History
JPJ Audio, the merged operation of Jands Production Services and Johnston Audio has a history dating back to 1970 when Jands first began providing sound and lighting equipment and expertise for local and overseas entertainers.
Over the last four decades, JPJ Audio has undertaken some of the most innovative and memorable projects in the fields of sound and lighting. When Elton John first toured Australia in 1971, Jands provided what was then the largest PA system ever assembled in Australia. Throughout the 70s and onwards JPS was the preferred supplier of equipment and staff for nearly every major entertainer that visited the country. We are gradually working through our old records and photographs and will add to this section regularly.
October 27th, 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 […]
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November 25th, 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. […]
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February 12th, 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 […]
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February 12th, 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 […]
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February 16th, 1979
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 – […]
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May 20th, 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
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