By David Rogerson
Listening to 2JJ’s 50th Celebrations and the replay of the station’s first day and music reminded me of my own formative years. The years researchers describe as the those where we first start to form ideas and likes for the music and radio stations we hear them played on. These are the songs c we played in our bedrooms, studying, learning to drive or spending weekend sleep overs at a friend’s place.
The first hour ever broadcast on 2JJ from January 19, 1975 was totally replayed in its entirety from 12 noon, complete with a sound restoration of the actual hour and music that went to air. Holger Brockmann (who had moved from 2SM under previous on air pseudonym of Bill Drake) was the first personality voice we heard.
The first song played was the controversial Skyhooks’ track You Only Like Me Cos I’m Good in Bed. It was controversial as the song had been banned for air play by the commercial radio industry body The Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters.
Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones followed. Yes, right smack there in the centre of my musical formative years. This was January 1975 and what followed in the first hour was:
Juniors Farm – Paul McCartney and Wings
Long Tall Glasses – Leo Sayer
All I Wanna Do is Rock – Mighty Kong
Rock and Roll Doctor – Little Feat
Dazed and Confused – Led Zeppelin
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
Because – The Beatles
Rock Steady – Bad Company
Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds – Elton John
Holger kicked off the first part of the hour with comments from Marius Webb and Ron Moss, who are credited for bringing 2JJ’s youth concept station to life and air. Marius wanted everyone to know that 2JJ was “loosely targeted to an under twenty-five-year-old audience but would be a lot broader in that with its appeal.”
Sitting right up at 1540 on the AM band caused some issues for listeners in Sydney’s northern suburbs trying to tune in the station with its very narrow bandwidth. Holger reminded us that the transmission issues would be fixed in the coming days.
Broadcasting from the ABC radio studios in Potts Point, the on air presentation was cool and calm, sounded like a lot of fun for everyone involved, including the constantly mentioned staff and guests who were enjoying plenty of champagne. Holger Brockman was at his very best with a voice that’s like pure velvet with a bass undertone.
At various times in the hour there were on-air shout outs from Australian artists like Renee Geyer and Brian Cadd who wished 2 Jay Jay a successful future and thanks for supporting Australian and new music.
Later, in the evening artist features and concerts kicked in with, on the first day, Cheech and Chong (one of my all time favourites with their character “Dave” and “Sister Mary Elephant”) live from Los Angeles at 5.30pm; Ravi Shankar at 9pm, and then, the ultimate, a live concert with Led Zeppelin from the USA.
A musical whirlwind of memories too with on air names like Alan McGirvan, Matt Cocker, Chris Winter, George “Groover” Wayne, Captain Good Vibes, Gayle Austin and many more.
Thanks 2 Jay Jay for stimulating my Sydney formative years as I flipped open an old Tracks Magazine and flicked through articles advertising the Average White Band and Sherbet albums from the time.
May the next 50 years under the triple j brand across Australia continue to grow and strengthen listening for that the age group Marius and Ron intended it to be built on.
About David:
With a background covering over 40 years in Media and Communications, David Rogerson is experienced in nearly every facet of the radio and media communications industries from Group Content Director, to National Marketing Manager and Company Director. He is currently a lecturer and mentor at the Australian Institute of Music in the Masters and Bachelor degrees.
In 1997 he founded media and communications consulting company “Strategic Media Solutions”. David’s professional consulting career has seen him sought-after for his insights and client solutions in more than 15 countries around the world.
As a published author of media related books and entertainment journal articles David has personally mentored a wide range of media company directors, industry managers and entertainment executives. In the music field David’s experience covers marketing and digital content development for a range of artists including INXS and is part of the judging panel for the Australian Songwriters Association and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.