Culture
Jet frontman Nic Cester recalls Billy Preston collab, ‘Get Born’ legacy, AC/DC & Australia rock impact
By: Ian Saint
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) — AC/DC wrapped up their U.S. tour in Cleveland last week, but Ohioans can still catch a dose of Australian rock this month. Jet frontman Nic Cester, who auditioned to front AC/DC in 2016, remains with his band — and they’ve revived a long-retired AC/DC anthem: It’s a Long Way to the Top.
“AC/DC never played it after Brian Johnson took over, out of respect for Bon Scott, (but) we thought it’d be nice for someone to play that — and we’re in a pretty good position to do that song justice,” Cester said.
Jet rose to fame with their 2003 debut single Are You Gonna Be My Girl, a rock radio staple that crossed over to Billboard’s Hot 100 Top 30. Their breakthrough album Get Born followed a stint opening for The Rolling Stones in Australia. Two more albums — Shine On and Shaka Rock — preceded the band’s 2010 disbandment.
Ahead of Jet’s first Ohio concerts in 15 years — Saturday at KEMBA Live! (405 Neil Ave.) and June 13 at House of Blues in Cleveland (308 Euclid Ave.) — frontman Nic Cester spoke with WOUB’s Ian Saint. A transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, is below.
IAN SAINT: Get Born came out 22 years ago, but I’m struck by how it sounds like it could have been recorded today.
CESTER: We always aimed to do things that sound timeless. Certain rock ‘n’ roll albums, you put them on, and you can date them — especially from the ‘80s and ‘90s. We were regaling against that. We didn’t want to do an album that sounded like (2003). We liked the idea of it not belonging to an era.
Hearing candid moments like your opening countdown, coughing, etc., and the instrument mixing — it sounds like we’re in the rehearsal room with you, too.
CESTER: That was, again, regaling against what was before us. I felt like rock ‘n’ roll got up its own arse a bit — overproduced, and it lacked a human element. We wanted to show our music in a way that reminded people that this is just four guys in a room, and there’s no tricks, smoke, or mirrors. It’s very pure that way.
How on Earth did Billy Preston, who played with both The Beatles and Rolling Stones, play on your first record?
CESTER: The way that came about is pretty funny and speaks to our naivety about LA — we were very young, from Melbourne. Our producer (Dave Sardy) asked “What are you thinking for this song?” I said, “I don’t know, something like Billy Preston.” He made a call; and literally 10 minutes later, he’s like, “Billy Preston’s on his way.” Are you f***ing kidding me? Next thing I know, Billy walks in and starts playing on our music. We were utterly honored and overwhelmed.
Could you recognize Billy from those Get Back Beatles sessions?
CESTER: Yeah, I’d seen that footage of him, and I naively expected that guy to walk in wearing the mustard-yellow jacket. This sounds vain and stupid, but I remember he walked in wearing this awful tracksuit, and (my first thought) was, “Oh, he’s not dressed.” I was expecting this cool-styled dude from the ‘70s. I felt a little disappointed. (laugh)
I recognize Billy’s playing on Come Around Again. Which other songs did he play on?
CESTER: He played on Rollover DJ. He played on Look What You’ve Done — but in the end, that was Mark, our bassist (playing piano). This is a weird thing: sometimes people can be too good, and that song required a bit more of a hack. Billy played it too well, and it didn’t sound right.
It had to be surreal, leaving Billy Preston on the cutting room floor.
CESTER: He’s so proficient. He’d walk in and say, “alright, play me the song” — then before the song finishes, he goes, “Okay, I’ve got it. Let’s go.” We were wowed. Unbelievable musician.
Music agent Clare Cremin is a lovely friend, and she fondly recalled Jet playing Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor before Get Born. Is that where Jet refined your live performances?
CESTER: Yeah. Our success was very sudden and quick. Our first significant shows happened at the Duke of Windsor. I remember singing early versions of Are You Gonna Be My Girl, without lyrics — I was just mumbling things sounding like words. So we were test-driving our material in that environment — just a nondescript pub, nothing particularly significant about it, but it became enormously significant because that’s where the groundswell began. That was ground zero for Jet, and it became our headquarters because the guy who ran it became our first manager.
When I interviewed Air Supply singer Russell Hitchcock, he recalled how tough Melbourne pub crowds were around the time you, well, “got born” in 1979.
CESTER: It’s weird. Every country has that city where people consider themselves a bit more sophisticated, aware, or conscious of things and are more critical. Melbourne is quite a cultured city in Australia, and with that comes people who can very easily look down upon certain bands and are more judgmental. We’ve experienced that, as well. That’s our hometown, so it’s slightly different, but Melbourne crowds are certainly more (folds arms). “Show me how good you are.”
You witnessed so much American political history between your 2003-2009 album cycles. What observations did you have about your country’s transformation?
CESTER: Interesting question. We were privy to some very significant moments in American history, and it was interesting being there as a foreigner. (The aftermath of 9/11) was happening when we were recording Get Born. We were in Austin when Obama won the election. Feeling that energy, I remember feeling very privileged to be in the country at that time — because it was nice to see, after so many years where perhaps America was starting to lose its confidence, there was this rush of hopefulness again.
Experiencing that moment in another part of America would’ve perhaps been different than in Austin. Another thing that we witnessed, that perhaps (some) Americans don’t is because we’re so transient all the time — people always ask me, “What do you think of America?” It’s difficult to answer because it’s so vast, and not one state really represents America in its entirety. So yeah, it’s interesting.
Your screams on Cold Hard Bitch sound throat-shredding. How do you still perform them, full-throttle, 22 years later?
CESTER: Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t warm up or anything. Never had any lessons. I don’t know what to tell you — other than I don’t hold back, ever. I don’t save anything in reserve for the next day, and we can do a few shows in a row without issues. I’m 45 now, so I’m very lucky. My grandfather was a tenor; maybe he did all the heavy lifting for me.
For Jet’s tour dates and tickets, visit their website: www.jetofficial.com.