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
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.

Links

http://www.bowiegoldenyears.com/1978.html

http://www.bowiedownunder.com/lowheroes/tour3.html

http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/tours/tour78.htm

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

1978 was the peak of Electric Light Orchestra’s popularity with Out Of The Blue as their best selling album yet, a wildly popular stage show, and general high respect from radio and music critics. ELO brought their symphonic rock and laser lighting show to Australia in February 1978. Nothing on this scale had been seen before, in Australia.

Commenting on the Randwick Racecourse show violinist Mik Kaminski said: “But the best thing of all was the concert we did at Sydney Outdoor Stadium, where we played to 26,000 people.”

The speaker system for this tour included 18 of Jands newly developed all-in-one Concord cabinets along with a conventional 4 way system. Jands also supplied the lighting and stage roof.

The lighting system was made up of Par64s and Strand profiles for specials. At the end of the Australian tour ELO airfreighted Jands lighting system and crew to Japan for concerts in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. The 20ft trusses, in use at the time, were a special problem for the Qantas freighters.

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