Our colleague, friend and much loved all round good egg John Austin in his own words. He fired over this biography just as he was taken ill and on the day of his funeral it seems timely to let you the No Barriers Radio listeners into a little secret of the myth, the man and the legend that is John Austin, RIP – taken way too soon. But will never be forgotten. Play that funky music…
John Austin radio broadcaster, DJ, The Rolling Stones photographer, London Hospital radio pioneer, the first English Shock Jock to infamously streak live on air and the first DJ to break the US race taboo on a US Airbase in England has died aged 78 years old.
So, you want to know about me and my six decades in the Entertainment and music business? Well. They always say about how important it is that the numbers stack up, or the numbers go in your favour, and I never noticed how the numbers 3/47 kept popping up in my life.
Born 19 August 1946, Camden Town London NW1. The days of outside loos (very cold if you wanted a pee at midnight) and washing in a Tin Bath in front of the fire as we didn’t have an indoor Bathroom.
Moved to Burnt Oak in November of 1960 and left school in 1961, No Degrees no knowledge of what to do, or even how to get a job. But two things really got me going in those days Live Music and Photography. I was absolutely mad about live music and even with my limited knowledge of photography, I knew I wanted to be right in the middle of the action and take live pictures of the many bands performing in those days.
Juggling my various, daytime jobs. I would get out in the evenings and talk and schmooze my way backstage at Rock Concerts and take pics of the Artists to sell to the big music media such as The Record Mirror, The Disc, Music Echo, Melody Maker and The New Musical Express.
I became friendly with the house photographer at The Melody Maker and he brought hundreds of my photographs particularly those of The Rolling Stones.
After the success of The Rolling Stone Pics, he also introduced me to the New Music Express who bought many of my package shots of lots of different artists such as The Everley Brothers, The Animals and all the big Liverpudlian Bands. Sadly I just missed out on photographing The Beatles which would have been fantastic. But I felt I sort of knew them after hearing stories about them from their fellow Liverpudlian bandmates.
The Rolling Stones, New Musical Express, The Melody Maker to Film Sets.
After being up close and personal taking pictures of so many artists and Bands performing live at London's biggest and smallest venues, I thought I would try my luck and see if I could get on the Film Sets as a Stills Photographer. After all, the film world was booming and so many big-name stars came to England to shoot films, I thought this would be the next big step for me. I did have a couple of interesting chats with Bob Pen who worked as a Stills Photographer for some of the major film companies but sadly it never came to fruition.
DJ, Records, Chats, Laughs and Girls.
I have always had a massive interest in Pop Music and looking at all the big-name DJs who were around at the time, I thought to myself, I fancy some of that. Yep, being a Disc Jockey looked and sounded like a good job, and it certainly paid well... but how to get into it?
Swinging 60s, Summer in the City and DJ Debut.
That August in 1968 was a real scorcher. Everyone was out in the sun enjoying themselves and there was this brilliant, carefree, anything-could-happen feeling everywhere. Throughout the '60s you heard all the time about ' A Happening ' when a group of people would get together for a full-on party or event. It was nearly always spontaneous, and the size of the crowd or event would grow organically, so the crowd could be from 5 to 5000.
So that hot August in 1968 I wanted to make my own ‘happening' with my own crowd and play the music of Summer in The City. And so August 1968 was the date I started as a DJ, and the sun never stopped shining for me throughout my DJ career.
Wild Crowd, Hey Jude and Instant Love.
In the '60s and '70s, Pubs, Venues, Concert Halls, Dance Halls and Music were everywhere. Live music and then DJs were playing everywhere, and all the venues wanted the best talent to entertain their punters. And of course, all the venues needed promoters to book the best DJs to entertain their customers.
One, well-known Promotor was called R and E Enterprises in London, and they took me on and gave me my first DJ job. Looking back on that first gig, I can still laugh and remember that feeling of 'Wow I'm in love'
The Pub was called the Roebuck in White City London.
Everything was going well until suddenly there was water everywhere. Turns out some kind soul/s had bunged up the Toilets and they were slowly flooding the whole pub.
The crowd didn't seem to mind a bit of water underfoot though. Probably after all that scorching sun during the day, so neither did I. Towards the end of the gig I got a request to play ' Hey Jude ' which is a real sing-along party tune, and it went down so well I played it on request 6 times on repeat. The crowd were ecstatic and cheering and you could hear the Na Na Naas all over London that night. The Roebuck crowd - loved, loved, loved me and I was booked for the next six weeks.
