Go-Set
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Go-Set was the first Australian rock music magazine, published from early February 1966 until August 1974. Founded in Melbourne by Phillip Frazer and Tony Schauble, it became an influential publication and featured many notable contributors (including Molly Meldrum, Stan Rofe, Prue Acton, Lily Brett, Vince Lovegrove, and Ed Nimmervoll). It spawned the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine.[1]
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[edit] History
The idea was initiated in Melbourne by two young Monash University students, Phillip Frazer and Tony Schauble who were flushed with the success of founding Monash University's paper Lot's Wife. A meeting with photographer, Colin Beard and Rock and Roll promoter, Peter Raphael formed the initial nucleus.
Initially Go-Set was intended for Melbourne distribution only. Another man, Bill Robinson managed to secure circulation throughout Victoria, and several months later the magazine was introduced to Sydney and then Brisbane. Following promotional visits by the Schauble and Beard, it circulated nationwide.
The office was three rooms at Charnwood Crescent, St. Kilda. Key staff included Schauble as editor, Frazer, who was responsible for design, Beard as photographer and picture editor. Peter Raphael was the principal salesman assisted, by Terry Cleary. Doug Panther was the feature writer for the first few issues before leaving for Western Australia. He was replaced by Lily Brett who got the job because she had a car. Other significant personnel were Vera Kaas-Jager, as assistant photographer and Honey Lea, originally a typist, who later became the fashion editor when Prue Acton dropped out.
The first issue featured Tom Jones and Herman's Hermits interviewed by Doug Panther and photographed by Colin Beard at the Palais Theatre, St. Kilda. The first notable issue was Issue 3. which covered the The Rolling Stones tour in Melbourne and Sydney.
A key element in the popular success of Go-Set was the centre page spread called 'The Scene-The Seen'. These were Go-Set's target audience - the thousands of teenagers caught up the excitement of the swinging sixties, following their favourite local Rock group around the suburban dancehalls of Melbourne.
Go-Set developed an international focus when, in a promotional arrangement with BOAC airlines, Lily Brett and Colin Beard were flown to London and the USA. They spent four months in the United Kingdom from January 1967 touring with Normie Rowe, The Troggs, The Who, The Small Faces, The Easybeats and others. In America they covered the New York scene and attended the Monterey Pop Festival from the 16th to 19th June 1967. In Los Angeles they covered intimate stories and fashion spreads with Sonny and Cher, The Mamas & the Papas and recording sessions with The Byrds.
The first full colour centre spread was a photograph of Jimi Hendrix taken at The Monterey Pop Festival.
In Lily Brett's absence, Molly Meldrum became the principal local feature writer while Vera Kaas-Jager covered the local photography.
Go-Set soon became the indispensable chronicle of the local scene. It featured the Australian and international charts, gig listings and record reviews.
Over its nine year history there were many significant contributors as well as the previously mentioned personnel. They include David Elfick, Ian (Molly) Meldrum, Damien Broderick, Vince Lovegrove, Ed Nimmervoll, Stan Rofe, Dennis Charter, Wendy Saddington, Michelle O'Driscoll, Cleo Calvo (now singer, Clelia Adams), Doug Panther, Erril Bilson, Philip Morris (photographer), Ian McCausland (graphics), Prue Acton (fashion, early 1966), and Pat Wilson who wrote under the pen-name of "Mummy Cool" (1971-72).
Frazer also published other counter-culture magazines, namely "High Times", Revolution and The Digger. He launched the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine first as a 1969 supplement in Go-Set, then a fully-fledged magazine in 1972.
Ian Meldrum wrote a weekly column for Go-Set until its demise in 1974. His writing style represented his own stream of consciousness and came across in the same "bumbling" manner which was to later be a hallmark of his public persona on Countdown. His nickname "Molly" was first published and given to him in Go-Set in 1968 by fellow columnist and DJ Stan Rofe. Both Meldrum and Rofe's columns contained many camp "in jokes".
Go-Set reached its peak in circulation figures around 1971. Frazer left as editor in 1972 with Ed Nimmervoll taking over until late 1973. In early 1974, Go-Set was sold to Sungravure Ltd and production moved to Sydney. Staff numbers gradually reduced after the departure of Frazer as editor and overseas content bought in from the UK & US increased during 1973 and 1974.
Nimmervoll later went on to found Juke magazine and Meldrum went on to become an integral part of the ABC TV series Countdown, which began broadcasting nationally in late 1974. Frazer has since edited, designed and managed political magazines in America, and is currently publisher and co-editor of The Hightower Lowdown, a progressive populist newsletter in the US.
[edit] Go-Set Australian National Charts
Go-Set national charts began publication on 5 October 1966 and were compiled by Ed Nimmervoll[2]. Although Go-Set began publication on 2 February 1966, individual state charts were published weekly before October. In effect, Go-Set's chart was the first Australian national chart published. The magazine began publishing Australia's first national weekly album chart on 23 May 1970 [3].
In May 1974, the first Kent Music Report was published, which became Australia's official national charts. The Kent Music Report appeared just before the last Go-Set charts were published on 24 August 1974. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ Kent, David M. (2000). "Go-Set: Life and Death of an Australian Pop Magazine". Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ Go-Set Australian charts - 5 October 1966
- ^ Go-Set Australian charts - 23 May 1970
- ^ Go-Set Australian charts - 24 August 1974
[edit] External links
- Go-Set Magazine Australian Top 40 Charts 1966-1974
- Milesago articles about Go-Set and Frazer's other publications
- David M Kent's article on Go-Set magazine
- Jeffery Turnbull's article: MELBOURNE MUSIC IN PRINT – Go-Set Magazine, from forthcoming book "THE WHOLE FRUGGIN’ SCENE, MELBOURNE AND THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL REVOLUTION – 1964 TO 1976"
- Go-Set Magazine's articles on Cat Stevens in August 1972
- Colin Beard photographs
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