Johnny Red

Johnny and the Jailbirds were formed at the end of 1973 when I moved from Charlton South East London to Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. I had been introduced to Rock 'n' Roll one winters' day in 1969. The gig was at St. Micks Social Club in Kent and the band was Lee Tracy and the Tributes. I then became a member of the "Hound Dog" club Woodgreen and was found on most Saturday nights there and at the "Tunnel" pub in Greenwich. I saw all the bands at that time, Flying Saucers, Crazy Cavan, Freddy Fingers Lee, The Wild Angels, but the one that did it for me was the incredible Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets. He introduced this novice rocker to Johnny Burnette. I don't remember any other band performing those songs and you knew that was it. I now wanted to sing. So after moving to Wellingborough I placed an advert in the local newspaper to recruit musicians interested in forming a Rock 'n' Roll Band. The response was immediate and after a few rehearsals and the firstgig in a local village club Johnny and the Jailbirds were born.
It wasn't long before the band had gained a huge following on the Rock 'n' Roll circuit in the UK and abroad.
Record companies were becoming very interested in my new band and "Charly" Records was to eventually
sign us in 1979.
One of the main turning points in the bands' career was the arrival of lead guitarist and songwriter Richie Ball.
I had now found a new partner to write the many songs we produced in those early years including the eight
that appeared on our first album "OUT ON BAIL", the most well known of which appeared appeared in the French Rock 'n' Roll
charts "Eileen" and "Too Much Wine". The album was a great success and it seemed that every European Teddy Boy had it in his collection.

  Johnny and the Jailbirds were rockin' around Europe for just over seven years, but in that time we
  attracted a huge following and they still remember what a great time they had at a "Jailbirds" gig.
  Over those seven years we established ourselves as one of the Great British Rock 'n' Roll Bands.
  We reformed the band again in 2000 with a great new CD "Rockin' The Blues Away" and I only
  wanted to record again if all the songs on the album were written by myself and Richie Ball.
  This album contained the hugely popular "Roll On (Clickety Clack)" Go to video page to hear this.
  The reviews from the DJs and Rock 'n' Roll Magazines were fantastic.