Welcome to the New Website for Mike Sweeney
10 things about Mike Sweeney
- He was born in Salford in 1947 to a working-class, Catholic family of Irish descent. He left school at 15 with a Cycling Proficiency Certificate and a bronze medal for lifesaving !
- Joined his first Rock ‘n’ Roll band as the vocalist in 1965, achieving nothing whatsoever until 1977, when his Punk/New Wave band ‘The Salford Jets’ signed their first record deal.
- In summer 1980, he and The Jets had their first – and only – hit with ‘Who You Looking At’ which peaked at No72.
- Appeared on several national TV shows with The Jets including a career-highlight appearance on ‘The Basil Brush Show’.
- Mike has been a broadcaster in the UK for 38 years, working at various radio stations including: Piccadilly Radio, Key103/Gold, Capital Radio (Gold), XFM, Real XS/Rock Radio, ‘Sweeney’s 70s Million Sellers’ on Smooth Radio and .. Finally!! .. The BBC .. Mike presents The Mid-Morning Programme and Sweeney’s 60 Classics on BBC Radio Manchester. He won New York Awards in 2001 and 2004, a Sony Silver in 2002,The Radio Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 in 2012 Mike received ‘Broadcast legend award from The Variety Club Charity and Presented 5 Live’s ‘Radio 2012’ with Jane Garvey on Xmas Day of that year and two awards in 2017 a Gillard and an Aria. Mike was the first presenter on commercial radio in the UK with a regional accent.
- He did ‘real’ jobs between 1963 and 1980, including working as a coal miner, dock worker, building site labourer and a van driver. Not at the same time, obviously.
- Presented ‘Elvis Has Just Left The Building’ and a classic car series for Sky TV between 1997-2005.
- Hosted ‘The Manchester United Debate Show’ for Manchester’s Channel M in 2009 and 2010.
- Played football for Bury Reserves, one game for Manchester United’s B-team (all in his mid-30’s) and played for Manchester United’s over-35 team for many years. He finished at a non-league level in 2007, but still plays 5-a-side. He still has a reputation as the dirtiest player ever to lace a pair of boots.
- Passionate (and occasionally knowledgeable) about : football, classic cars, grass roots politics, the north of England and the working classes, music (from the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 50’s through to the present), the 60s, Britain’s industrial heritage, films and of course ….radio.
