BAND HISTORY

THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF THE SCREAMING JETS

"When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way,
from your first cigarette 'till your last dyin' day……."

The same tenacity and rebellion that made the Jets and the Sharks the cult of youth in 1961's West Side Story, was alive and well in the working class heartland of Newcastle during the early eighties when a couple of mates would talk about forming a great rock band. Heavily influenced by their heroes, AC/DC, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Angels and Rose Tattoo, these mates would go on to create one of the most celebrated & controversial live rock bands in Australian music history. Despite 17 years, 6 studio albums, (5 gold and 5 platinum and the latest disc yet to be released), world tours, multiple line up changes and thousands of gigs later……the dyin' day ‘aint here yet!

Dave Gleeson first met Grant Walmsley in 1981 while attending Hamilton Marist Brothers High School, forming their first band "Sudden Impact” later to become "Aspect” in 1985. A few years later with a self-titled EP released and already hundreds of gigs under their belts, Aspect played a concert on Sydney's Goat Island as part of the 1988 Bicentenary Celebrations. This would be the last major outing for Aspect before Gleeson & Walmsley decided to form a new band in 1989 with friend and fellow Aspect bassist Paul Woseen. Joined by Radiators drummer Brad Heaney and guitarist Richard Lara (Belt, The Choirboys), the new band actually performed as "The Love Bombs” before changing their name to the "Screaming Jets”.

That same year saw the Jets take out Triple J's National Battle Of The Bands competition - winning them some recording time, but 1989 would also have a much sadder impact on the band and the population of their beloved "Newy” after a powerful earthquake struck Newcastle with great devastation, killing 13 people and injuring over 150 others. At this time the band would bear witness to the type of power that music played in helping people through tough times when a benefit concert was held in the wake of the disaster. Gleeson recalls the gig at the Newcastle International Sports Centre, (with some 42,000 people in attendance), as one he'll never forget. The concert featured Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, Noiseworks, Spy Vs Spy, Split Enz and Crowded House – the latter 2 of whom were setting up for a gig in Newcastle when the Quake struck. The next 2 years would see the young band carve the fighting and bloody Novacastrian spirit into the hearts of everyone who saw them play. Rock ‘n Roll was their mantle, and they had a black sparkle in their eye!

Riding high on the Triple J success, the Jets hooked up with producer Steve James, (Thin Lizzy, Sex Pistols, Mental As Anything) to record an EP "The Scorching Adventures of the Screaming Jets”, earning the band a rookie ARIA nomination in 1990 and a dream national tour support with The Angels. After moving to Sydney the Jets landed a recording contract with INXS manager Chris Murphy's label "rooArt” (Ratcat, The Hummingbirds). In April1991, the Jet's released their now classic debut album "All For One” with 3 singles entering the national charts, including the iconic smash hit, "Better”, "Shine On” and "Stop The World”, with the single "Better” going gold and the album platinum. This was also when the wider live audience were introduced to the expletive soaked larrikin rants of Gleeson, never an apologist, Gleeson would become infamous for his caustic, yet passionate views on the political and social state of the nation – often causing the band problems such as being dumped as a national tour support for the Divinyls, apparently because Gleeson's mouth was too much.

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Hungry for live shows and looking for further success amongst the hard rock hordes of Europe, the Screaming Jets bid farewell to Australia to launch an assault on the UK, basing themselves there for 2 years. The Jets also hit the US where they played with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden & Alice In Chains. While putting together the follow up release to their impressive debut, the band released another killer EP "Living in England” in June 1992, which included covers of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues” and AC/DC's "Aint No Fun (waitin' round to be a millionaire)”. The Jets toured the UK in 1992 with Thunder & Quireboys before closing the Rock Am Ring Festival in Germany in front of 50,000 people.

The band had been back working with Steve James and Micajah Ryan (Guns ‘n Roses) to produce their follow up album "Tear Of Thought” which was released in October 1992, and contained a heavy acoustic cover of Boy's Next Door's Shiver” and another snappy chart single "Helping Hand”. Apart from delivering the band their next hit single, "Shiver” & "Helping Hand” much like "Better” would cement themselves as all time live favourites. "Tear Of Thought” would also go platinum and the band embarked on yet another tour in to the UK, supporting Ugly Kid Joe on their European tour, and then across the US, supporting the likes of Def Leppard, after which guitarist Richard Lara was replaced by Jimmi Hocking (Jimmi Human & Spectre 7). Despite his drumming featuring on the 2nd album, Brad Heaney was replaced mid tour by Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland. After the tour, the sticks were handed to Craig Rosevear (BB Steal)

On their return from the UK, the Jets tour Australia extensively and soon boost "Helping Hand” into gold single status in 1994. By 1995, the band was ready to go back into the studio for a self-titled third album with Producer Robbie Adams (U2, The Smashing Pumpkins). This recording, affectionately known as the ‘Gorilla' album, made world music history when it was the first ever album to be launched live via webcast in August 1995. By September it had debut at no.5 on the National Chart and the AA single "Friend of Mine”/"Sad Song” was the only single released. Despite the Jets hard edge earlier sound making a little way for more diverse ballads and even an occasional country feel, it was the acoustic rock ballads that provided the last hit songs, and signature sing alongs at their live shows which could rival an English soccer crowd.