'I then realised that DJing was as good as sex, and you didn't have to take your clothes off (more of that later).'
Clayman Brothers and Tom Jones.
As my DJ fame spread, I worked with many promoters including the Clayman Brothers who were managing the rising Welsh singing superstar Tom Jones. I met Tom a couple of times and asked if I could DJ at any of his Gigs? as it was easy to see Tom was a great performer and was having a ball on stage.
Show me the Money.
So, the crowds loved me, I'm doing really well, always working but like everyone working in entertainment, I was trying to figure out how I can get better-paid gigs?
Never work with Family, Children or Animals.
Whilst pondering the financial situation no one ever mentions working with family. I never found the children and animals part a problem, after all, I have two lovely grown-up children, three adorable grandchildren and a cute well-pampered dog.
The family problem, presented itself, as there was always someone in the family, or friends of the family, or friends of friends of the family who was having a party and often wanted mates’ rates and you would then be waiting 3/4 months for payment.
The Magical DJ Formula.
Like most performers, I tended to follow the same format as most other DJs. Kick off with easy-on-the-ear music to start, but at the end of the night instead of the slow smoochy ones which always ended the night for many years, I would go into the party numbers and foot stompers. Which never fail safe to get the crowd screaming out for more, more and more; and not wanting the party to end guess I was a trailblazer for the current Super DJs. These nights were a guaranteed return booking if I wanted to.
Up here for Drinking and Down there for (Not) Dancing.
Being someone who is always out of kilter or rather someone who is always looking for a challenge, one gig always stands out in my mind.
Normally any Club I gigged at was a great night. Especially if the crowd were members, fans or associated with the Club. At first sight, this particular Football Club was packed with 100s of members in a big party mood. Or so I thought. I played my heart out with my failed DJ set. All the hits, the lights and the party magic.
But no matter what I did, not one person was up dancing. Not a single soul, not even a toe-tapping, half-dancer on the outer edges of the dance floor and the hours ticked by, with just me on the dance floor. Everyone was boozing at the Bar which really hacked me off.
Then the club Social Secretary came up and said ' Hey DJ here's £20 to play another half hour 'so I said 'No thanks mate'. Anyway, after a bit of back and forth, I grabbed the £20 and dramatically tore it in half, then packed up my gear and I was off.
The next day I got a call from the Booking Agent saying ‘WTF happened last night John, was I crazy? Client not happy and wouldn’t have me back even if Hell froze over " etc. Oh well, at least the Bar did well that night.
1970s and New Beginnings.
By now we are coming into the 70s New decade fresh signing and now the very well-known Norman Jackson agency in Southgate came a calling. Not sure if I called them or if they had heard of me on the London Circuit. But I worked solidly for them for 14 Years as a high-level party DJ.
London is a melting point and North London in particular is home to large Turkish, Greek and Jewish Communities. But sometimes international relations, much like Politics don't always go together as planned.
One Party, or should that be an international incident, that sticks in my memory is a big Party I did for a large very prosperous Turkish family. The night progressed well, and everyone was dancing to the chart and pop music enjoying themselves. As agreed, I switched it up to non-English music. So far so good and I stuck on what I had which would fit the bill. I then went to the Loo leaving a very Happy crowd on the floor. I had only been in there 2 minutes when they were banging on the door screaming that I was playing Greek Music and not Turkish music, WTF was I doing? They were Turkish, not Greek take it off, take it off.
Oh dear, don't suppose the Diplomatic Corp would be wanting my services any time soon.
Hello America, US GI Joe's and breaking racial Taboos.
At this time, I hooked up with AJAX who did a lot of work on the USAF (US Airforce Bases), So once a month I played at Brize Norton, Lakenheath Woodbridge and West London. The Music was always Black Soul, R n B and Motown. I also became one of the first White Men and DJ’s who danced with the African American Girls who worked on the Bases. One young lady said, 'If this was back home I would be lynched'. Seemed Racism was very much alive and kicking in America sadly.
First thing you noticed when playing USAF Bases, is that it's very much like small town America with its Shopping Malls etc and when Americans buy houses over here for their Tour of Duty they all wanted a house with a pool and a large Kitchen. Got to admire that American optimism, especially with our English weather.
