JETBOY Interview: Mickey Finn and Billy Rowe (Interview)

While attending the Rock n’ Skull Festival in Joliet, Illinois Decibel Geek staff writer Mikael Svensson teamed up with Jetboy lead vocalist Mickey Finn and guitarist Billy Rowe to find out where Jetboy are heading and a little about the band’s past. I want to thank Mickey and Billy for taking time out of their busy schedule to give us some insight into Jetboy, past, present and future.

Let’s start with the archive releases. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s a lot of archive material by Jetboy was released on CD through Perris records. How did those albums come about?

 Mickey: Billy, was the one who negotiated those deals and made it happen so I will defer to him on this question.

Billy: I had saved all the bands early demos and unreleased material along with flyers and anything related we had done. When my band at the time American Heartbreak was coming together my friend Johnathan Daniel put me in touch with the owner of Perris Records to see if he’d want to release the first AH EP. When we spoke he said (Tom Mathers) let’s do it. But he also asked if I had any unreleased Jetboy tracks to put out? So we started with the first release ‘A Day In The Glamourous Life’ from there attention on the band grew and we struck a deal with Cleopatra Records and released ‘Lost And Found’ The rest of the releases followed ‘Make Some More Noise’ and ‘One More For Rock N Roll’ on Perris Records. These releases are what kept the Jetboy brand out in the public eye. There was a huge resurgence of all things 80’s at that time so it really gave the band some fuel without having to actually be a working band. A few years later Brian Perra owner of Cleopatra Records called and suggested we get back together for the release of his 3 part ‘Hollywood Rocks’ collection. The band has been back at it ever since. Since that time we’ve released ‘The Glam Years’ on Cleopatra Records. Our self-release ‘Off Your Rocker’ and a re-release of ‘Damned Nation’ on a french label. The label Rock Candy Records run by Derrick Oliver of Kerrang! magazine fame is re-releasing our first album ‘Feel The Shake’ with a deluxe CD packaging and bonus tracks.

In 2005 the band reunited again and can you share some insights on the process behind the reunion and why it happened at that point?

Mickey:  This was just around the beginning of the Hair Metal (ugh I hate that title but for the sake of efficiency) and I was living in Hawaii after several years working and DJing in the Electronic music scene in Socal/San Diego this was my glorious Rave years, lots of drugs and excessive partying, but loads of fun and creative music projects. Billy and I never lost touch but seldom talked and I remember around this time Billy contacting me with news of offers from Brian Perera at Cleopatra Records to release, record and reunite for upcoming projects that were predicted to gain momentum. I flew back for the 1st Jetboy reunion early 2006, and that really got the ball rolling and my desire to return to live music and Rock n Roll was sparked! I soon began a major re-invention and began planning my return to California to pursue future endeavors with Jetboy. I moved to Los Angeles in October 2006 and would remain there until 2014. I now reside in Hawaii again.

Positions as drummer and bass player have rotated a couple of times since the reunion. Can you tell us a little about on how you found Eric Stacy and Al Serrato?

Were Eric and Al friends of the band since before? Did you audition any other guys?

Mickey: The strangest thing that’s ever happened at a Jetboy concert would have to be getting most of my clothes torn off by a group of fans at the front of the stage back in the Sunset Strip days at one of our shows at the Troubadour!! We always did like to get up close and personal with our crowd even inviting them on stage with us at times but that was a bit too far!! Good times!

I really enjoyed the Jetboy show at Rock n’ Skull and would like to wish Mickey and the rest of the Jetboy guys good luck in the future and I hope to catch them live again at some point. All of the guys were really friendly and dedicated a whole lot of time talking to fans and taking pictures after the show. You can read my Rock n’ Skull Spotlight Review of the gig here: Jetboy Live at Rock n’ Skull

Mikael Svensson

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