album also spawned a number of other huge worldwide hits, including International Bright Young Thing, and Who? Where? Why? The band were awarded an MTV award for Best New Artist, as well as being nominated for a Grammy.

Their next album - Perverse - saw them explore the rock/dance crossover even more – and influence other emerging acts such as The Prodigy.

Further albums followed in 1997 (Already), and 2001’s self-released London.

The band never split up, just went quiet for a bit and concentrated on life.

Mike Edwards became a successful personal fitness trainer and professional cycle coach, bassist Alan played alongside ex-Mekon Jon Langford in Punk/Country crossover act The Waco Brothers in his new hometown of Chicago, keyboard player Iain forged a new career as a Radio DJ on Xfm and NME Radio, and guitarist Jerry busied himself as a professional artist.

"I was always writing and making music, but did the personal training as something else to do" said Mike. "I was always a keen cyclist since the early 90s."

I wondered if his fitness had helped with stamina, what with touring in their more mature years.

"I think the way we perform, being on stage always felt like a decent work out anyway" said Mike, "I'm not really sure it has helped, although I suppose you've got to know how to look after yourself. Being on stage is hard work."

The band started coming under the spotlight again in 2004, when they released a new compilation of rarities and unheard tracks called The Collection – their first album release for almost ten years. This was followed by a live DVD, celebrating the closure of the venue that gave them their big break, the iconic Bull & Gate pub in London’s Kentish Town. Off the back of that they threw themselves back into touring, visiting Australia, Japan, and the UK, as well as a select number of festivals.

Then in 2014, each of the bands four EMI albums was reissued and expanded with some rare and unheard material.

After nearly three decades together, they have the same lineup as when they formed.

“It may be a bit of a cliché to say we do it for fun now, but it couldn’t be more apt – we’ve been friends and band mates for so long, that it just feels right, being onstage, all of us together, playing the songs that have shaped our lives – it’s a fantastic feeling!" said Mike. “I never thought I’d write another Jesus Jones album, but now we’re back playing live, songs are something that happen naturally, when you fire yourself up creatively. And, without the pressure, I’m thoroughly enjoying the whole process!”

Jesus Jones will be at Chinnerys on Friday, June 3.

Doors open at 7:30pm with a start time of 8pm.

Tickets are £17.50 available from seetickets.com