History
Fashback: February 1993, our first issue of CONNECTIONS
Connections 1 February 1993 view free here! News, Views, Products: For 1993 we see a huge swag of new equipment released onto our local market- with more coming after NAMM! Count the devices! 9 New MIDI Mix from Fostex: 9 Pioneer debut Pro Audio 9 Vari*Lite go legal 10 Pan Command,…
Read MoreMeyer Sound: Everything Matters
FACTORY TOUR; by Julius Grafton Since inception in the 1970’s Meyer Sound has occupied space in San Francisco’s Berkeley precinct and today 350 people make almost everything they sell, right there. It’s an eclectic precinct – the organic food market at the end of the street can feature a Sitar player. A gourmet hotdog tent…
Read MoreVale Eric Robinson, live production pioneer
JPJ Audio chief Eric Robinson died on November 11 from complications with cancer. He had just turned 67 and had retired to Port Douglas. Eric was the best known pioneer of Australian live production, having taken control of Jands in 1970 from its founders. Eric and the Mulholland brothers Paul and David drove Jands hard,…
Read MoreClay Paky and MA Lighting ship-shape for Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review
Imagination Australia has set a new global standard for public events, with one of the most spectacular showcases of projection, lighting and fireworks shows seen anywhere in the world. The Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review symbolised 100 years since Australia welcomed their first Naval Fleet into Sydney Harbour. It was Imagination’s job to celebrate…
Read MoreRichard Priddle
Cancer takes lives before time, acoustician Richard Priddle made 60 years before departing prematurely at the end of January. He had featured in the very first issue of Channels, the precursor to this magazine, almost 20 years ago. CX knew him for a decade prior and ran into him in unlikely places. One was Hamilton…
Read MorePhil Eastick
Phil Eastick died in Adelaide aged 55 in February, after a very long battle against kidney disease. He had a transplant last year. He fought for around 20 years, but not too many people knew he was ill. CX first knew Phil from the road. Phil attended (very occasionally!) Adelaide University Law School in the…
Read More4 Months in 1979
As the FOH sound operator for Mi-sex, I probably spent more time with Jeff Merryweather than just about Anyone for a brief but incredibly hectic 4 months in 1979. At the time I didn’t Realise that Jeff was the most complete roadie that I would ever witness. Jeff was one of those fortunate people who…
Read MoreIt was 35 years ago today
Expelled from school and having worked briefly as a copy boy for the defunct Sydney Mirror, I took my only $12 and registered my first business on March 1st, 1973. The Certificate of Registration for Zapco Lightshow was framed and hung above my old desk at home. I was 15. Blame Led Zeppelin; whose…
Read MoreI was a roadie
When former Chisel roadie Gerry Georgettis took his life in dramatic style early last year, media from around the world picked up the story. How could a seemingly placid, stable theatre manager go suddenly crazy and burn down a car dealership in Miami; then hang himself in a cramped airplane toilet? What darkness exists in…
Read MoreGary Glitter
Gary Glitter is today better known as inmate Paul Gadd and is doing hard time in a Vietnamese jail for child sexual abuse. But in the early 80’s he was on the revival trail and became the first significant overseas act for a local promoter, who scheduled a run of the east coast of Australia.…
Read MoreGerry Georgettis takes own life
In a tragic tale, ex-pat Australian sound engineer Gerry Georgettis took his own life on board a United Airlines flight from Washington to Los Angeles in early February. The flight was diverted to Denver, after crew discovered Gerry in the lavatory, where he had somehow killed himself. People who knew the 56 year old theatre…
Read MoreSwampie tribute, Little Goose
Dear People, I first met Swampy (Wayne Jarvis) when I was playing drums in the ‘Wild Cherries” in Melbourne and worked with him many times as he was so good at keeping everyone together. The thing that made Swamps stand out from the other guys was his incredible energy and from 1968 to the LWTTT…
Read More