Jane Gazzo is an Australian radio and television presenter, DJ, author, voice artist and music journalist. Over a career spanning more than three decades she has worked in both Australia and the United Kingdom, presenting programmes on radio and television, performing as a club and festival DJ, and publishing several books on music. She is also known for her involvement in the Australian live music scene and for her work with youth and arts organisations.
During her late teens Gazzo joined Melbourne community station 3RRR, presenting a Sunday afternoon (4pm-7pm) new music show called Calamity. Around the same time she contributed articles to the UK’s Q magazine and Dolly Australia under the byline Calamity Jane.[citation needed]
She later presented national radio and television programmes, including Triple J radio's Super Request and ABC' s Saturday morning music program show Recovery, where she interviewed the international bands touring in Australia.[citation needed]
In 1992, Gazzo formed the punk band "Rubher", in which she was lead singer. The group released two EPs through Mushroom Records before disbanding in 1996. In May 2018, Gazzo reformed the band reunited for a one-off performance with The Mavis's.[7][8]
In 1998, she recorded with the Australian band Underground Lovers, using the Japanese pseudonym Mitsuame; on a cover of Can's 1976 track "I Want More" (from their album, Flow Motion).[9]
She joined XFM in 2000, presenting the Weekend Breakfast programme. During her time there, she spent three weeks producing Russell Brand's show, shortly before his dismissal from the station for bringing in a homeless man.[10] She later moved to its parent station Capital FM, presenting the Capital Top 30 Album Chart Show and The Rock Show.[citation needed]
Gazzo made her UK Television debut in 2001 presenting the eight-part music series called Play Loud on BBC TV digital channel Play UK.[11][12] That year she also briefly worked for Courtney Love, living in the same house in London.[13]
In February 2006 Gazzo hosted the first Cancer Research UK “Rock Memorabilia” auction at Abbey Road Studios, an event that raised around £130,000 for the charity.[14]
From 2002 she was a regular presenter on BBC Radio 6 Music. Her shows included Jane Gazzo's Dream Ticket[15], which ran from June 2004 to September 2005, as well as other programmes and specials.[citation needed] In 2005 The Independent described Dream Ticket as “the best thing is Dream Ticket, where you imagine you’re at some of the greatest gigs ever”.[16] She returned to the station in December 2005 to present further music shows.[citation needed]
Her other broadcast work included pre-recorded programmes for VH-2 in 2006 and the in-flight music show Download for Emirates Airlines described by commentators as "the best modern rock and alternative from some of today's top bands."[17] In January 2007 she joined Rockworld TV, presenting and interviewing musicians.[citation needed]
From late 2010, Gazzo co-hosted The Riff on Channel V. She shared the presentation job with Danny Clayton, Billy Russell and Kyle Linahan (later replaced by Carrissa Walford.) The programme was broadcast weekly on Saturday mornings.[19] She also hosted "WTF", a daily music news programme, three times a week.[20]
In June 2012, Gazzo moved to Max, another Foxtel music channel, as a full-time host and VJ, hosting countdowns and interviews.[21]
In February 2015, Gazzo became morning presenter on Triple M Melbourne.[22] She also hosted the national music show Homegrown and the syndicated celebrity show My Generation. After three years, Gazzo left the station to focus on freelance media work.[23]
In August 2019, Gazzo was the opening DJ for Hugh Jackman during the Melbourne leg of his Australian concert tour at Rod Laver Arena, performing six shows as his main support act.[24]
From 2015 to 2020 Gazzo served on the board of management of the Victorian government youth music organisation The Push.[26][27][28]
In 2017 she was appointed Chair of the Music Advisory Board for the Australian Music Vault at the Arts Centre Melbourne.[29][30][31]
In January 2023 Gazzo coordinated the new recording of the Michael Hutchence's 1997 solo single Rooms for the Memory working with Adalita and Nick Launay. The release, titled Rooms for the Memory 2023, was produced to raise funds for the songwriter Ollie Olsen who was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy.[32][33]
Selected publications
Gazzo's first book, John Farnham: The Untold Story, a biography of Australian singer John Farnham, was published in February 2015 by Random House.[34]
Her second book, Sound as Ever! A Celebration of the Best Decade in Australian Music 1990-1999, co-authored with music journalist Andrew P Street, was released in September 2022, through Melbourne Books.[35]
Her third book, I Hear Motion: Bands that Soundtracked Our Lives 1980–1989 (named after the 1983 song by Models), is scheduled for release in September 2024 through Melbourne Books.[36]
Awards
In 2011 and 2012 Gazzo was nominated for Favourite Female Television Personality at the 9th & 10th Annual Astra Awards.[37][38]
In both 2018 and 2019 Gazzo, she and co-host Phil O'Neil were nominated for an ACRA award for Best Syndicated Radio Program for My Generation on the Triple M network at the 30th and 31st ACRA's. [39][40]
↑ Gazzo, Jane. John Farnham: The Untold Story. Ebury Australia (Penguin Random House Publishers), 2 November 2015. ISBN 9780857986573. Cf. Author's Note introduction, Melbourne, November 2015. "I first saw John perform live when I was 14 as part of World Expo '88 in Brisbane."
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