The Jolt
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 in Wishaw, Scotland |
| Headquarters | Wishaw , Scotland |
| Products | Punk rock and power pop music |
The Jolt originated as a Scottish musical group formed in Wishaw, Scotland, in September 1976.
History
Robbie Collins and Jim Doak, both employed as civil service clerks, along with Iain Shedden, a local music journalist, had been acquaintances since their school days and intended to create a band as early as 1975. Initially, they performed covers from the 1960s before transitioning to an accelerated fusion of punk rock and power pop. The ensemble consisted of Collins handling guitar and lead vocals, Doak playing bass and providing vocals, and Shedden on drums. Their performances at the Crown Hotel in Wishaw earned them a dedicated audience, and they experienced modest success during the punk and early new wave periods.
After moving to London, The Jolt secured a four-year contract reportedly valued at £90,000 with Polydor Records, marking them as the first Scottish punk/new wave group to be signed by a major label. Their first single, "All I Can Do," appeared in September 1977, followed by a rendition of Small Faces' "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" in April 1978. Despite these releases and their self-titled album launched in July 1978, commercial results were limited. Soon thereafter, Kevin Kay was added to the lineup as a second guitarist.
The band supported notable acts such as The Jam, The Saints, Generation X, and The Motors during live shows. Paul Weller of The Jam admired the group and contributed by writing their single "See Saw," which was included on the June 1979 EP Maybe Tonight. Nevertheless, The Jolt frequently faced criticism for resembling The Jam too closely and eventually disbanded soon after. They are acknowledged as pioneers of the mod revival movement that gained momentum around 1979.
Albums
- The Jolt (1978)
Extended plays
- Maybe Tonight (1979)
Singles
- "You're Cold!" / "All I Can Do" (1977)
- "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (1978)
- "I Can't Wait" (1978)
External links
- History of the Jolt – Punk 77
- Biography of The Jolt – ModPopPunk Archives
- Information about The Jolt – Detour Records