The album was a short sharp shock of sleazy rock n’ roll to the London music scene, and the adrenaline-fueled gigs were even more frantic, sealing the SBB’s reputation as one of the loudest and fastest cheap and nasty rock n’ roll bands this side of Scandinavia. Visually, Sonic Boom Boys gigs kind of resembled the cover from the Hanoi Rocks album “Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes”; generally rocking out and throwing shapes in a blizzard of oversized shades, cool threads, and rock star haircuts. The lead guitarist was called Jet Storm and the front man was called Geoff Starr, we all thought that was pretty cool.

After a few treks around Europe rocking out and inciting mayhem, Jeff Pepsii (bass) and Jonty (drums) left. They were replaced by Aku (bass) and Sasu (drums), and this new SBB’s line up decided to go to Holland and re-record the song ‘Ain’t Gonna Bring Us Down’ from the album, plus a cover version of Social Distortion’s ‘Another State of Mind’, for release as a strictly limited 7” single on coloured vinyl.

The new skuzzed up and fuzzed up mega up low-fi version of ‘Ain’t Gonna Bring Us Down’ is closer to the speed and aggression of the Sonic Boom Boys live experience than was achieved on the original album version. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it virtually jumped off the turntable, took a flick knife to my speakers, and threw a cement mixer through the front window. Or at least that’s how it sounded.

Apparently they recorded these songs with all the amp settings and pedals turned up to the max. Because of that, you really need to turn this up to a ridiculous volume to get through the feed back and distortion drenched production, but then again, what sort of volume do you expect to play obnoxiously distorted sleaze punk at ?!

I think that this is a pretty cool single. Anyway don’t just take my word for it because I hear that you can check it out for yourself at:

http://www.jet13records.co.uk/Releases/jet001.htm

Just don’t forget to crank it up to 13!

Post Script:

Front man Geoff Starr passed away in July 2005. According to the SBB’s website:

“Geoff only got back to England at the beginning of June after having lived in Thailand since October last year, having survived the Tsunami himself and saving the lives of many around him.”

Guitarist Jet Storm is arranging a memorial gig on Sunday 27th November at The Barfly, Chalk Farm Rd, London.

Jet runs the Jet 13 records label that released this here single, and must be very busy right now because at the time of writing this I also hear that he will be playing guitar for the UK Subs on their latest tour dates.

Band website: www.get.to/sonicboomboys

Label website: www.jet13records.co.uk