Johnny and the Jailbirds were formed at the end of 1973, when Johnny Red moved from London to Northamptonshire. An Advert was placed in a local Newspaper to recruit musicians interested in forming a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band. The response was immediate and after a few rehearsals, and the first gig in a local village club, Johnny and the Jailbirds was born. It wasn’t long before the band had gained a huge following on the Rock ‘n’ Roll circuit in the UK and abroad.

Record companies were becoming interested in this new band and Charly Records were to eventually sign them in 1979. One of the main turning points in the bands career was the arrival of lead guitarist and songwriter Richie Ball. Johnny had now found a new partner to write the many songs produced in those early years including the eight that appeared on their first album ‘Out On Bail’. The most well known of which appeared in the top five of the French Rock ‘n’ Roll charts, ‘Eileen’ and Too Much Wine’. The album was a great success world wide, and it seemed that every European teddy boy had it in his collection. ‘Johnny and the Jailbirds’ were rockin’ around the world for just over seven years, but in that time they attracted a huge following who still remember what a great time they had at a ‘Jailbirds’ gig.