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I can’t speak for the others in the band at that time but for me
our association with Terry Hooley the Good Vibrations impresario
was to be a considerably more indelible experience than anything
at the above mentioned Roxy. Terry Hooley was the guy behind the
success the Undertones (of Teenage Kicks fame) were to
experience, he proved to be a man of great character and
sincerity. It will come as no surprise to many that even today,
current references to his efforts of nearly 30 years past are
varied and numerous. He also had an unusual party trick where he
would remove his glass eye and splosh it into a pint of beer. He
helped us with a number of pressings and organized a few dates in
Northern Ireland along with accommodation in his own home where
once the late John Peel had also been a guest. |
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I remember the general sense of in quietude as our trip up there
began, like we were embarking upon some precarious almost unheard
of but undoubtedly little travelled musical pathway to God knows
what. It was after all, that Ulster, globally infamous for its
hoards of balaclava clad paramilitaries, for bombs, bullets and an
apparent insatiable lust for sectarian bloodletting at every
opportunity. Normally for ourselves, these things were only ever
observed through the bubble like safeness of television glass.
However, there was also much excitement too and in equal measure,
for myself especially as we were also seemingly following in the
footsteps of such then contemporary greatness as The Clash.
Their 1977 concert at the Ulster Hall in Belfast City Centre
turned into a riot after the RUC lost control of the crowd and
started beating punks up outside the gig. Think that was the
reason we ended up doing ours at the Uni. Even a trip to the local
fish and chip shop could prove a perilous move. It is hard to
imagine now but way back then just ordering a sausage in batter
with a mainland English accent nearly became our undoing. But even
more mentionable, the atmosphere inside the bars with their
respective histories and heavily fenced around entrance ways were
to make the Roxy feel like your average mainland pre school
nursery, and that was just in the context of going for a beer! |
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One track on the Voxhall Tracks from 1979. 4 Luton bands. !
song apiece:
The Friction -
Murder
TeeVees - War Machine
Paranoia - Ever Been Conned
The Clips - Ultimatum |
Amongst other appearances on Good Vibrations were: Original
Terminal as The Jets and Doctor Headlove as The Tee Vees.
Eventually the Jets became the Tee Vees though no one would get
away with a name like that these days, everyone would think it was
a bunch of guys with gender issues. When I eventually vacated the
drum seat it was taken over by the good looking and immensely
talented Colin Salmon who quite recently it was rumored, very
nearly became the next James Bond. Obviously you’d have to ask
someone else for anything that took place from there on.
In years gone by and on a local level I’d often be asked about
some sort of bad blood that supposedly existed between The Jets
and UK Decay. To be honest I personally don’t remember sensing
that any tangible animosity existed at musician level. In any
event and within the scheme of things, it is about as important
now as Attila the Hun’s last shit, or possibly even less important
than that.
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Big
thanks to Justin
(Previously drummer with The Exiles - The Jets - Tee Vees) for
eventually giving in to Punk77's persistent emails over 6 months and supplying
the above. Last words goes to a defiant Joe..
For a very short and exciting period in the seventies, musicians
took control of all aspects related to making and promoting their
music. They did this specifically to avoid the commercial
exploitation, self indulgence and pomposity that had grown up
around music. At the same time they incorporated into the sound
and their writings the prevailing mood of the time which was one
of anger and frustration. There were no leaders and no one spoke
for anyone else.
Those principles still hold. The Jets were five people and no one
of them speaks for the others, that will always be the way.
Specific questions about individuals and their place in
events that took place almost thirty years ago reduce those lives
and times to the very circumstances the music sought to
reject. Those people and happenings were real and of their time,
they do not belong as a footnote in a retrospective adventure
targeted at people who should be making their own history.
Maybe one day the whole story will be told, if anyone still cares.
One fact - the Jets on the Roxy album and tour were from Luton and
proud to be so.
That's all. |
The
Jets Part 1
Back
To Top
For
more info on the Luton scene check out these two great websites
http://www.mboss.f9.co.uh/the-jets &
http://www.ukdecay.co.uk
Account from
Justin of the Jets
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