Welcome to SALFORD JETS Home Page

This Web site features about the only info that you are gonna find on SALFORD JETS on the net. I've gathered it from conversation & emails with vocalist MIKE SWEENEY, my own half ass research and from blowing ten dollars a pop on 45s by the band! This is some of the best late 70s/early 80s music England had to offer and pray you get your paws on some vinyl by them soon. This page is in it's infancy, we're going to put some effort into it so keep checking back, IT WILL IMPROVE.

History

The foundation of what became the SALFORD JETS was laid in the late 60s (Diccon had been in the Rogues on Decca). Lead vocalist Mike Sweeney (formerly with Stackwaddy in 1973) mentioned that influence from Canned Heat gave the band their groove and during the glam era predating punk, bands like ZZ TOP were emulated by the musicians that named their group SALFORD JETS in 1976. I suspect some reggae, rocksteady and/or northern soul influences might also have seeped in as evidenced by the sound on the City Youth single. Nonetheless, The Beatles & Ramones had a much larger influence on the sound of SALFORD JETS as evidenced on some of the Eight singles, particularly the early ones, that followed on labels like RCA & Lunar from 1978 to 1983 but never a LP (due to a constant change of labels? That's all been righted by the recent [2004] 3 CD set available from the band of most if not all of their studio output). Even tho the band cracked the top 75, their shot at an appearance on TOP OF THE POPS slipped out of their hands due to a strike! Nonetheless, the band did have some TV appearances and did sessions with Mike Read & Kid Jensen. Peter Hook of Joy Division & New Order was quoted recently as saying SALFORD JETS were the band that got him into rock.
SALFORD JETS played 3 shows between 1986 & 1996 culminating in their appearance at HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN in Blackpool where the line-up featured Eric from Bay City Rollers on Guitar. A re-recording of WHO YOU LOOKING AT featured a guitarist from the Troggs & a keyboardist from Inspiral Carpets. Where are they now? Currently Mike Sweeney is a DJ on Capital Radio in the UK & Diccon Hubbard runs a talent agency. Both have teamed up in a 2003 line-up of the Salford Jets that recently played Royal Albert Hall opening for Cheap Trick. Another member, Rod, is in America playing alongside members of Firefall & Badfinger in RETRO ROCKETS.

In 2006, Castle Music in the UK issued a 24 song retrospective "Manchester Boys". In 2010, the band released a video for "Who you looking at" - see it on youtube. Band played The Great British Alternative Music Festival April 29, 2013.

Discography...


WEA K18088 Looking at the Squares/Dancing School 5/78
EMI INt 590 Manchester Boys/Last Bus 7/79
RCA PE 5210 (4 song) EP: Gina/Steady with You/I want you/Hey (can i fall in love with you) 11/79
RCA PB 5239 Who You Looking At?/Don't Start Trouble 5/80
RCA PB 5271 She's Gonna Break Your Heart/Bright City Lights 8/80
LUNAR Sal1 City Youth/Keep Away From My Baby 1980
Polydor POSP 248 Soldiers of Fortune/Young Bugs 1981
Ka 17 Pain in my Heart 3/83
MANC ATTITUDE 96 PELE 11C/CD [4 TRACK CD SINGLE 2 TRACK CASSETTE] Track 2. The K-Stand featuring The Salford Jets "Who You Looking At?" Released May 1996
Cleopatra CLP00152 Holidays in the Sun 2 CD compilation...Who You Looking At? (Live 1996) released 1997
Bad Teeth #3 CD-R Track#15. Steady with you on Hyped2death.com label
Poorly Packaged Rec. PPP-7-003 FORTHCOMING 7" 2006/2007??? (pray with us!)

Selected Lyrics....

"CITY YOUTH" (world copyright Noon Music Limited)
City Youth rising in anger
City Youth crying for peace
City Youth rising in anger
City Youth want to be free

You can make your protest peacefully
You can make your protest peacefully
You can make your protest without agression
But you'll only invite violent repression

Civil War and Insurrection
Got to be seen to be believed
Break in the prisons and the houses of correction
And release the poor men and the thieves

Urban problems and revolution
The Government is in dismay
Politicians cannot find a solution
But you can watch them as they fly away

Send me an e-mail

Line-up

Rod Gerrard - guitar, vocals;
Diccon Hubbard - bass, vocals;
Geoff Kerry - piano, organ, vocals;
Mike Sweeney - vocals;
"Shaky" Dave Morris - Dr. (replaced in 1981 by Mike Twigg -checking on that-)
mike - guitar 2003 (ex-sad cafe)
Phil - drums 2003