Eastbound and Down

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the high-energy cover of "Eastbound and Down" by Jetboy from their 2023 album Crate Diggin', and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This track, originally by Jerry Reed for the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, gets a sleaze-rock makeover with Jetboy’s signature gritty guitars and raw vocals. In a 2023 interview with CGCM Rock Radio, vocalist Mickey Finn shared that the band chose this song for its infectious Southern rock vibe, which resonated with their love for high-octane, feel-good anthems. Finn recalled how the song’s rebellious spirit reminded him of cruising down the Sunset Strip in the ‘80s, a nod to the band’s wild early days. The cover was recorded with a deliberate nod to the original’s twang but cranked up with Jetboy’s glam-punk edge, making it a standout for fans at live shows.

Jetboy’s decision to include "Eastbound and Down" on Crate Diggin' wasn’t just about nostalgia. Guitarist Billy Rowe, in a Highwire Daze post, mentioned that the band wanted to pay homage to songs that shaped their youth, and this track’s connection to car chases and outlaw energy fit their ethos perfectly. A fun tidbit from the studio: during recording, guest musician Sami Yaffa, a former Jetboy member and New York Dolls bassist, added an impromptu bass riff that gave the song an extra swagger. Fans on the Jetboy Fan Club Facebook group have raved about the live performances, with one Zoo Freak posting on X that the song’s driving beat had the crowd “tearing up the dancefloor like a ’77 Trans Am.”

Jetboy got their start in San Francisco in the early 1980s, a time when punk and glam were colliding in a glorious mess of leather and hairspray. Founded by guitarist Billy Rowe and vocalist Mickey Finn, the band drew inspiration from the raw energy of punk bands like the Sex Pistols and the glitzy swagger of Hanoi Rocks. According to a 2007 Piercing Metal bio, Rowe and Finn met through mutual friends in the Bay Area punk scene and decided to form a band that blended punk’s snarl with glam’s theatricality. They relocated to Los Angeles to dive into the Sunset Strip’s burgeoning hair metal scene, playing alongside bands like Guns N’ Roses and L.A. Guns. Their 1988 debut album, Feel the Shake, captured their raw, rebellious sound and earned them a cult following, though mainstream success eluded them.

Despite setbacks, including label disputes and lineup changes, Jetboy’s passion never waned. Rowe and Finn kept the band alive through the decades, fueled by their loyal fanbase and a shared love for rock ‘n’ roll. A 2019 New Releases Now article noted that their punk-glam hybrid made them “too punk for the glam fans, too glam for the punk crowd,” but that unique edge kept them relevant. Today, Jetboy continues to tour and record, with Crate Diggin' showcasing their knack for reinterpreting classics. You can follow their latest updates on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather at the Jetboy Fan Club Facebook group and the unofficial Jetboy Fan Site, where Zoo Freaks and longtime supporters share stories, rare photos, and tour memories.