Not all Englishmen are Gentlemen.
That’s not to say I only worked for the Americans I also did many British Army Bases too. One outstanding memory was doing a job at Colchester Barracks. Yet again the night went well but on the 2am journey home we mysteriously ran out of fuel. Seems someone had syphoned out the petrol from our car. So, the roadie, his girlfriend and I set off in the middle of nowhere, 140 miles from home trying to find a garage.
No one was v happy least of all this English DJ who had been playing his socks off for about 8 hours that night.
Guess the English Military doesn't earn as much as their US counterparts hey?
Pioneer in Hospital Radio.
Hospital Radio was booming from the 60s onwards. Nearly all the Hospitals had their own Station, Studio, Staff and DJs. Whether ill or not, these 100’s of 1000’s of patients were a captive audience of people who wanted to be entertained, hear music that they loved, be reassured and above all feel good. They also wanted to have their requests and names read out on the Radio and it was certainly easier than writing to BBC Radio 1 or 2.
Radio Brockley London.
In the early 70's I had a call from a chap called Barry Cobden who worked at Radio Brockley London, and he wanted to do an interview with me about my DJing and Photography. He no doubt wanted to hear if I had any insider gossip or Pop Star stories I would share.
After my interview, I thought Hospital Radio could be a great springboard into being a BBC DJ or such like. While at the Radio Brockley Station I noticed everyone was ‘talking' like a Radio Presenter, but no one seemed. to talk naturally' to the mic, so it always sounded forced and artificial like someone reading a script.
Through all my DJ work I discovered I had a knack for speaking naturally and could easily engage, get a laugh or get a crowd going whatever the size was. So, I created a new very natural style of presenting. And I knew how and what the Music I played meant so much to the crowd there. All were equal, all wanted (on the whole) to be happy and have a good time.
Combine all this in a Radio Show and that was it, I was hooked.
Good Morning America.
After three years at Radio Brockley, I was now a seasoned radio broadcaster and DJ. I had learnt my craft and was raring to 'Go West 'young man.
Just like I wanted to take Still Photographs with the American Stars filming in England a few years earlier, the big Radio and Broadcasting opportunities were in the USA. But how to crash the American Market?
Like most of America's immigrants throughout the years I went straight to New York and Times Square. Frank Sinatra may have famously sang 'If you can make it there, your make it anywhere‘ but he obviously hadn't been on the mean streets of New York and Times Square for some time, as within just 30 minutes I saw a Man shot dead right in front of me.
So that was it for me, I'm off - Goodbye New York and Hello Chicago. Tony Bennett's town and song of the same name, definitely sounded more like 'My Kind of Town Chicago Is'. Not, that I'm a big Crooner fan.
Chicago is a big place with some of the best Radio Stations in America so that was where I started, a North London English bloke looking to get a break.
I was lucky enough to get two interviews as they liked the idea of an English bloke with my experience and chutzpah. But it soon came out that I needed a Green Card to do anything associated with Radio and Broadcasting and with no offers of Green Card Sponsorship or a job on the table I dejectedly had to leave my Radio Dream back in Chicago.
But I'm here, so I thought I may as well see a bit of the Country while I'm here, as you never know what may turn up?
Next up is Salt Lake City and Mormon Country. I soon realised that if there's one thing these Mormons like, it's getting married. I mean one man can have legally multiple wives. So, I thought to myself, how about if I can be a Mormon Husband? I wouldn't want multiple wives perhaps just the one and… a Green Card? Ummm.
I soon dismissed that idea, but did meet a great girl and had a fun time in Salt Lake City. Going Horse Riding, Climbing and enjoying the Mountains and open spaces. Bet it wouldn't have been such a good time with the Mormon Girls anyway?
I did have another interview with the famous Radio Station KCPX and met a few of the Jocks including the iconic Skinny Johnny Mitchell. Yet again they liked me, but I didn’t win the Coconut.
My trip to America was brilliant and included stays in Los Angeles, Dallas, Texas and Boston but there is still a part of me that thinks… what if.
English Shock Jock Does First Live Streak
We now move to the middle of 1975, and I am now married, (not to a Mormon woman I hasten to add) and still DJing and broadcasting all over London.
