JANDS Archive

Category: History

  • Vale Eric Robinson

    Eric Robinson

     

    Eric Allen Robinson, one of the owners of JANDS died on November 11, 2015. He was 67.

    Together with his partners, Eric Robinson grew JANDS from a small lighting rental business, in the early 1970s, to become a diverse group of companies that now provide rental, installation, manufacturing and sales of professional audio and lighting equipment.

    Eric was the longtime CEO of Jands Production Services and more recently JPJ Audio but over the last 45 years he also acted as Production Manager for some of the most innovative and memorable entertainment events held in Australia.

    At the Helpmann Awards his exceptional service to the Australian live performance industry was recognized when he received the 2015 Sue Nattrass Award.

    Eric will be greatly missed by everyone at JANDS, and JPJ Audio and by his many friends around the world.

    Our heartfelt condolences to Eric’s family and to all who knew him, worked with him and valued the many and varied contributions he made to the entertainment industry.

    A private commemoration will be held in Port Douglas. In lieu of flowers, Eric’s family have asked that a donation be sent to support cancer research.

     

  • Vale Bruce Jackson

    Bruce Jackson

    It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Bruce Jackson, one of the two founders of Jands.

    Along with his school friend Philip Storey, Bruce formed J & S Research Electronics in the late 1960s, the company which soon became known as Jands.

    In 1970, Bruce sold his share of Jands and went to America, where he did live sound for performers such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen and Barbara Streisand. Bruce went on to become one of the pioneers of the live audio industry, working with Clair Brothers Audio, Apogee Electronics and Lake Technology to develop many sound technologies we take for granted today.

    Bruce will be sorely missed by his many friends around the world, and by those of us at Jands who knew him from the early days, or who got to know him more recently through his involvement with the Sydney Olympics and other major events.

    Our heartfelt condolences to Bruce’s family and to all who knew him, worked with him and appreciated his immense contribution to the audio industry.

    Links

    http://clairglobal.com/bruce-jackson/

  • Crowded House – Farewell to the World

    Crowded House Farewell

    Crowded House’s Farewell to the World concert was held on the outside footsteps of the Sydney Opera House on the night of the 24 November 1996, The concert was originally scheduled for the night before but was delayed by rain. Despite the change of date the concert attracted a crowd of more than 100,000 people, with some estimates of up to 250,000.

    The concert included many of Crowded House’s most famous hits

    The supporting bands were You Am I and Powderfinger.

    Jands Production Services provided sound, lighting and staging for the event.

    Gallery – all photos ©Jands Pty Limited

    Do you know more about this event? Did you work on the show or attend, leave a comment below.

  • Billy Graham Crusade 1979

    Conservative protestant evangelist, Billy Graham, was in Sydney in April 1979 to present one of his crusades. These were big outdoor shows, attended by tens of thousands of people.

    Jands provided sound, lighting and the outdoor roof for the event.

    Date

    20/5/1979 Randwick racecourse

  • Linda Ronstadt 1979

    Linda_Ronstadt_1

    The Living in the U.S.A. Tour included concerts played in the U.S. as well as Australia and Japan. Jands Concert Productions supplied the sound, lighting and stage roof for the Australian leg of the tour.

    Dates:

    16 February 1979 Sydney Showground
    24 February 1979 Melbourne Cricket Grounds

    Band:

    Linda Ronstadt – Vocals
    Waddy Wachtel – Guitar, Background Vocals
    Don Grolnick – Keyboards
    Kenny Edwards – Bass, Background Vocals
    Dan Dugmore – Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar
    Russ Kunkel – Drums

    Set List:

    Lose Again
    That’ll Be The Day
    Blue Bayou
    When Will I Be In Loved
    It Doesn’t Matter Anymore
    Willin’
    Alison
    All That You Dream
    Love Me Tender
    Just One Look
    Desperado
    Mohammed’s Radio
    It’s So Easy
    Someone To Lay Down Beside Me
    My Blue Tears / Poor Poor Pitiful Me
    Tumbling Dice
    You’re No Good
    Sorrow Lives Here
    Back In The U.S.A.

    All images © Jands Pty Limited – Click to enlarge

  • 2SM Victoria Park Concert 1979

    During the 1970s, radio station 2SM staged a series of free concerts in Sydney. The February 1979 concert turned out to be its last at Victoria Park and featured Dragon, The Angels, Split Enz, Kevin Borich and Sports. Sydney City Council subsequently banned outdoor shows there following complaints about crowd behaviour and damage to the park.

    Jands sound system included both 4-way and Concord speaker cabinets. Jands also supplied lighting and the outdoor roof for the concert.

