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The Starjets

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Not to be confused with Lockheed L-133 Starjet.

The Starjets
Background information
Also known asTango Brigade
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresPunk rock, power pop
Years active1976–1980; 2019–present
LabelsEpic
MembersTerry Sharpe
Paul Bowen
Liam L'Estrange
Sean Martin

The Starjets are a power pop group from Belfast, Northern Ireland.[1]

History

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The band was formed in June 1976.[1] The Starjets consists of guitarist/vocalist Terry Sharpe, guitarist/vocalist Paul Bowen, bassist Sean Martin and drummer Liam L'Estrange.[1] The group sported a mix of punk and mainstream pop influences.[1] Early sets consisted of such 1960s pop standards as "Please Please Me" by The Beatles and "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies.[1] They opened for groups as diverse as the Bay City Rollers and Stiff Little Fingers.

The group secured a major record label recording contract with Epic Records;[1] they were signed by Muff Winwood. They released a number of singles in 1979, with their only chart hit being "War Stories" b/w "Do the Push", which peaked at No. 51[2] on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The A-side is a celebration of World War II comic book stories, such as those of Sgt. Fury. They released one album, 1979's God Bless the Starjets, but it failed commercially.[1] Following the release of the "Shiraleo" single in March 1980, the band changed its name to Tango Brigade and released one more single, "Donegal", before finally splitting up.[1] After a brief stint performing vocal duties with the Angelic Upstarts (most notably taking lead vocals on the song "Reason Why?" from the album of the same title), Sharpe went on co-write a couple of tracks on Bananarama's debut album Deep Sea Skiving,[4][5] before scoring a Top 20 hit in 1988 with his new band The Adventures.[6][7][1]

The Starjets reformed in January 2019 and are performing live again. In 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong recorded a version of "War Stories" for his covers album No Fun Mondays.[8] In March 2022, they appeared on The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read,[9][10][11] as broadcast on Local and Talking Pictures TV,[12] performing live in the studio. The Starjets were voted the most successful Heritage Chart Act of 2021,[13] with singles such as 2020's "Geordie Best"[8] and 2022's "King Upon a London Hill" making it to the number one spot.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2365. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "STARJETS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 524. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ "Record Review: Bananarama – Deep Sea Skiving". 9 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Bananarama are back: 'It was every bit as intense as a marriage, but without the sex'". The Irish Times.
  6. ^ "Adventures man Terry Sharpe on 'final' gigs and memories of 1980s pop success". 28 December 2018.
  7. ^ "ADVENTURES | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  8. ^ a b "The Starjets Band News".
  9. ^ "The Heritage Chart Show with Mike Read (TV Series)".
  10. ^ "New Heritage Chart TV show airs". 27 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Issue of the day: The Heritage Chart taps into nostalgia".
  12. ^ "Home". heritagechart.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Home". thestarjets.com.
  14. ^ "Week 86 13 March 2022".
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