Our association with 'Terry Hooley' the Good Vibrations impresario was to be a considerably more indelible experience than anything at the Roxy. 'Terry Hooley' was the guy behind the success the 'Undertones' (of Teenage Kicks fame) were to experience, he proved to be a man of great character and sincerity. It will come as no surprise to many that even today, current references to his efforts of nearly 30 years past are varied and numerous. He also had an unusual party trick where he would remove his glass eye and splosh it into a pint of beer. He helped us with a number of pressings and organized a few dates in Belfast along with accommodation in his own home where once the late 'John Peel' had also been a guest.

The general sense of in quietude as our trip up there began, like we were embarking upon some precarious almost unheard of but undoubtedly little travelled musical pathway to God knows what. It was after all, that Ulster, globally infamous for its hoards of balaclava clad paramilitary, for bombs, bullets and an apparent insatiable lust for sectarian bloodletting at every opportunity. Normally for ourselves these things were only ever observed through the bubble like safeness of television glass. However, there was also much excitement too and in equal measure, especially as we were also seemingly following in the footsteps of such then contemporary greatness as 'The Clash'. Their 1977 concert at the Ulster Hall in Belfast City Centre turned into a riot after the RUC lost control of the crowd and started beating punks up outside the gig. Think that was the reason we ended up doing ours at the Uni (Queens College). Even a trip to the local fish and chip shop could prove a perilous move. It is hard to imagine now but way back then just ordering a sausage in batter with a mainland English accent nearly became our undoing. But even more mentionable, the atmosphere inside the bars with their respective histories and heavily fenced around entrance ways were to make the Roxy feel like your average mainland pre school nursery, and that was just in the context of going for a beer!

The Harp Bar in downtown Belfast was 'the' punk venue and it's reputation had certainly made the journey across to mainland UK. Walking through the door in this less than salubrious street was unforgettable. The Roxy in London hardly had a reputation of splendour but the first site of this off pavement bar made that look like Harrods. With a liberal scattering of sawdust all over the wooden floor boards you couldn't help but wonder what it was there to mop up. Maybe us! Before we had the second thought as to where we could actually set up the gear in what appeared to have once been some ones front room we were pointed up stairs to the gig itself. With some relief. The first floor had all the vibe of a decent venue. A smallish stage close to the audience that could either sit around tables or stand in close to the band. You could easily see why this gig had been played by many of the bands in and around Belfast. The Outcasts were one of Belfast top punk outfits and The Jets were to share the gig that night. It should be said here that why they never had the success the Undertones did is probably down to them being based in Belfast and hadn't been exposed to the London punk scene or it's media. Certainly the Outcasts were every bit the real thing and a particular favorite of ours. It's a shame they never got to the mainland until after the punk scene was beginning to change.
The Harp Bar had a great audience and it was a real pleasure to play there. Plus the evening had the added delight of a visit from the Army! The sounds were switched off, everyone just stood around and waited while the Force with loaded weapons casually checked out who was what and what was where. Then, satisfied that they'd buggered the evening up, after 15 or so minutes they left to let us get on with the business at hand.
The Belfast audience remained as nonplussed about the event as if it happened every night... because mostly it did. London by comparison was easy and spoilt. Here amongst this uncertainty punk music had a real reason for being.
As we left for the homeward journey there was a feeling amongst us that if punk music was to survive it needed a reason. Belfast punk had the reason.. and coming back to the London scene seemed a cop out. By comparison a sham.
It was the last gigs The Jets played.