-By Kim Parnell- 

The last time I interviewed Screaming Jets frontman Dave Gleeson was back in 2017, ahead of the band’s show at the Beach House Hotel. I remember it vividly.

While organising the interview, I asked Dave the obvious question: tea or beer?
“Beer,” he said.

So, we sat down at the Beach House, had a beer, Dave’s brother joined us, and what followed was one of the more memorable interviews I’ve done—equal parts relaxed, funny and rock ’n’ roll. The show that followed was a sellout.

Eight years later, Dave is still as busy as ever fronting The Screaming Jets, broadcasting on Triple M, and staying connected to the people who’ve kept Australian rock alive for decades.

These days, he’s often the one asking the questions.

He’d just wrapped up an interview with Gavin Rossdale from Bush when we spoke and admitted he still gets a buzz from talking to artists he admires.

“You do get a little nervous when you interview the big ones,” Dave said. “But at the end of the day, most of the time—not all the time—they’re just like you and I, and really good for a yarn.”

That dual life as performer and broadcaster has shaped him in unexpected ways.

“You hear people’s answers in interviews and that can give you a bit of inspiration,” he said.

He recalled a conversation with Bernard Fanning, who once described songwriting as the process of starting with nothing and ending up with something real—pulling notes, chords and ideas out of the ether and giving them shape.

“When I hear stuff like that from people, I really take it in,” Dave said. “It’s one of those things that kind of wears off on you.”

Looking forward, not back

Although The Screaming Jets have now been around for decades, Dave isn’t one for nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.

The 2021 All For One 30 Year Anniversary edition gave one of the bands defining records a new life and sent fans down memory lane, but for Dave, it was less about looking back and more about reconnecting with a defining moment in the band’s story.

“I’m a looking-forward person,” he said. “We still play the songs we recorded all those years ago, but you don’t rest on your laurels. You’re always looking forward to creating new music and maybe having some more hits down the line.”

Still, revisiting All For One stirred some vivid memories.

“It was a time capsule,” he said. “It instantly transports you back to those times in the studio, the shenanigans we were getting up to, and how close we all were at that stage.”

He laughs recalling just how intense those early years were.

“We were all living together and in each other’s back pockets. Like any band at the beginning, you spend years like that. Then eventually people get married, buy houses, and not everyone wants to live together anymore.”

The album, he says, was recorded in just 15 days.

“We packed a lot of life into those 15 days, I’ll tell you.”

A bittersweet chapter

That same forward momentum carried into Professional Misconduct, released in 2023.

For Dave, the album became something much more significant than just another release. It was also one of the last major works involving guitarist Paul Woseen, who passed away just months after the record was completed.

“This album felt like a continuation of the legacy,” Dave said. “Paulie put his heart and soul into it.”

That made the record both a celebration and a loss.

“It became a bit of a bittersweet one because of that fact,” he said. “But there was also a positive thing in that he left us with these amazing songs, and we had a great, great time recording the album.”

Still going strong

I asked Dave about what he is proudest of when he reflects on the last eight years.

He replied, “On a personal level, it’s family.

“My two kids have now made it all the way through high school,” he said. “My son is drumming in a band, my daughter’s been gainfully employed for about three years, and my wife and I have been married for 29 years. They’re my personal milestones.”

Professionally, he’s proud that The Screaming Jets are still not only surviving—but still connecting.

“We’re very lucky that we’ve been able to continue to build the crowd,” he said. “We’re getting younger people coming along now because their parents might have influenced them in some way.”

And perhaps most importantly, they’re still creating.

“It’s ever evolving, ever growing,” he said. “Writing songs—it’s what we do. It’s part of our life strategy, our coping plan. You put words down on paper, turn them into music and hopefully connect with people.”

That connection will be on full display when The Screaming Jets return to Hervey Bay for the Sounds of Rock Music Festival in September.

Dave says he doesn’t think he’s been back since our beer at the Beach House all those years ago—but he’s ready.

He loves the festival circuit, the backstage camaraderie, and the chance to share a bill with artists who’ve travelled the same roads.

And as for what fans can expect.

“Balls-to-the-wall rock and roll,” he said.

“Every time we get on stage, we smash it out like it’s the last gig we’ll ever do. We absolutely love performing.”

The festival lineup also includes:

Pete Murray

Diesel

The Black Sorrows

Richard Clapton

Pseudo Echo

Toni Childs

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Get your tickets now: www.soundsofrockfestival.com.au.