Nic Cester
The powerhouse voice and swaggering guitarist who fronted Jet, delivering a shot of pure, unapologetic rock and roll to the world.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist·Birthday: July 6·Generation X
Biography
Nic Cester didn't just sing rock music; he seemed to be carved from its very essence. As the frontman for the Australian band Jet, formed with his brother Chris, Cester became the embodiment of a garage-rock revival in the early 2000s. With a voice that channeled the ragged glory of Rod Stewart and a guitar style rooted in Stooges-era simplicity, he led Jet to international fame on a wave of uncomplicated, riff-driven anthems. The band's breakout hit, 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl,' with its instantly recognizable bassline and Cester's snarling vocal, became a global sports stadium staple. While Jet's success was meteoric, Cester's musical journey extended beyond it; he formed the soul-influenced supergroup The Wrights and pursued a solo career that explored more nuanced, melodic territory. His story is that of a true rock believer who, for a moment, made the world remember the primal thrill of a simple chord and a defiant yell.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Nic was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nic Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Nic's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As frontman of Jet, co-wrote and performed the global hit 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl,' which won APRA Awards for Most Performed Australian Work Overseas in 2006 and 2007.
- Jet's debut album 'Get Born' sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide and was nominated for multiple ARIA Awards.
- Performed backing vocals for the UK band Muse on their album 'The Resistance.'
- Founded the Australian soul-rock supergroup The Wrights in 2015.
Did You Know?
He is a dual citizen of Australia and Italy.
He temporarily joined the Italian rock band Ministri as their lead singer in 2016.
He recorded his solo album 'Sugar Rush' in complete isolation in a small Italian village.
His father was a musician who played in Australian pub rock bands.
“We just wanted to be a rock and roll band. It was never more complicated than that.”
