Jands Production Services News» History

Farewell to the World

Administrator — Tue, 26 Nov 1996 02:06:20 +0000

On November 24, 1996, supported by Custard, Powderfinger and You Am I, Crowded House played its last show on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in front of a crowd of between 120,000 and 250,000 one of the biggest concerts in Australian history. It was postponed by one day due to inclement weather but the band played a “warm up” gig for the overseas fans who were unable to stay in Sydney for the extra day. Proceeds from this concert supported the Sydney Children’s Hospital. In November 2006, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the concert, a 2-CD-album and a 2-DVD-Set was released.

The 1990s

Administrator — Tue, 02 Jan 1990 05:51:26 +0000

We are currently compiling and uploading information from the 1970s. When complete we’ll start adding events and stories from the 80s then 90s – check back soon.

The 1980s

Administrator — Wed, 02 Jan 1980 05:39:53 +0000

We are currently compiling and uploading information from the 1970s. When complete we’ll start adding events and stories from the 80s – check back soon.

During the 1980s
Jands Concert Productions acquired the assets of Artist Concert Tours
The rental company was sold to and then bought back from Samuelsons PLC
Jands became the Australian representative for Vari-Lite

Billy Graham Crusade 1979

Administrator — Sun, 01 Apr 1979 21:44:34 +0000

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.

2SM Victoria Park Concert 1979

Administrator — Tue, 13 Feb 1979 06:30:49 +0000

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 (Doc Neeson was knocked out by a flying beer can) 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.

Rod Stewart 1979

Administrator — Tue, 13 Feb 1979 04:12:34 +0000

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

See more images from this tour

David Bowie Tour 1978

Administrator — Sun, 26 Nov 1978 10:10:33 +0000

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,â€™ Mr Hinze said. The fact that hes 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 5 ) – Rehearsals
November 8 ) – Sydney Hordern Pavillion
November 11 – Adelaide
November 14 – Perth
November 18 – Melbourne Cricket Ground.
November 21 – Brisbane.
November 24 – Sydney Showground
November 25 – Sydney Showground.
November 29 – Christchurch, QE2 Stadium.
December 2 – Auckland, Western Springs.

Bette Midler ‘The Divine Miss M Tour’ 1978

Administrator — Sat, 28 Oct 1978 05:36:48 +0000

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 â€œDelores Delagoâ€ 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

Electric Light Orchestra 1978

Administrator — Sat, 04 Feb 1978 23:02:20 +0000

Electric Light Orchestra brought their symphonic rock and laser lighting (nothing on this scale had been seen in Australia before) to Australia in February 1978.

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) Concords along with conventional 4 way cabinets. Jands also supplied the 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 Qantas.

See more images from this tour

Abba Tour 1977

Administrator — Sat, 12 Mar 1977 19:48:56 +0000

When Abba toured, in 1977, Jands supplied the sound, lighting and a custom built hydraulic stage that was used to raise and lower a 17 piece Australian orchestra who provided backing for several songs including “Dancing Queen”

In a radio interview, after the Melbourne concert, reporter Don McLean said
“…a big speaker bank either side of the stage and then they had another one half way up the lawn area. I think possibly because of the use of strings and synthesizers and just the band themselves playing and the whole lot was blended so well, it was just unbelievable, the sound was perfect. And of course you could hear every word that ABBA sang which was what the kids were there for anyway.

Also the lighting, the stage was all white. They had big blue curtains hanging down on either side with ah sort of flowers all round the stage. And ah, I wouldn’t be sure exactly how many lights they had, they had a lot of lights on stage, on the sides of the stage and ah it was just one big colour bath the whole way through. It was brilliant.”

Tour Dates 1977

March 3 & 4 Sydney Showgrounds
March 5 & 6 Melbourne Myer Music Bowl
March 8 Adelaide Westlakes Stadium
March 10, 11 & 12 Perth Entertainment Centre.

Sound System

System Crew
Howard Page, Peter Rooney, Paul Mulholland

ABBA & Management:
Promoter Paul Dainty
Australian Tour Manager Michael Chugg
Asst. Tour Manager Graham Maddigan
Production Manager Eric Robinson
Publicity Patti Mostyn