Jetboy were one of those California bands that emerged in the 80’s and then disappeared at the start of the 90’s after releasing a couple of good albums. The band reformed in 2006 and on 25th January this year released a new album called “Born To Fly” through Frontiers Music. The title track was released last August and was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show then. It is also featured on the Show on 15th February. The track “Beating The Odds” was included on the Show in November.


 

Jetboy formed in 1983 and their line-up remained fairly static through to their dissolution in 1993. Original bass player Todd Crew was replaced by Sami Yaffa from Hanoi Rocks in 1987 and died shortly afterwards from a drug overdose. Yaffa was later replaced by Bill Fraenza in 1991. The other original band members were Mickey Finn on vocals, Billy Rowe and Fernie Rod on guitars and Ron Tosterson on drums. The latter was replaced during the final few months of the band.


Jetboy released their debut album “Feel The Shake” through MCA Records in 1988 and that was followed by “Damned Nation” in 1990. Three more albums were released by Perris Records during the 90’s but these contained previously unreleased tracks or demos. The remaining original members of the band reformed in 2006, but Tosterson departed in 2007, only to rejoin in 2010 and leave again in 2015. There have been a number of different drummers and bass players, but those positions are now held by Al Serrato and Eric Stacy (formerly of Faster Pussycat).


The band released an EP called “Off Your Rocker” in 2010, but “Born to Fly” is the first album of original material to be released since 1990. Since reforming, the band have toured widely across the USA, playing festivals such as Rocklahoma, Rock The Bayou and M3. This year they are part of the Monsters of Rock Cruise.

 

Check out the band’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/jetboyrocks/


About “NI Rocks Recommends”

The simple idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends” is to acknowledge and promote some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI. The albums that I’ll be recommending are those that you’ll hear me playing tracks from on my shows. I'll not be giving marks or ratings or analyzing the tracks in great detail; just telling you something about the artist and the album. It’s a personal recommendation to go check something out, not a traditional “review”!