Following the album's release, the Screaming Jets went to the UK where they based themselves for over two years, touring there and throughout Europe with a variety of hard rock and heavy metal bands. During a series of shows with Ugly Kid Joe, Heaney was fired and replaced for the rest of the tour by one-time Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland.
The band's next album Tear of Thought, which featured Heaney's drumming, was initially slow to gain acceptance until a cover of Boys Next Door's "Shivers" saw the Screaming Jets back in the charts. Heaney was permanently replaced in the line-up by former BB Steal drummer Craig Rosevear and after a US tour with Def Leppard Lara was replaced by Melbourne musician Jimi "The Human" Hocking, who had previously fronted his own band, Jimi Human and Spectre 7, that released an album and two singles at the turn of the decade.
While the Screaming Jets remained only moderately successful overseas, in Australia they were one of the top-drawing live bands of the early-mid 1990s and perhaps the last remaining example of the pub rock acts that had ruled the country's live scene in the late 1970s - mid 1980s. While their single releases rarely scored high on the charts, they won significant airplay on rock radio and the band's tours were wildly successful. In 1995 the Screaming Jets' self-titled album made history when it became the first CD launched via live Webcast.
By the late 90s the Screaming Jets were touring less often and had not released an album of new material since 1996. Hocking had left in 1997 to be replaced by former Judge Mercy guitarist Izzy Osmanovich and after an extensive Australian tour in 2000, Rosevear left to be replaced by Col Hatchman. Although no longer the force they had once been, the Screaming Jets could still draw large crowds and in 2001 were selected to tour with Kiss and Alice Cooper; at the end of that year the band announced an extended break from all touring and recording, playing a final series of shows.
In December 2002, the Screaming Jets did another brief tour in support of a self-financed live album that had been recorded the previous year, but then did not play live again until mid-2004. Since then have continued to record and tour, though more sporadically than during the early 1990s and have also signed a record publishing deal with Universal Records.
Sex and Violence
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The other side of a spoon and pick
There she goes, she watched her back
Every single breath today is a drag
That don't help, she showers and goes
And more on her knees than at her toes
Betrayed by the distance
She′s no chance to mend
She's lost in the silence
Got no voice left to shout
Spite her blood on the party dress
Her beautiful face a beautiful mess
No one to blame and no one to call
Bruise on her face, it ain't from a fall
Lost her bet and real life′s revenge
She forgets the regret, the regret she forgets
A conspiracy of love leaves her nowhere to hide
She′s lost in the silence
Got no voice left to shout
All this sex and violence
Time's ′a' runnin′ out
She don't give a fuck, she don′t give a fuck
She don't give a fuck, she's broken
Don′t give a fuck, she don′t give a fuck
She don't give a fuck, she′s broken
Oh lord, she's broken
She′s lost in the silence
Got no voice left to shout
Too much sex and violence
Time's ′a' runnin' out
She′s lost in the silence
So much sex in your violence
Time′s 'a′ runnin' out
Such a beautiful mess
She′s broken
She's lost in the silence
Got no voice left to shout
So much sex and violence
Time′s 'a' runnin′ out
So much sex and violence
Got no voice, it′s all worn down
All this sex and violence
Time's ′a' runnin′ out
The Screaming Jets's song Sex and Violence explores the dark reality of addiction and its consequences. The song describes a young woman who is addicted to drugs and engages in promiscuous behaviors in search of her next fix. The lyrics suggest that her life has spiraled out of control as she is betrayed by distance from loved ones and has no chance of mending her life. She is lost in silence, having no voice left to shout, and is broken. The lyrics describe a painful cycle of addiction and regret, where she forgets the regret and is left with tiny moments of peace.
The first verse portrays a woman who is going through the motions of her daily routine but is preoccupied with the inevitable sickness from drug withdrawal. The second verse describes a woman who is abused physically and emotionally, leading to bruises on her face, which are not caused by a fall. Despite being broken and lost in silence, she continues to engage in reckless behavior, as she doesn't give a fuck about anything. The chorus paints the picture of a woman who is helpless against the influence of sex and violence and is running out of time to find a way out.
Overall, the song highlights the dark and destructive cycle of addiction and the consequences of engaging in destructive behaviors. It is a haunting reminder of the need for support and understanding for those who are battling addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got an hour or two before the sick
She only has a short time left before the negative consequences catch up to her.
The other side of a spoon and pick
Her drug addiction has gotten so bad that she's resorted to using a spoon and pick to get high.
There she goes, she watched her back
She's always on the lookout for danger and potential harm.
Every single breath today is a drag
Each moment of the day is a struggle, especially with the addiction controlling her life.
That don't help, she showers and goes
Even taking a shower can't make the day any better.
And more on her knees than at her toes
Her addiction regularly puts her in a vulnerable position, often on her knees to get high.
Betrayed by the distance
Her addiction has distanced her from loved ones and their support.
She's no chance to mend
The situation has gotten so bad that there seems to be no hope for recovery.
Spite her blood on the party dress
Despite the physical evidence of harm, she continues to partake in dangerous activities.
Her beautiful face a beautiful mess
Her physical appearance is a reflection of her inner turmoil and struggles.
No one to blame and no one to call
She's alone in her addiction and has no support to turn to.
Bruise on her face, it ain't from a fall
The physical harm she's experienced is a result of her addiction, not just an accident.
Lost her bet and real life's revenge
Her addiction has caused her to lose out on opportunities and now real life is taking its toll.
She forgets the regret, the regret she forgets
She's stuck in a cycle of addiction and regret, constantly forgetting about the pain caused by her actions.
A conspiracy of love leaves her nowhere to hide
Even though she's alone, she still can't escape from the love and worry of those who care about her.
She don't give a fuck, she don't give a fuck
She's reached a point where she's become numb to the harm she's causing herself and those around her.
She's broken
Her addiction has caused her to become broken and lost, with no hope of recovery in sight.
All this sex and violence
Her addiction has led to dangerous and harmful behavior.
Time's 'a' runnin' out
Her situation is dire and time is running out for a chance at recovery.
So much sex in your violence
The harmful behavior fueled by her addiction has become an all-consuming aspect of her life.
Got no voice, it's all worn down
Her struggles have left her unable to speak out and ask for help.
Writer(s): Paul Woseen
Contributed by Julian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Earthy Irwin
on Better
Great work Grant Walmsley