The Starjets

The Starjets are a power pop/group from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

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

The band consists of guitarist/vocalist Terry Sharpe, guitarist/vocalist Paul Bowen, bassist Sean Martin and drummer Liam L'Estrange. The group sported a mix of punk and mainstream pop influences. Early sets consisted of such 1960s pop standards as "Please Please Me" by The Beatles and "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies at a time when such light, happy fare was an anathema to the punk community. The band also stood out from their punk contemporaries with their tight, sophisticated harmonies. Appropriately, they opened for groups as diverse as the Bay City Rollers and aggressive punk rockers Stiff Little Fingers. Because of their clean-cut, boys-next-door image, sugary songs, and amiable persona, they were sometimes even tagged the "Bay City Rollers of punk".

The group secured a major record label recording contract with Epic Records; 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 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] 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. Following the release of the "Shiraleo" single in March 1980, the band changed its name to Tango Brigade and released one more single, before finally splitting up permanently. 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 found greater success in the 1980s with the rock group The Adventures.

The Starjets reformed in January 2019 and are performing live again.

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 524. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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