The Screaming Jets

Between Dave Gleeson’s belted-out vocals and the band’s mighty forward thrust, The Screaming Jets are all too aptly named. Formed in 1989 in Newcastle, Australia, the hard rockers broke through soon after with their high-charting 1991 anthem “Better”, a pub-honed sing-along culminating in a rewarding burst of punky acceleration. Though famous for their snarling guitars, the band plumb just as much impressive desperation in their ballads, like 1993’s cover of the brooding Boys Next Door classic “Shivers” and 1995’s strummed dirge “Sad Song”. Founding guitarist Grant Walmsley departed in 2007 to lead his own projects, while Gleeson has been moonlighting as lead singer for The Angels—a touchstone influence for him growing up—since 2012. Still touring strong, The Screaming Jets celebrated the 30th anniversary of their debut album All for One with a bracing re-recorded version in 2021.