for a beer with The Jets (english)

von Chris Weidler

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Your musical diversity and your first-class harmony vocals have made you unmistakable for years and you inspire your fans both with your albums and with your energy on stage. You’ve now been on stage for over 45 years and your music has thrilled fans all over the world. Where do you get your energy from?

The Jets: We have always tried to play a mix of different styles, so that we always stay fresh for every stage performance.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: How did you get into music and how did the idea of forming the band „The Jets“ come about?

The Jets: We started to play when we was still at school. We had an Uncle who played guitar and he showed us a few chords.
We was in a youth organisation called »TheBoys Brigade« and everyone had to perform something for an open night for parents and friends, thats when we decided to form a band and play six songs on the stage for the very first time.
We called ourselves »BRAD Rock’n‘ Roll«.
The band members were. Bob, Ray, plus two school friends, Andy and Dave.
»BRAD« played for a few years from 1974 – 1978. BRAD then split up and changed the name to »THE JETS« with Bob on Slap Bass, Ray on Guitar, Tony on Drums.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: What was the rockabilly scene like back in the 80s in England and how did you get started as a band?

The Jets: AS ABOVE……..The 1980’s was pretty wild at most of the gigs, as the crowd were all a lot younger then.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Your sound is formative for modern rockabilly. Who influenced you musically and what are your musical heroes?

The Jets: Elvis, Johnny Burnette, Curtis Gordon, Eddie Cochran, and lots of other Rockabilly and doo wop artists.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: How did it feel when EMI signed you in 1981 and what has changed for you personally since then?

The Jets: It was a great experience to be signed to a Major record Label. We gained a lot of experience playing to different types of crowds, as well as, invaluable recording experience.
We also travelled to lots of exciting countries ans still do.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Songs like „Sugar Doll“, „Yes Tonight Josephine“, „Love Makes the World Go Round“ and „Party Doll“ made it into the charts. People outside the rock’n’roll scene also became aware of you, TV appearances followed, you were played on the radio – did you expect this success? Was it just the right time for rock’n’roll again?

The Jets: We never expected to get offered a recording deal and certainly never expected to have ‚Hit Records‘ in the National and International Pop Charts.
The Jets helped put Rockabilly into the charts and into peoples living rooms.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Your album „100% Cotton“, with which you had great success, is for me one of the best rock’n’roll albums of the 80s. Can you tell us a bit about the album? How did it come about and your thoughts on the album?

The Jets: The songs on this album were a mix of our favourite original 50’s songs and some of our own written material.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: During the Corona period you released the two great albums „The Isolation Sessions 1 & 2“. How did the idea come about and how did the collaboration with Darrel Higham come about for the second album?

The Jets: We recorded the first »Isolation Sessions number 1«, firstly as a DVD. It was so poular, that we decided to release it on CD as well.
It was a challenge to learn to record in three seperate houses and then put it all together.
»The Isolation Sessions number 2«, DVD and CD, was recorded due to the fact that the first DVD and CD was so popular.
Darrel is a good friend of »The Jets«, so we thought it might be nice to colaborate on some of the tracks. Once again recoreded in our own seperate houses, due to being in Lockdown.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: With your latest album „Hear me now“, you continue to show that you are far from running out of ideas for new songs with an ingenious mix of rock songs, ballads, a wonderful sound and diversity. Where do you always get your ideas and inspiration for new songs?

The Jets: Ray writes most of the original songs, with Bob writing now and again.
The ideas come from listening to various different genres of music and trying to find something that is Instantly recognisable as »THE JETS«.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: How would you describe the word „Rock’n’Roll“ as a personal meaning for you?

The Jets: Rock ’n‘ Roll to us means a mixture of lots of different styles. R & B, Rockabilly, Doo Wop, Swing, Jive, early 1960’s, 1950’s , Country, Hillbilly, Western Swing.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: From your personal point of view, has the music and the scene in rockabilly changed since the 70s/80s until today? And if so, how?

The Jets: It has changed a lot.
Blues Boppers seem to be a big thing now compared to years ago.
There is also a lot more variation in styles being played by todays bands, which is good and fresh for the scene.
Back in the 1970’s and 80’s there was a lot more fights at live gigs than now, which is a good thing, everyone was younger then and as I said earlier, more Wild.
It is good to see younger people coming onto the scene more and more.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Are there already plans for a new album? And if so, can you already tell us something about it?

The Jets: This year 2024, is The Jets 50th anniversary year.
1974-1978 as »BRAD« and then 1978- 2024 as »THE JETS«.
We are working on three different albums to be released in 2024.
A Jets Rockabilly album, A christmas album and also a JETS 50 ROCKIN‘ YEARS album.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: A musician once told me that a good band is like a family. Everyone knows and respects each other’s strengths and weaknesses and you complement each other, that’s the only way a band can be successful for so long. And it’s like that with you, because you’re brothers and colleagues. What is your opinion on this?

The Jets: Like any family, sometimes there are disagreements about music choices and songs but we are a close family and are good friends and work colleuges.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: What do the Cotton brothers actually do when they’re not making music?

The Jets: Bob likes to play football, snow ski and have a beer at the pub
Ray likes to ride his Electric mountain bike and play his guitar.
Tony likes to ride his trials motor bike and walk his dog.

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: What are your plans for the future?

The Jets: We have lots of Live shows as well as three cd’s to record.
Check out www.thejets.co.uk

Rockin‘ and Rollin‘: Your words and wishes to your German fans!

The Jets: Thank you for supporting »THE JETS« for all these years, we will see you in Walldorf.