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    ROCK AND/OR ROLL

    IAN KIMMET FROM JOOK

    Fri Jun 30 2023
    JukeGlam RockRock Band
    1. Formation of Juke
    2. Early Years of Juke
    3. Juke's Image and Influence
    4. Musical Style and Influences
    5. Recording and Releases
    6. Legacy and Reunion
    7. Unreleased Songs

    Juke was a hard rock glam rock band active in the early 70s in the UK. Managed by John Hewlett, the band released singles with RCA and later a four-song EP. They tried to fit into the glam scene but were primarily a rock and roll band. After disbanding, the members joined Sparks. Juke had a 40-year reunion and filmed a documentary called 'Jukes on You'. They also recorded unreleased songs like 'Vavoom' and 'Play'. The band's music fell between the cracks of pub rock and glam rock, and they played shows with bands like Peter Gabriel and Genesis.

    Formation of Juke

    16:00 - 23:53

    • John Hewlett introduced John to Trevor White, who was a talented guitar player and harmonies expert.
    • John decided to start a band with Trevor during his lunch breaks from his job as a ticket officer.
    • John left Feldman's publishing company to start the band and met Albert Grossman, who he bonded with.
    • Trevor went on to do the island thing while Chris Townsend became a graphic artist and played in blues bands.
    • Chris eventually became a hotelier in Wales and befriended Joe Elliot.
    • When Chris passed away, Simon Stewart joined the band for their reunion.
    • John worked at Feldman's looking for songwriters and helped Nick Simper's band Warhorse get a record deal.
    • John wanted to be in a band himself and working at Feldman's was his way into the music industry.
    • He moved to London after meeting Brian, got a job at Selfridges, and wrote letters to find music-related jobs.

    Early Years of Juke

    00:00 - 09:17

    • Duke was a hard rock glam rock band active in the early 70s in the UK, consisting of Ian Kimmett, Trevor White, Ian Hampton, and Chris Townsend.
    • Managed by John Hewlett, who also managed Sparks and was a former member of John's Children.
    • Juke released five singles between 1972 and 1974 with RCA in the UK.
    • After the band split up, a four-song EP was released by Chiswick Records in the UK and Bomp Records in the US.
    • In 2005, a comprehensive compilation CD called 'Different Class' was released by RPM Records, including all of Juke's recorded material.
    • The CD also includes two songs from Trevor White's solo career and demos from Ian Kimmett.
    • Juke tried to be part of the glam scene but were primarily a rock and roll band.
    • They composed 'Big Fat Mama' as a single to appease RCA's request for a song that could get on top of the pops.
    • Juke had an opportunity to support Sweet on tour but it got canceled due to an incident involving Brian Callie being attacked.
    • The band members eventually joined Sparks after Juke disbanded.

    Juke's Image and Influence

    08:49 - 16:30

    • Juke adopted the clothes and image of the Bay City Rollers, who were Scottish and known for their tartan clothing.
    • They were considered part of the glam scene because they were young and appeared in girl magazines alongside other glam bands.
    • Before forming Juke, the speaker worked in producing and brought Linda Thompson to MGM for her first outing as Richard and Linda Thompson.
    • The speaker also got involved with other bands like War Horse and Mud, who started out differently but pivoted into glam rock with new looks and production.
    • Juke was not a teeny bopper band but more of a rock band, although they tried to fit into the glam scene with their song 'Bish Bash Bosh'.
    • The band started with just the speaker and Trevor White, who was introduced through John Hewlett.

    Musical Style and Influences

    38:45 - 46:37

    • The band fell between the cracks of the pub rock and glam rock scenes.
    • They played with Peter Gabriel and Genesis, who once performed dressed as trees.
    • The band was in between the pub rock and glam rock genres.
    • Their music preceded the main thrust of pub rock and glam rock.
    • They had a negative experience with Jack Bruce from Cream when they were his support band.
    • They didn't play many shows with other glam bands except for Wizard.
    • Roy Wood from Wizard embraced the glam scene despite being an older musician.
    • There were some bands resistant to the glam scene, but Bish Bash Bash wasn't one of them.

    Recording and Releases

    31:02 - 39:15

    • The song 'King Cap' by The Jukes was produced by John Porter and had a heavy rock sound.
    • The band recorded non-release tracks at RG John's studio in Wimbledon.
    • They were working towards recording a full-length album for Juke, but it didn't happen.
    • The glam rock era only lasted a few years before punk took over.
    • The band didn't consider themselves part of the glam rock scene and preferred artists like Robert Palmer.
    • People often mistook them for a punk or mod band due to their appearance.
    • The Jukes played shows with bands like Brinsley Schwartz and Wizard during the pub rock era.

    Legacy and Reunion

    53:40 - 1:03:14

    • The band Juke had a 40-year reunion and filmed it as a documentary called 'Jukes on You', which won first place in the California Awards.
    • Sherry Red Records has put out a 3CD compilation of used aggregation place.
    • John Reed asked for permission to do another compilation, this time an RCA product.
    • The CD includes songs like 'Different Class' and 'Kuchan'.
    • The songs were recorded in the two years after the article was written.
    • There could have been a whole album if they had put it together.
    • They wrote two songs with John Holbrook, one for Brian Setzer's second album.
    • The record company didn't release the album as recommended by Brian Setzer.
    • The recording is still available digitally.
    • They are over budget but not doing any more recording for now.

    Unreleased Songs

    1:02:47 - 1:10:57

    • The podcast featured a conversation with Ian Kimmett from The Band Juke.
    • An unreleased song called 'Vavoom' co-written by Ian Kimmett was played on the podcast.
    • 'Vavoom' was potentially intended for a Brian Setzer album but was not used.
    • Another previously unreleased song called 'Play' was also played on the podcast.
    • 'Play' was co-written by Ian Kimmett, John Holbrook, and John Hewlett.
    • 'Play' is performed by the three surviving members of Juke - Ian Kimmett, Ian Hampton, and Trevor White.
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