Description
Currently working on the BBC’s GMR Radio, Mike Sweeney has also worked on 1458 Capital Gold in London. He is available as a solo singer but is also available with the band he has constantly worked with, Manchester band, The Salford Jets (they have been known by their other incarnation “The Thunderbyrds”). As part of The Salford Jets in the seventies and eighties he had a string of hit singles in the U.K. charts, such as “Who you looking at” and “Looking at the squares”. Mike is the lead singer and is well known as “The” archetypal Manchester radio DJ, working on initially on Piccadilly Radio and later on the London based radio station Capital Gold.
In February 1998, Mike Sweeney followed in the footsteps of Steve Penk, Downing Street hoaxer and Mike’s former colleague from Picadilly Radio, and came to London, joining 95.8 Capital FM’s sister station Capital Gold.
Mike built up a massive audience in Manchester as fans flocked to listen to his funny and straight-talking show every day. Coupled with the fact that he is an absolute authority on music (particularly the sounds of the Sixties), it’s not surprising that after 17 years at Picadilly Radio, having hosted all of the daytime shows at one time or another, Mike is rightly considered a bit of a star.
Mike joined Picadilly in 1990 after playing with his new wave punk band, The Salford Jets, at a roadshow in Manchester, for which he also voiced a promo that caught the attention of the Programme Controller. After having played venues in the UK at the same time as the likes of The Cure, Adam & The and U2, Mike left the jets to spend six years with the Mindbenders during the late 80’s and early 90’s. The Mindbenders claim to fame was that they recorded the original version of “A Groovy Kind Of Love”, a song that later made Phil Collins even wealthier. As well as being a radio star and a bit of a rocker, Mike has also done a lot of TV, including the anarchic pop show “Elvis Has Left The Building” for Sky TV’s Granada Plus channel. The show was Mike’s concept right down to the theme tune which he wrote, the set which he designed, and the team captains, Noddy Holder and Clint Boon from the Inspiral Carpets, whom he chose.
Mike was one of the first mainstream radio presenters with a regional accent, helping to pave the way for Gary Crowley, Chris Evans, and Mark ‘n’ Lard.
Mike’s hite working with the Salford Jets have been:-
Looking at the Squares
Manchester Boys
Salford Jets EP
Who You Looking At
(She’s Gonna ) Break Your Heart
City Youth
Soldiers of Fortune
Pain in my Heart
Rarities
