Celebrating 45 years on air: Happy Birthday Triple M Sydney

Tomorrow (Saturday August 2nd) marks another major radio milestone as 104.9 Triple M Sydney celebrates 45 years on air.

And today, the iconic station will pay homage to its past, counting down the greatest songs of the 1980s and revisiting some of the funniest sketches from its early days.

Triple M launched back on August 2, 1980. The first song played was My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) by Neil Young, but the track played most over the past 45 years has been AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long.

Some of the original line-up and team members from 1980 included:

• Presenters: Tim Webster, Pete Rudder, Tony Hartney, Bob Hughes
• Newsroom contributors: Terry Mabb
• Support crew: Jason Wayne, Jim Carroll
• Management: Rod Muir, Cherie Romaro
• Engineering: Frank Mancini

Last year, Radio Today had the privilege of speaking to legendary former Sydney radio executive Rod Muir and former Triple M CEO Hamish Cameron, both of whom were at the forefront of FM radio’s launch in Australia and were there for the birth of Triple M’s winged, guitar-wielding angel known as Doctor Dan.

Pure genius, the TV marketing campaign was way ahead of its time.

As Cameron explained “Rod was keen to expend a large proportion of the radio station’s limited advertising budget on the creative concept and sacrifice frequency for impact.”

Creative colleagues of Cameron who worked at McCann Erickson Advertising were invited to present their concept for a 60 second TV commercial.

Within weeks, Creative Director Mike Heffernan and Art Director Albert Vos had come up with storyboards which promised to deliver an amazing, almost surreal message, never before seen in the marketing of a radio station, along with the clever tagline: Because Your Ears Have Brains.

Half man, half kangaroo, the mythical Doctor Dan image was the creative work of Vos.

“He gave birth to an enduring symbol of Australian modern music, with Doctor Dan depicted as animated superhero,” said Cameron.

Over the years, Triple M has been home to some of Australia’s most successful radio shows and presenters, including Doug Mulray, Andrew Denton and Amanda Keller, The Cage, The Grill Team, The Shebang, Wil & Lehmo, Brian Carlton and Mick Molloy, to name a few.

To celebrate the occasion, Triple M Sydney will today feature special guests including Mick Molloy, Matty Johns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Larry Emdur, Merrick Watts, Jimmy Barnes, James Reyne, Jon Stevens, Iva Davies, Mark Gable , Dave Faulkner, John Brewster, Garry Gary Beers, Richard Clapton and Dale Ryder

Across the workday, Triple M will count down the songs which made up the soundtrack of the city and helped shape Triple M’s iconic rock heritage … from Aussie artists championed by Ms – like AC/DC and INXS – to international superstars like Fleetwood Mac and Queen.

The station will replay some of the great comedy sketches from the 80s and 90s – featuring Doug Mulray’s back catalogue – and also speak to Dave Gibson, the voice of many of the characters from these skits.

104.9 Triple M Sydney Content Director Laura Bouchet said “For 45 years, Triple M has been the heartbeat of Sydney, the home of real music, laughs and legendary voices.”

“From Doug Mulray to Andrew Denton, Amanda Keller and Mick Molloy, some of Australia’s biggest names have called Triple M home. Today, we celebrate that incredible legacy, and our commitment to keeping it live, local and loud for Sydney.”

SCA says 104.9 Triple M Sydney continues to heavily promote live and local content with Beau, Cat & Woodsy for Breakfast and Anthony Maroon hosting a local Rush Hour program, with both shows reflecting the sport and character of the harbour city and its surrounds.

Happy Birthday, Triple M Sydney.

*Images supplied by SCA