Better: The Screaming Jets’ 1991 Pub Rock Classic

In March 1991, The Screaming Jets released Better, a gritty pub rock anthem that soared to No. 3 on the ARIA Charts. Released on rooArt, it charted for 22 weeks, went gold, and became their signature hit. Written by Grant Walmsley and produced by Steve James, it was the lead single from their debut album, All for One. A Newcastle-born classic, Better captured the defiance of the underdog. Let’s dive into its origin, chart run, and why it’s still a pub jukebox staple.

Newcastle’s Pub Rock Heroes
The Screaming Jets formed in Newcastle in 1989—Dave Gleeson (vocals), Grant Walmsley and Richard Lara (guitars), Paul Woseen (bass), and Brad Heaney (drums). School mates since the mid-’80s, Walmsley and Gleeson had jammed in a band called Aspect. Walmsley wrote Better at 17, inspired by a mate facing unfair judgment. He told the Newcastle Herald he penned it in five minutes on his dad’s guitar—a fluke that became a classic. Recorded at Paradise Studios, Sydney, the song’s raw energy and ‘you know, and I know better’ attitude echoed AC/DC and The Angels, with Cold Chisel’s heart. It was the lead track for All for One, launching the Jets into the spotlight.

Chart Success
Charting on March 11th, ’91, as catalogue number 878 814-7, Better hit No. 3 and ran for 22 weeks. Produced by Steve James, it drove All for One to No. 2 on the album charts. The B-side, Rocket Man, a live staple, showed their stage fire. Going gold and earning an ARIA nod for Highest Selling Single, it also reached New Zealand’s top 40. Triple J and Triple M gave it heavy airplay, while rooArt’s promotion sparked tours in the UK, US, and Canada. It remains the Jets’ biggest hit, a pub rock benchmark.

The ’91 Vibe
In 1991, Australia’s music scene was shifting—grunge was emerging, but pub rock held strong. Better was made for flanno-clad punters at the local, its riffs and defiance resonating with battlers. Unlike INXS’s polish or Midnight Oil’s politics, the Jets were working-class heroes, channeling the spirit of every kid told they’d amount to nothing. Newcastle’s pub circuit, like the Cambridge Hotel, was their proving ground, and Better became their rallying cry.

Why It Endures
Better crowned The Screaming Jets Newcastle royalty. All for One landed in the ARIA Top 50 for ’91, and global tours saw them share stages with Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains. Walmsley claims it’s Triple M’s most-played Aussie song—a testament to its staying power. Cover bands and jukeboxes keep it alive in pubs nationwide. Paul Woseen’s passing in ’23 left Dave Gleeson as the last original Jet, but the band rocks on. Play Better, and you’re back in ’91, beer in hand, mates roaring the chorus. Got a Jets gig memory? Share it below—I’m all ears!