The Screaming Jets

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The Screaming Jets
OriginNewcastle, NSW
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Years active1989 - present
LabelsrooArt, Grudge, Liberation
Associated actsThe Angels, Radiators, Choirboys, Aspect, Blade, Judas Priest, Saint Lucifer, BB Steal, Nat Col and the Kings, Horsehead, Judge Mercy, Jimi the Human & Spectre 7, Kevin Borich's Party Boyz, Dirty Skanks
MembersDave Gleeson, Jimi Hocking, Scott Kingman, Mickl Sayers, Paul Woseen
Past membersBrad Heaney, Dave Holland, Col Hatchman, Izzy Osmanovich, Carig Rosevear, Grant Walmsley

Band members

  • Current line-up
    • Dave Gleeson (vocals)
    • Jimi Hocking (guitar)
    • Scott Kingman (guitar)
    • Mickl Sayers (drums)
    • Paul Woseen (bass)
  • Former members
    • Izzy Osmanovich (guitar) (1997 - 2009)
    • Grant Walmsley (guitar) (1989 - 2007)
    • Col Hatchman (drums) (2001 - 2004)
    • Craig Rosevear (drums) (1993 - 2000)
    • Richard Lara (guitar) (1989 - 1993)
    • Dave Holland (drums) (1993)
    • Brad Heaney (drums) (1990 - 1993)

Band information

For the best part of the 1990s, The Screaming Jets were one of the most consistently popular and often controversial bands on the Australian circuit, with tales of wild rock n' roll indulgences occasionally making the evening news broadcasts.

The band formed in Newcastle in 1989 around the core of Gleeson, Woseen and Walmsley. All three had previously been together in a band called Aspect. With guitarist Richard Lara and former Radiators drummer Brad Heaney completing the line-up, the Screaming Jets took out Triple J's National Battle of the Bands with most members barely out of their teens and scored an ARIA nomination in 1990.

The following year, All For One was released and became one of the most popular albums of 1991, preceded by the high-charting single "Better" which remained a constant live staple. The Screaming Jets became instantly popular with this release, although success was mixed with controversy due to Gleeson's often outlandish outspokenness. Hardly a band content to sit around waiting for further success, the Jets headed for the UK and Europe where they spent the best part of the next two years, establishing a reputation as a mean and wild rock act. While there they issued the "Living in England" EP that contained three new originals along with covers of Johnny Cash and AC/DC.

They toured through the UK with the likes of Thunder and the Quireboys and played plenty of their own shows, culminating in an appearance at Germany's Rock Am Festival. During a European tour with Ugly Kid Joe Heaney was fired from the band and replaced for the rest of the dates by former Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland. Tear of Thought contained better songs with the brash heavy rock tempered by introspective moments but met with little success at first until a cover of Boys Next Door's "Shivers" and then "Helping Hand" saw them back in the charts. Heaney was finally replaced by former BB Steal drummer Craig Rosevear for a US tour with Def Leppard and Ugly Kid Joe, and shortly after returning to Australia, Lara was replaced by Jimi 'The Human' Hocking, a Melbourne musician who had earlier released an album under the name Jimi the Human and Spectre 7. Lara went on to join Choirboys, with whom he played for five years.

The self-titled album made history when it became the first album to be released with a live Webcast.

Later releases saw the Jets retain their aggressive sound of the first two albums, but there have been mellower moments, with World Gone Crazy in particular containing acoustic passages and even country-flavoured tunes; indeed the band even contributed a track to a Slim Dusty tribute album.

The band's initial success was never matched, however, although they remained popular on the live circuit and still command a large following, despite tours being less frequent. Hocking left in 1997 and was replaced by Izzy Osmanovich, formerly of Judge Mercy and after an extensive national tour in 2000, Rosevear left the band. Col Hatchman was named as his replacement and in 2001 the Screaming Jets toured nationally with Kiss and Alice Cooper before announcing they would take an extended break from all recording and touring in mid-2001.

In December 2002, the band returned to live performances in support of their self-funded live album, then slipped from view once more; however the Screaming Jets returned to live performance in April 2004 and recorded a live DVD that was released in 2005. Col Hatchman departed from the band in November 2004 and formed Dirty Skanks with Nathan Cavaleri. He was replaced by Mickl Sayers. A new album was completed and released in October 2008; in early 2007 Grant Walmsley left The Screaming Jets and was replaced by former Horsehead guitarist Scott Kingman. Jimi Hocking re-joined The Screaming Jets during 2009 in place of Osmanovich. The band has played only rarely since, most significantly as appearance at Sydney's Enmore Theatre with Rose Tattoo, Baby Animals and The Poor at a benefit for former roadie and sound engineer Greg Clarke and in January 2012 at the Summernats in Canberra.

Hatchman continues to work with Nathan Cavaleri in the blues band Nat Col and the Kings, Paul Woseen recorded with Sydney band Saint Lucifer and Gleeson joined The Angels in mid-2011. He has raised the suggestion that the Screaming Jets will record and tour in 2013.

Discography

Albums:

All for One.jpg
1991 All For One rooArt
Tear of Thought.jpg
1992 Tear of Thought rooArt
1994 The Screaming Jets rooArt
World Gone Crazy.jpg
1997 World Gone Crazy rooArt
Hits and Pieces.jpg
1999 Hits and Pieces rooArt
Scam.jpg
2000 Scam Grudge
2002 Live Forever self release
Rock On.jpg
2005 Rock On Liberation Music
Do Ya.jpg
2008 Do Ya self release

Singles:

1990 C'Mon rooArt
1991 Better rooArt
1991 Stop the World rooArt
1991 Shine On rooArt
1993 Shivers rooArt
1994 Helping Hand rooArt
1994 Tunnel rooArt
1995 Friend of Mine/Sad Song rooArt
1997 Eve of Destruction rooArt
1998 October Grey rooArt
1998 Cunnumulla Fella
1999 Shine Over Me rooArt
1999 Individuality Grudge
2000 Higher With You Grudge

EPs:

1990 The Scorching Adventures of the Screaming Jets rooArt
1992 Living in England rooArt
Heart of the Matter.jpg
2004 Heart of the Matter self release

VHS/DVD:

2005 Rock On Liberation Music

Compilation tracks:

Year Track Title Album Title Label
1992 "Living in England" 100% Hits Volume 5 EMI