I had a residency every Saturday night and Sunday morning/afternoons at a very popular bar/coffee shop called The Coffee House in Sommerstown Euston.
Anyway one Sunday afternoon I was DJing on the Decks and working my usual magic but no one was Dancing just standing around drinking so, inspired by my favourite US DJ Shock Jocks I shouted out in my usual - big mouth way ‘What is it gonna take to get you people up dancing? how about if I do a streak around the pub?
Suddenly a voice shouted back 'Yeah, you do a streak and we' 'll get up and Dance ' ha ha ha etc. Now this is an area in London where you have to put up, or you are in trouble. So, I did The Streak. Stark bollock naked which of course they all saw.
Next Sunday the Bar was rammed as word had spread about the crazy DJ who had done a Streak round the Bar. Couple of weeks later a punter was in there. I recognised him from being around and we talked about my crazy streak.
He then said, 'What about double streak?' He would go to one pub and issue the challenge and i would go to another. Now you have to remember that after a few Beers most people’s brains go out the window. So yes, you guessed it; We did the double streak. Next week post double Streak there was no sign of the guy. A couple of weeks later I heard his wife went ape and said 'He was not to go down the Coffee House again, and that he was to stay away from that crazy freak in streak DJ ‘
Never mind lock up your daughters, It’s more like Lock up your Husbands in case John Austin leads them astray.
The Boats That Rocked, Ford and Chris Tarrant on Capital Radio.
The middle 70s to the middle 80s I picked up some really strange work which turned out, as they say to be a real game changer for me. It's a Summer Sunday morning BRING BRING goes the phone 'Hello this is Fords Dagenham our Ferry has just burnt down, can you help?'
Anyhow I went into overdrive, ringing around and just two hours later I had booked a big Boat for them for 10 weeks hire. I got a great commission and more importantly I was now the head of my new company London Boat Parties (and Ferry Boat Hire). My next big client was Capital Radio and in particular The Chris Tarrant Breakfast Show I worked with them for eight years and even got a stab on the Chris Tarrant Breakfast Show as a guest and co presenter a few times.
London Boat Parties' boomed from the 80s until 2023 and my reputation grew as did my client base and I had to hire any number of extra DJs and talent to keep up with demand. At one point I was running private parties, corporate events and entertainment for large numbers on three major London Cruisers on the Thames. I can proudly say I had returning clients for over 15 years. They were the Boats that Rocked, and I loved it.
No Barriers Radio.
In 2021 I was approached by David Braysher who I knew from previous Hospital Radio days to help him set up and run his 're launched Digital Radio Station www.nobarriersradio.com which was privately funded by his Brother Richard Braysher (who was also my accountant and sounding board). The Station had moved from a small room in an office block to a standalone large Studio in Welwyn Garden City. He and his brother had parted ways with the previous DJ and wanted to really make a success of creating and running this Digital Radio Station. To make this happen it needed a lot of organisation and hands on business and financial skills and an understanding of Community Radio all of which I have. So I handled everything from negotiating fire permits, IT and building insurance to worldwide music and royalty licences through to the technology and studio equipment to broadcast the station.
It was the real business end of running a Radio Station and not just floating in for an hour or so doing a show and then floating off. Also in 2021 Annie Voller came on board as a co-founder and brought with her a fantastic calibre of both professional and high quality presenting and broadcasting talent from her background as a TV presenter, broadcaster, journalist and media entrepreneur.
She also brought real ideas, goals and experience to create a station that people wanted to listen to. I also liaised with these Presenters and Broadcasters who were committed to creating great radio shows. Alongside Annie I worked closely with John Alcazar Head of Tech who also helped with my own Business and Personal Tech and Matt Inman who was head of creative and digital design and consulted again on my own websites and marketing.
As a team, we experienced challenges to put it mildly and our online meetings could certainly be described as colourful, sometimes heated, and often funny but at heart, it was a group of people pulling together to get back to getting those 40k listeners plus. No mean feat without dedicated Advertising and Marketing resources.
So… I am John Austin, and we are talking about my public, not personal life here am a DJ, Entertainer, Radio Broadcaster, producer, photographer, business owner and now almost head-honcho at No Barriers Radio. God, this sounds like that famous speech that Rusell Crow makes in Gladiator. 'I am Maximus blah blah…'
I am looking forward to doing more and having some more fun with the God-given talents I have been given.
December 2024
