The Screaming Jets

Prior to silverchair's emergence, The Screaming Jets stood as the leading act to arise from Australia's industrial city of Newcastle. Their sound reflected that environment more directly than silverchair's ever did. The founding members grew up facing the stark choice between jobs in the steelworks and allied industries or outright unemployment. In such a setting residents pursued demanding existences, consuming heavily and expecting uncompromising rock. The Screaming Jets supplied exactly that.

Vocalist Dave Gleeson and guitarist Grant Walmsley started their first group while still in high school. January 1989 brought the two friends together with other Newcastle youths to launch the aggressive, high-impact Screaming Jets, complete with their signature stunt of Walmsley hanging inverted, legs locked around the singer's neck, all without breaking his solo. Between numbers Gleeson addressed crowds with profanity, politically incorrect opinions, and unplanned tirades. Proud young Rolling Stones devotees, they also upheld the Australian hard-rock lineage set by AC/DC, the Angels, and Rose Tattoo. By May 1980 Roo Art—the globally minded Australian label established by INXS manager Chris Murphy—had signed the band.

An introductory EP preceded the April 1991 release of debut album All For One, which produced the Australian top-10 hit "Better." While their recordings steadily attracted supporters, Dave Gleeson's outspokenness repeatedly sparked controversy. The close of 1991 launched an extended tour across the USA and Europe.

Following the October 1992 arrival of second album Tear Of Thought, The Screaming Jets have performed in well over twenty countries, parted ways with some members, lost others, scored an Australian hit with their reading of Birthday Party's "Shivers," switched management, and watched their Roo Art contract move between successive distributors. Throughout these changes the band has kept recording and touring, Dave Gleeson has refined his attitude into focused lyrics, and he and Walmsley have become a classic rock-and-roll frontman-guitarist pairing in the manner of Jagger/Richards and Tyler/Perry.