Scarlett Johansson joined my old band

Back on the chain gang: Jim Reid duets with Scarlett Johansson at Coachella. Photograph: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"Is everybody having a good time? Well let's see what we can do about that."

These words rang out across the California desert shortly after sunset last Friday, and the Jesus And Mary Chain were back. Apart from the small matter of a warm up gig the night before, this was the first time that the brothers Reid had shared so much as a sandwich together since their last gig ended in fraternal fisticuffs, bloodshed and ignominy nine years ago. In true showbiz style, the story appears to have a happy ending. It could have gone either way - Jim and William Reid are the most unstable elements since nitro and glycerine, and few people would have been surprised by ten minutes of feedback, swearing and somebody getting whacked with a microphone stand. Instead, they stole the show, sounded better than ever, and created a seismic wave that obliterated Folkstone the next morning. As if this wasn't enough, they capped it all by utilizing Scarlett Johannson's tonsils on Just Like Honey - utterly sublime.

As a former hitchhiker on the Mary Chain bandwagon (I was their drummer from 1985 to 1987), I can't pretend that I'm not horribly jealous not to be involved again. I would normally affect complete disinterest, but the Mary Chain are too important for strops. Unfortunately, this newspaper was too tight to send me out there as its roving/raving Coachella correspondent, so I watched the whole thing on YouTube and was completely enthralled. The line up is perfect. Phil King, on bass, Jim, William, Mark Crozer and Loz Colbert who hits the drums harder than anybody I've ever seen.

When the Mary Chain ended, things had grown tired and fractured. Everybody drank, smoked and snorted far too much. In the interim, life has recalibrated itself. There's nothing like births, deaths, marriages and divorces to make one pick up a guitar for the simple pleasure of playing a tune.

I don't think you can call this a reunion, when its chief architects sprang from the same womb; and for cynics, "purists" and anoraks who might think they've only done it for the money - so what! I hope they make piles of the stuff. And consider this. They might actually enjoy playing in a rock'n'roll band, flying round the world, and staring at Scarlett Johannson's posterior while knocking out a three-chord symphony - it beats being a plumber.

When great bands get back together, don't question it. Just be thankful that these giants among men have given up some of their hard earned spare time, come down from their mountaintop retreats, and are prepared once again to stare at your horrible faces.