Sparkle* Jets Uk

Los Angeles-based Sparkle*Jets U.K. became one of the most adored bands in the power pop movement of the late '90s and early 2000s following a series of International Pop Overthrow festival appearances, their adorably geekly sensibility, and their sound: a distinctive marriage of '60s and '70s rock and whimsical guitar pop.

Sparkle*Jets U.K. founding members Mike Simmons, Susan West, and <a href="spotify:artist:6jcRNANr5jsvkI11RP5JJd">Jamie Knight</a> first met in 1995 at a gig for Simmons' band at the time, Virgin 7. In February of 1996, Virgin 7 enlisted <a href="spotify:artist:6jcRNANr5jsvkI11RP5JJd">Knight</a> to play bass on a series of recordings for a planned album. The collaboration, which also included Fletcher Harrington of Cowboy Buddha, clicked, and the three separate acts merged into a single entity. The group included the first writing contributions from Mike Simmons, but the band had a total of five songwriters, and as egos took control the group pared itself down to the core of Simmons, West, and <a href="spotify:artist:6jcRNANr5jsvkI11RP5JJd">Knight</a>. The group, which was initially dubbed Happy Birthday!, was renamed Sparkle*Jets U.K., including the "U.K." tag because the name wasn't nearly wacky enough. The three bandmembers also shared a lot of musical common ground, starting at <a href="spotify:artist:3WrFJ7ztbogyGnTHbHJFl2">the Beatles</a> and running through <a href="spotify:artist:7jefIIksOi1EazgRTfW2Pk">Electric Light Orchestra</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4Q82S0VzF8qlCb4PnSDurj">Brian Wilson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2Sp19cOHSqAUlE64hekARW">Teenage Fanclub</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6zvul52xwTWzilBZl6BUbT">the Pixies</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2iE18Oxc8YSumAU232n4rW">the Jackson 5</a>; and various R&B, soul, and Stiff Records-style new wave/punk.

The band, who then included drummer James DeBeau, recorded their debut, In, Through and Beyond, and pressed just 1,000 copies. Copies of the disc made it into a single store, where rock journalist John Borack (Receiver) bought a copy, his decision based only on the cover art and 3.99 dollar price. After passing word onto pop fanatic and International Pop Overthrow organizer David Bash, Sparkle*Jets U.K. were soon inducted into the close-knit family of Los Angeles-based power pop acts and their fans while word spread. Not long after, following a conversation surrounding the proliferation of tribute albums, the band proposed a tribute album to themselves, where other L.A.-based pop acts would cover their material. It caught on, with more bands taking part than the band had songs to offer. I Love Sparkle*Jets U.K.: Tribute was released in 2000, and increased the band's profile further. Bamboo Lounge, their proper sophomore release, followed in early 2002 with a bigger budget and nationwide distribution, as the band began touring outside California and playing bigger venues. ~ Jason Damas, Rovi