Thurs. Feb. 7

 Remember Gene Loves Jezebel? The glam/post-new wave band from England formed by twins Jay and Michael Aston? The group responsible for “Desire” (I think their song came out before U2's), “Jealous” and “20 Killer Hurts.” Well, after a five-year abscence from these parts, Gene Loves Jezebel is back, at the Middle East Upstairs Thursday Feb. 7. By Gene Loves Jezebel we mean Gene Loves Jezebel featuring Jay Aston, (that would be him in the photo) which implies there may be some love lost between the twins. Michael is no longer there; founding members James Stevenson and Pete Rizzo are. Here's the word from Jay's team: When Jay and Michael split in 1997, both brothers continued to perform and record under the Gene Loves Jezebel moniker. The original members carried on with Jay at the helm, while Michael settled in LA and toured as GLJ with hired guns. (Jay's side notes their hits and biggest selling albums all featured his vocals and songwriting.) The warring twins have been in litigation. Michael has recently stopped using the “featuring Michael Aston” suffix, which has added to the confusion. He maintains that Jay withdrawing from the lawsuit to stop him using the name has given him the right to use the name exclusively. (Jay says he withdrew because the suit was so upsetting for their family, particularly their mother). Michael often attempts to stop the original members doing gigs by firing off letters from his lawyer to promoters stating he owns the rights to the name. He has also removed any reference to or pictures of the original members from the history of the band at his website. Naturally all this has led to intense acrimony and anger among Jay and the other original band members. More fun stuff: Management lawsuits, a record company that went bust, crooked accountants. Ouch, ouch, ouch. It says something for their tenacity that they're carrying on; they were never an A-level band, but a good one and it's somehow reassuring to think after 20-plus years, the band is still making music. Along with the hits, the band will perform new music from their latest release "VII" including the newest hit “Come Naturally.” At the Middle, they'll be joined by Spear of Destiny, Broken River Prophet and Anthems for Odyssey, starting at 9.   To hear the hits and new music visit www.genelovesjezebel.co.uk; www.myspace.com/therealglj; www.myspace.com/jpaston

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 www.mideastclub.com