Average Music Trivia: The Screaming Jets | 15 Questions

Answer: Newcastle

Long before the arrival of silverchair, Newcastle already had one rock band to be proud of - The Screaming Jets. The Jets music is very much Newcastle inspired, no-frills, in-your-face rock from the town of the BHP steelworks.

Answer: Gleeson and the Jets

Founding members Dave Gleeson and Grant Walmsley met way back in 1981 at an all-boys school. In 1985, they formed their first band, Sudden Impact, later to be known as Aspect. In 1988, their first gig in Newcastle had them under the bill of The Love Bomb, but they later adopted the name of The Screaming Jets.

Answer: Triple J

Triple J have always been a radio station that have promoted all Australian musical acts, and in late 1989 it was The Screaming Jets who won the inaugural Battle of the Bands.

Answer: Better

'C'mon' was released in December 1990 as an introduction, but it was 'Better' that first brought the Jets to the attention of the Australian public. The song has since gone on to become arguably their biggest hit, played on commercial station still 14 years after it's released and sung endlessly in karaoke bars around Australia!

Answer: 'Living in England'

Nothing too new on the EP but it did keep the Jets in the charts and prepared the band for their next album.

Answer: 'Shine On'

'Think' was the first hit off the album, but it was not as popular as previous efforts. 'Shivers', which almost wasn't put on the album, was more of a success, but it was 'Helping Hand', a song released a year after 'Shivers', was their biggest hit since 'Better'. To carry on the success with the album, a fourth song 'Tunnel', was also re-released.

Answer: True

The Jet's third album was self-titled but was not as successful as their previous efforts, although contained hits like 'Friend of Mine' and 'Sacrifice'.

Answer: 'Hits and Pieces'

The bands fifth album contained all their biggest hits, such as 'Better', 'Helping Hand', 'Shivers', 'Living in England', 'October Grey'.. etc. It also contained one brand new song 'I Need Your Love'.

Answer: June 9, 2001

Appropriately, the band signed off their first part of their careers back home in Newcastle after 2000 gigs, five hit albums and countless national and world tours. An album of the show was released later in 2001.

Answer: 'Better'

'Your heart said no but your feelings showed
The whole thing you never knew
You and I we knew deep down
That ain't really you
We always knew that it would work right
And we could start anew.'

Answer: 'Shivers'

'So I think I'll just act bored instead
To contain the blood I could have shed
She makes me feel so weary
My heart is really on its knees
But I keep a poker face so well
That even my mother couldn't tell.'

Answer: 'Helping Hand'

'Why does this happen all the time
Is it, is it just because
Because no-one will understand
Won't someone, lend me a helping hand
Won't someone, take the time to think
That your actions and words
They don't always say what they mean.'

Answer: Sad Song

Opening lyrics:

'How about a sad song to help me get further down
So down like I'm drowning, so down like I'm dying.'

Answer: 'Shine On'

Another Jets hit.

Answer: 'Live Forever'

A mix of greatest hits intermixed with live music, it was released after the band 'broke up' in late 2001. Good news for all the Jets fans is that the band resumed touring in 2004.