Who is Colin Jones

Colin Jones, Born June 4 1959 in a small village in the out woods of South Australia, Australia.
Colin lived life in the small hamlet the youngest of four to a working class family. Life was simple and so very typical. Dad worked hard very hard Mum also worked hard bring up the family. Her day mundane to many consisted of headache powders and music.
So from a very young age young colin's mind was awash with the sounds of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jim Reeves, jim Horton and a endless list of 60's rock country artists. When Mum had time out from stacking the 45s on the automatic record changing turntable the older sister listened to the supremes and the mid sixties motown sound. Next in line was the brother , even in his early teenage years was not travelling on the same path as normal kids. Not only did he like to make home made rockets he also indulged in the alternative folky music of the time. Big brother was a typacal big brother into girls and his volkswagon, typically his music was stuck into the early sixties, Desmond Decker, the dixie cups, shangri las and Karl Denver's Wimoweh. How colin had that tune pumped into his brain from a young age.Dad well when he was home and listened to music it was the sounds of Glen Miller.Only later in years did colin realise that his movement to the dark side of music was something that his dad carried the gene for.
As a pre pubecent child of ten Colin for xmas recieved a transitor radio later a reel to reel tape player this changed his life. From then on he knew that the calling was in the valves or transistors and he knew where life was to take him. Early high school and a student where learning came easily Colin discovered David Bowie Live at the Philidelphia circa 1974 , Disco was not on the road map. An earlier move to the city and the coast later gave rise to the live sound and a appreciation for the pub sound bands of the seventies. Cold Chisel at the age of 16 for colin proved a experience seeing them rehearse in the Pitman library town hall on the corner of Morphett road and Sturt Rd. Why , it was the only place local that the young Colin could buy a alcholic drink as for chisel they made a lot of noise and played old rock songs.Live music became a key focus and in the next few years Colin haunted live venues for the likes of the Angels, supernaut, ol 55 , Marcia Hines,Ted Mulry gang, Vitamin Z and John Rundle and the Maulers. Leaving home at a young age radio beckoned and the live music rang in his ears.

By 1978 Colins music interest had developed to the point of listening only to brand new FM stations or university radio. Radio began at 5UV university radio radio one shift a week featuring a album of the day and all the latest for the unemployed. Mobile disco work followed in 1980 and flowed on into some of adelaides prime clubs and agencies during that time.Remember, Die dancing bears, acrylic chewies, chameleon, the boys etc etc...
This part of his life music dominated, firstly the mobile DJ scene secondly hiring of live band to work in pubs in and around Adelaide. The Angas Hotel, the Cremone and many more also working with many via Top Bands Booking agency at the time.The punk scene and new wave scene was at a peak his involvement was with many but mainly bands like the Toys and punk band Gun Control.Gun control could have been anything but lack of direction and the varied music tastes of the band member gradually seen a implosion and a split from Colin. As this was progressing he had undertaken study of Radio with Vaughan Harvey one of radios true professionals whom in a class of his own nurtured some of australias top talent in radio today. Late 1983 and Radio becomes a reality for Colin and its on to the Mid north of South Australia for a 6 year stint.

Talk about timing 1983 and radio was undergoing a major upheaval with the beginning of FM in city markets 1983-84 began the demise of the true radio personality. More music less talk, no risks radio was the flavour. Oh to do a time call after 5 tracks back to back and then sweep another five only to backsell them over the intro of the next five that was radio 1984 and dont play anything with a electric guitar in it. Conforming to this kind of radio left a void in the creativity of Colin and the risk taker in him.1985 and now a programme manager and morning announcer his career peaked until leaving in the late eighties when the technician of the time and left wing politican became station manger.He disliked colins capitalistic comments to where the station should be heading. Back to the big city. Privately life was in a upheaval this was going to claw at his subconscience for many years to come.Back in the big city and he drifted from mid dawns to nights and held a day job. This part of his life was like a racehorse whom could not quite win on the city tracks.
He packed up his creativity and went with the flow until the late nineties after further private upheavals went to Western Australia for a terrific stint in country radio only to return to South Australia 6 months later home sick. In hind site the radio job in the riverland SA became the most rewarding of all and the most memorable in his life.Great people, fantastic radio station and a magnificent place to live this was the ultimate. Factors finally crept into his decisions first financially it was poor and secondly the need to fill the void in his private life became a paramount priority. This seen him return back to his city job. and some mid dawns back on the FM band.
This continued until December 1999.......
Behind the scenes life had improved but at the cost of radio. to be continued....

Influenced by the pop new wave of the era this band of super talent worked the circuit for well over a year.
They could be seen around town in their well used Vitamin Z truck.
Most memorable tune, well there was many but I always looked forward to Z factor.
This song originally by the Pop Muzic man M was on the B side of the single release in Australia called M factor.

Great memories guys