Jet (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Jet were a glam rock
band from London
formed in 1974. They released one album in 1975 before splitting up, with the bulk of the band going on to become the punk/new wave band Radio Stars
.
(vocals, ex-John's Children
, solo artist), Martin Gordon
(bass, ex-Sparks
), Chris Townson
(drums, formerly in John's Children
and Jook), David O'List
(lead guitar, ex-The Nice
and a founding member of Roxy Music
) and Peter Oxendale (keyboards, also ex-Sparks). They released one eponymous album from CBS in May 1975, produced by Roy Thomas Baker
. Preceding the release of the album was a brief UK
tour supporting Ian Hunter
& Mick Ronson
(released as a download by Radiant Future Records
in 2010), and the band's debut single, "My River". Dropped by the record label in 1975 after the album met with a poor critical reaction and poor sales, they split up in 1976 during sessions for a second album (O'List and Oxendale had left earlier to be replaced by Ian MacLeod) which produced four demos that were rejected by Island Records
. They regrouped without Townson, moved to Chiswick Records
and changed their name to Radio Stars
, having more success as a punk/new wave band.
Posthumous Jet releases include More Light than Shade, a collection of live cuts and demos for the band's unrecorded second album, and Some Flotsam, two live sets from their debut UK tour with Hunter-Ronson in 1975. The first officially sanctioned release of the eponymous Jet album was released in October 2010, on the UK label
, RPM Records (UK)
, as part of a double album
release (Jet/Even More Light than Shade), including previously unreleased material.
After a long period as a sideman/producer, Martin Gordon
embarked on a solo career in 2001, releasing five albums in the so-called 'Mammal Trilogy', with Chris Townson
playing drums, on Radiant Future Records
. The fifth and final part of the Trilogy was released in 2009.
Posthumous releases:
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
formed in 1974. They released one album in 1975 before splitting up, with the bulk of the band going on to become the punk/new wave band Radio Stars
Radio Stars
Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving...
.
History
The band formed in 1974 with a line-up of Andy EllisonAndy Ellison
Andrew "Andy" Ellison is a musician and vocalist best known as the frontman in John's Children, Jet and Radio Stars....
(vocals, ex-John's Children
John's Children
John's Children were a 1960s pop art/mod rock band from Leatherhead, England that briefly featured future T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. John's Children were known for their outrageous live performances and were booted off a tour with The Who in Germany in 1967 when they upstaged the headliners...
, solo artist), Martin Gordon
Martin Gordon
Martin Gordon is an English musician, who plays bass guitar and piano.-Biography:Martin Gordon was born in Ipswich, and grew up Hitchin, Hertfordshire...
(bass, ex-Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
), Chris Townson
Chris Townson
Chris Townson was a musician, illustrator and social worker. He was a founding member of the 1960s rock group John's Children, and a member of several other bands, including Jook, Jet and Radio Stars...
(drums, formerly in John's Children
John's Children
John's Children were a 1960s pop art/mod rock band from Leatherhead, England that briefly featured future T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. John's Children were known for their outrageous live performances and were booted off a tour with The Who in Germany in 1967 when they upstaged the headliners...
and Jook), David O'List
David O'List
David 'Davy' O'List is a rock guitarist, vocalist and trumpeter.Most notably, he played with The Attack, The Nice and Jet.- Career :...
(lead guitar, ex-The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
and a founding member of Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
) and Peter Oxendale (keyboards, also ex-Sparks). They released one eponymous album from CBS in May 1975, produced by Roy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
. Preceding the release of the album was a brief UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tour supporting Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (singer)
Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
& Mick Ronson
Mick Ronson
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
(released as a download by Radiant Future Records
Radiant Future Records
Radiant Future Records is a British independent record label distributed by Voiceprint, and home to one-time Sparks bassist Martin Gordon, Jet, Radio Stars, John's Children, the Blue Meanies and related artists...
in 2010), and the band's debut single, "My River". Dropped by the record label in 1975 after the album met with a poor critical reaction and poor sales, they split up in 1976 during sessions for a second album (O'List and Oxendale had left earlier to be replaced by Ian MacLeod) which produced four demos that were rejected by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. They regrouped without Townson, moved to Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records was a British record company. Chiswick was the "first true 'indie' label" to be established in Britain for nearly a decade". The label has been described as "significant" in the "punk era"...
and changed their name to Radio Stars
Radio Stars
Radio Stars are an English new wave group formed in early 1977. They released three albums and had one UK Top 40 single.-Biography:Radio Stars were formed by ex-John's Children vocalist Andy Ellison, Sparks exile Martin Gordon , and Ian MacLeod in 1977, following the end of their underachieving...
, having more success as a punk/new wave band.
Posthumous Jet releases include More Light than Shade, a collection of live cuts and demos for the band's unrecorded second album, and Some Flotsam, two live sets from their debut UK tour with Hunter-Ronson in 1975. The first officially sanctioned release of the eponymous Jet album was released in October 2010, on the UK label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, RPM Records (UK)
RPM Records (UK)
RPM Records is a record label founded in 1991, and based in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England. The label specialises in reissues under the slogan: "Brought to you by collectors for collectors." It forms part of the Cherry Red group....
, as part of a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
release (Jet/Even More Light than Shade), including previously unreleased material.
After a long period as a sideman/producer, Martin Gordon
Martin Gordon
Martin Gordon is an English musician, who plays bass guitar and piano.-Biography:Martin Gordon was born in Ipswich, and grew up Hitchin, Hertfordshire...
embarked on a solo career in 2001, releasing five albums in the so-called 'Mammal Trilogy', with Chris Townson
Chris Townson
Chris Townson was a musician, illustrator and social worker. He was a founding member of the 1960s rock group John's Children, and a member of several other bands, including Jook, Jet and Radio Stars...
playing drums, on Radiant Future Records
Radiant Future Records
Radiant Future Records is a British independent record label distributed by Voiceprint, and home to one-time Sparks bassist Martin Gordon, Jet, Radio Stars, John's Children, the Blue Meanies and related artists...
. The fifth and final part of the Trilogy was released in 2009.
Singles
- "My River" / "Quandary" (CBS, CBS-3143, March 1975)
- "Nothing To Do With Us" (CBS, CBS-3317, June 1975)
Albums
- Jet (CBS, S-80699, May 1975)
Posthumous releases:
- Nothing to Do with Us: A Golden Treasury of Jet (Fanmael, 2000)
- Jet (Radiant Future Records RFVP002CD, 2001) now withdrawn
- More Light than Shade (Radiant Future Records RFVP003CD, 2001)
- More Flotsam (Radiant Future Records RF015, 2010) download only
- Jet / Even More Light Than Shade (RPM Records RETROD 882, 2010)
External links
- Jet at glam-rock.de
- Martin Gordon's website
- Radiant Future