Screaming Jets kick off tour after recording album in Brisbane

Aussie rock legends The Screaming Jets have been based on Brisbane, leading them to kick off their latest tour in the River City.

The Screaming Jets frontman Dave Gleeson (centre) with (from left) Scott Kingman, Paul Woseen, Cam McGlinchey and Jimi Hocking in the studio in Brisbane. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The Screaming Jets now consider themselves Brisbane locals.

The Australian rock legends have been based on the city’s bayside this year, recording a new album at a studio in Wynnum, which led to their decision to open their national The Rock Vault tour in Brisbane this weekend.

“It’s nice to be all together. We did a lot of stuff remotely, but it’s not the same,” frontman Dave Gleeson said.

“Our producer lives locally.

“We decided to come up here, finish recording and then start the tour from here.”

The enduring rock band has produced eight albums since 1991 in a back catalogue they will celebrate on their tour – which opens at Brisbane’s Hamilton Hotel on Friday – before releasing the new music later this year.

It comes off the back of a sellout national tour last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of debut record All For One.

Gleeson, who also now tours with The Angels, said while the music landscape had changed considerably, live music would always be key to a band’s long-term success.

“We were lucky we came out when there was a healthy touring market,” he said.

“We supported everyone when we started.

“We had so many options and that’s where we built our loyal fan base.

“I think young musicians, all they can do is practise.

“I’m thankful we’ve still got a job doing this and fans still want to come out and see it.

“We can keep doing this until they kick us off the stage.”

After their Brisbane show, The Screaming Jets will perform at Booval in Ipswich on Saturday before playing 16 other shows around the country.

“We have six or seven songs we have to play or we’ll get stuff thrown at us,” Gleeson said.

“But we can’t wait to get round and hopefully surprise a few people with some hits they haven’t heard in a while.”

Screaming Jets frontman Dave Gleeson. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Originally published as Screaming Jets kick off tour after recording album in Brisbane