    Links:


    ABN2 Sydney ABC ‘The Way We Are’ December 1979 program. Includes brief clip by Australian rock band The Angels performing live at the February 18 1979 2SM Victoria Park free concert.

  • Rod Stewart 1979

    The “Blondes ‘Ave More Fun Tour” was Rod Stewart’s second trip to Australia. For the outdoor shows the sound system was stacked on three levels and was powered by Jands J600S amplifiers.

    As in 1977, Patrick Woodroffe designed and operated the lighting which included PAR 64s, Altman Beamlights and Lekos along with a quantity of Arri 2K Blondies for audience lighting. The set featured all-white stage equipment and curtains.

    Jands Crew
    Vagn Stenvei, Phil Dracoulis, David Mulholland, Mark Keegan, Dave Houghton

    Rod Stewart Crew
    Pete Buckland, Patrick Woodroffe

    Tour Dates 1979
    31 January – Perth
    01 February – Perth
    02 February – Perth
    05 February – Adelaide
    09 February – Melbourne
    12 February – Sydney
    13 February – Sydney
    16 February – Brisbane
    17 February – Brisbane
    18 February – Brisbane
    23 February – Auckland, NZ
    27 February – Christchurch, NZ

  • David Bowie Tour 1978


     
    This was 31 year-old David Bowie’s first tour of Australia. He brought along a Showco crew, FOH consoles and a custom built fluorescent light wall and ceiling structure. Unusually no coloured lighting was used. Instead the show relied on the different colour temperatures of incandescent, tungsten, fluorescent and other light sources to create contrast. The National Times said, The light show, like the artist when illuminated, was an example of true excellence.

    Jands supplied the sound system, lighting support and the outdoor roof. Seven semi-trailers were used to transport the equipment around Australia.

    Brisbane newspaper reported: “David Bowie today received some noisy feedback from Queensland’s minister in charge of noise, Mr Russ Hinze, following the pop star’s open-air concert last night. These pop singers come out here to make a quick quid by disturbing our peace and tranquillity, Mr Hinze said”. The fact that he’s a pommie as well wouldn’t help.
    Mr Hinze, who is the minister for local government, said the newly-formed Noise Abatement Authority will investigate complaints that last night’s Bowie concert at Lang Park, Brisbane, disturbed the peace.

    It was reported that the noise was loud enough to be heard 6 km away. Residents of the suburbs of Paddington, Barton and Milton described it as intolerable.

    The support group for the tour was The Angels. Tickets for the Sydney concerts cost $12.50
    Jands Crew

    Crew

    Vagn Stenvei
    David Mulholland

    Tour Dates

    November 05 – Sydney Hordern Pavillion (Rehearsals)
    November 08 – Sydney Hordern Pavillion (Rehearsals)
    November 11 – Adelaide Cricket Ground
    November 14 – Perth Entertainment Centre
    November 18 – Melbourne Cricket Ground.
    November 21 – Brisbane Lang Park.
    November 24 – Sydney Showground
    November 25 – Sydney Showground.
    November 29 – Christchurch, QE2 Stadium.
    December 02 – Auckland, Western Springs.

    All photos © Jands Pty Limited. Click to enlarge

    Links

    http://www.bowiegoldenyears.com/1978.html
    http://www.bowiedownunder.com/lowheroes/tour3.html
    http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/tours/tour78.htm

  • Bette Midler ‘The Divine Miss M Tour’ 1978

    When Bette Midler and her entourage visited Australia, at the end of her 1978 world tour, she sold out 34 shows. Her infamous “trash with flash” act consisted of a sting of hits and jokes including her Delores Delago character – a beached mermaid, who zoomed on and off stage in a motorized wheelchair.

    Jands provided the sound system including Concord speaker cabinets which were both stacked on stage and flown in the State theatre.

    Jands also provided the lighting which was designed and operated by the legendary Chip Monk – LD and larger than life master of ceremonies at Woodstock.

    Tour Dates
    October 25 – Sydney, State Theatre
    October 26 – Sydney, State Theatre
    October 27 – Sydney, State Theatre
    October 28 – Sydney, State Theatre
    October 29 – Sydney, State Theatre
    November 01 – Melbourne
    November 04 – Perth
    November 07 – Adelaide
    November 09 – Brisbane
    November 12 – Sydney, State Theatre
    November 13 – Sydney, State Theatre
    November 14 – Sydney, State Theatre

  • Cliff Richard 1978

    Tour Dates 1978

    May 18 Regent Theatre Sydney
    May 20 Festival Hall Brisbane
    May 22, 23 Canberra Theare, Canberra
    May 25 Festival Hall Melbourne
    May 27 Apollo Theatre Adelaide
    May 29 Entertainment Centre Perth