By 1996, the band were beginning to slow down the razor pace at which they had previously recorded and constantly toured, and for the first time would release a studio album under a new label (BMG). The band had been frustrated with a distribution merry-go-round while trying to move on from an unhappy relationship with rooArt, Their fourth album would re-unite them with Steve James and mixer, Kevin Shirley (The Black Crowes, Aerosmith) and together they produced "World Gone Crazy” which produced 2 singles including a cover of Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction” and "October Grey”, a heart wrenching angsty acoustic treasure which was a rare treat when played live. Although a remake of the hit selling 60's war protest song seemed a natural for Gleeson to cover, Gleeson was born to sing the tune, and owns it in the modern era. The album reached no.18 on the National Chart in 1997.

1997 was a huge year for Newcastle and another year of change for the Jets. Just 8 years after the tragic earthquake, they had a new young force in rock music on the verge of world domination in Silverchar and a young rugby league team in the NRL Grand Final up against the might and power of the dominant "silvertails” in Manly. It was a classic street fight billed as a rugby league match, where the hopes and dreams of thousands of Knights fans were out on a football field on a perfect Sunny afternoon. In what was the ultimate working class sporting fairytale for a hard working city of coal miners and tradesmen who wore their hearts on their sleeves and bellowed with great Novacastrian pride as their team scored in the dying seconds of the match to win the unwinnable. The scenes of jubilation and relief were not just for what they had achieved, but for a city of people who had been through hell and back and needed this, just as they had needed a band like the Screaming Jets to represent their stand up and be counted spirit, the band had returned, and oh what a night! The Jets play to 50,000+ fans in a free concert on a stage in the centre of town - the celebrations would last for days

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.It was also time for another change in line-up for the Jets, with Jimmi Hocking departing and the entry of one of the hardest playing ax men in the country in Izzy Osmanovich who for some was fated to join the Jets after a much lauded and critically acclaimed stint with cult favourites, Judge Mercy, who disbanded as a band in their prime.

In 1998, the Jets paid tribute to Slim Dusty with a cover of "Cunnamulla Fella” which was released as a single and peaked at #58 on the National Chart. After touring North America & Europe in 1999, drummer Craig Rosevear left after 4 years and was replaced by Col Hatchman. The bands fifth studio album "Scam” had been through different hands and was in trouble until Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) and Kevin Shirley took over. This was the bands first release on the Grudge label (Universal), however the release would be delayed when the bands previous label BMG, released "Hits & Pieces” – a double CD ‘best of' just before Christmas 1999.

In 2000 "Scam” had peaked at no.13 with the single "Individuality” on the National Chart, and earned the Jets another gold album. The band would make headlines in September after members were removed from an inaugural Impulse Airlines flight to Brisbane after beginning a loud rendition of "Puff The Magic Dragon” in a mischievous effort to draw attention to the band. Dave Gleeson commented, "Yes we'd been drinking. But no, we weren't drunk. And say what you like, but we think Puff The Magic Dragon is a great song”. In 2001 the band continued to earn great supporting acts, touring nationally with both Kiss & Alice Cooper.

In 2001, the band announced they would be taking an extended break finished as expected, in Newcastle, in June 2001. This would result in a live album release of that show "Live Forever” which the band briefly promoted with a tour in 2002. The band would not play live again until 2004, when they released an EP "Heart Of The Matter” with two following singles receiving moderate airplay in "Heart of The Matter” and "Right Place, Wrong Time”. The band to this point had never recorded a live concert for commercial release, and decided to film a live gig at Penrith in Sydney for the "Rock On” DVD/CD. Soon after, drummer Col Hatchman left the band, (joining "The Dirty Skanks”). The band subsequently welcomed new drummer Mickl Sayers to the fold, and if there is one thing you'll soon realize about Mickl, it's that he takes no prisoners, who'd be drum skin? If you're near a speaker feel the air conditioning from his kicks - he's one beast of the sticks. Sadly, founding member and guitarist Grant Walsmley decided to leave the band in early 2007 after 17 years to pursue other projects. He was replaced by Scotty Kingman (Horsehead) who engineered the band's latest album which is due for independent release in mid 2008.

In June 2007, the Jets current line-up was invited to play for the men and women of the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Defence Force in the Solomon Islands (without Izzy, who was unable to make the trip). In live performances since, Gleeson has made a point of paying tribute to those in service, but never holding back on his feelings of war and the politics which drive it, however his point is well made….just listen to the lyrics.

Whether they are in a dusty pub in regional Australia, or a stadium in L.A, the smoke will still be rising off the bitumen long after the Jets truck has rolled on. They are survivors in an industry that eats it's own, and despite it all they are committed to their fans in a manner few could hold a candle too. The full bore, amps at eleven, kick ass rock that we love in this country is in a venue near you soon. WHO?