Jane Gazzo is an Australian radio and television presenter, performance and club DJ, television personality, voice artist, author, and music journalist.
Early life and education
Gazzo was born and raised in Melbourne and is the daughter of a Melbourne clothes designer.[4] She graduated from La Trobe University in Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Cinema.[5]
Career
Early career in Australia
It was in her mature teenage years that she joined 3RRR Radio in Melbourne, presenting a Sunday afternoon (4pm-7pm) new music show called Calamity. She also began contributing stories to the UK's Q magazine and Dolly Australia under the name Calamity Jane.[citation needed]
She later became well known as a result of her national radio and TV shows, including Triple J radio's Super Request and ABC Television's live three-hour Saturday morning program, Recovery. It was on this TV show that she interviewed some of the world's biggest international bands as they toured Australia.[citation needed]
In 1992, Gazzo formed a punk band, "Rubher", as lead singer. They released 2 EPs through Mushroom Records before disbanding in 1996. In May 2018, Jane reformed the group for a one-off show with The Mavis's.[6][7]
Gazzo relocated to London, England in 1999, sharing a flat with The Prodigy founding member and former dancer Sharky. In London, she first worked at numerous jobs, including a summer at the Rough Trade record shop, promotions at Virgin Records and DJ'ing at Alan McGee's Death Disco.[citation needed]
In 2000 she became a presenter on the London radio station XFM (Weekend Breakfast). Her time there included a three-week stint producing Russell Brand on-air before he was sacked by the station for bringing in a homeless man.[9]
She later joined 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 an eight-part music series called "Play Loud" on BBC TV channel Play UK.[10][11]
In 2001 she also briefly worked for Courtney Love, sharing a London house with the former Hole lead singer.[12]
Her presenting work has also led to involvement with charities. In February 2006 she hosted the first ever Cancer Research UK "Rock Memorabilia" auction at Abbey Road Studios, helping to raise £130,000.[13]
She joined BBC Radio 6 Music in 2002, and presented Jane Gazzo's Dream Ticket[14] from June 2004 to September 2005, as well as other BBC Radio 6 Music shows and specials.[citation needed] In a May 2005 article in The Independent (UK), Jane Gazzo's Dream Ticket radio show was mentioned in a characterisation of BBC Radio 6 Music as "The best thing is Dream Ticket, where you imagine you're at some of the greatest gigs ever".[15] In December 2005, she returned to BBC Radio 6 Music, presenting various music shows.[citation needed]
In 2006 Gazzo presented pre-recorded music shows on VH-2 TV in the UK as well as the "Download" in-flight radio show on Emirates Airlines (described as "the best modern rock and alternative from some of today's top bands"[16]).In January 2007 she joined Rockworld TV, presenting and interviewing various artists.[citation needed]
From late 2010, Jane became a co-host on Channel [V]'s The Riff. 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.[18] She also hosted the daily music news programme "WTF" three times a week.[19]
In June 2012, Gazzo moved to Max, a 24-hour music platform on Foxtel as a full-time host and VJ, presenting countdowns and interviews.[20]
In February 2015, Jane became morning presenter on Triple M in Melbourne.[21] She also hosted the national Australian music show "Homegrown" and the syndicated celebrity show "My Generation". After 3 years, Gazzo left the station to concentrate on freelancing media work.[22]
In August 2019, Jane was chosen as the opening DJ for Hugh Jackman, on the Melbourne leg of his Australian concerts at Rod Laver Arena, playing six shows as his main support act.[23]
From 2015 until 2020, Gazzo served on the board of management for government youth organisation The Push.[25][26][27]
In 2017, she was appointed Chair of the Music Advisory Board for the Australian Music Vault at the Arts Centre Melbourne.[28][29][30]
In January 2023, Jane coordinated the reworking of the 1997 Michael Hutchence solo hit, 'Rooms for the Memory 2023' alongside Adalita and Nick Launay to help raise funds for the song's composer Ollie Olsen who was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy.[31][32]
Selected publications
Gazzo's first book, a biography of Australian singer John Farnham, John Farnham: The Untold Story, was released in February 2015 through Random House.[33]
Her second book, "Sound as Ever! A Celebration of the Best Decade in Australian Music 1990-1999" was released in September 2022, through Melbourne Books, co-authored with music journalist Andrew P Street.[34]
In July 2023, it was announced that Jane's third book, "I Hear Motion: Bands that Soundtracked Our Lives 1980-1989" (named after the 1983 Models track of the same name), will be released in September 2024, through Melbourne Books.[35]
Awards
In June 2011 and 2012 Gazzo was nominated for Favourite Female Television Personality at the 9th & 10th Annual Astra Awards.[36][37]
In August 2018 and 2019 Gazzo, along with co-host Phil O'Neil was 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.
[38][39]
^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."
