Small Jackets

Small Jackets
GenreHard Rock
CountryItaly

The Small Jackets came to life in 2000, when powerhouse drummer Danny Savanas joined forces with leather-lunged vocalist and rhythm guitarist Lu Silver. In March 2004, “Play at High Level”, the band’s thundering debut album, became the first instalment of the Small Jackets saga. Featuring David Piatto on lead guitar, it received rave reviews from widely-known zines. Having replaced David Piatto with his own young hotshot disciple Eddy Current and with Rob “Nobody” Tini’s addition on bass, the Small Jackets embarked on a series of live shows, characterized by energetic performances. The foursome shared the stage with mainstays of the international rock’n’roll circuit such as The Lords of Altamont, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Hardcore Superstars, Dollhouse, Imperial State Electric and, perhaps most importantly, the Hellacopters, a band that will become inextricably linked to the Small Jackets. Hot on the heels of “Play at High Level”, in 2006 the band proceeded to release “Walking the Boogie”, an album that tellingly featured guest appearances by both Nick "Royale" Anderson and the late great Robert "Strings" Dahlqvist (The Hellacopters). Three years of intense live dates followed, including an appearance at the Rock in Idro Fest in September 2006, during which the band shared the bill with legendary names such as The Damned and the Stooges (at the time featuring the late Asheton brothers alongside Iggy Pop). In March 2009 “Cheap Tequila”, owning its title to an old Johnny Winter song, saw the light of day. The band’s third release on Go Down Records, “Cheap Tequila” was marked by the first appearance of Mark Oak on bass and co-lead vocals. The ensuing tour was kickstarted in April. Two shows with Thunder Express, Robert "Strings" Dahlqvist’s then-current band, further cemented the friendship and mutual respect between the Swedish legend and the band. The explosive live performances with Lu Silver and Mark Oak sharing vocal duties drew favorable comparisons by the fans with Mark IV-era Deep Purple. In 2013, the band split up with founding member Lu Silver, due to musical differences. Mark Oak took over as main lead vocalist, a spot he has occupied ever since. A revamped line-up featuring scene veteran Matt West as second lead guitarist released “IV” in June 2013, to widespread acclaim. Despite a triumphant July 2014 gig with the Quireboys at Clusone Rock Fest, Matt West left the band in August and the band hired a new guitarist, Phil Baychans. The band is finally stabilizing and has remained the same for 11 years. The latest album “Just like this!” was released in December 2021.