Jane Gazzo

Career

Gazzo graduated from La Trobe University in Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Cinema.

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.

She later became a national celebrity in her native Australia as a result of her national radio and TV shows, including Triple J radio's Super Request and Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV's cult, 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.

In 1998, Jane recorded with Australian band Underground Lovers, under the Japanese pseudonym "Mitsuame"; covering Can's 1976 song "I Want More" (from their album, Flow Motion)

Move to England in 1999

Jane relocated to London, England in 1999 with a box of specially selected records, sharing a flat with The Prodigy founding member and former dancer Sharky.

In London, she originally worked numerous jobs. Representative of these were a summer at the Rough Trade record shop, promotions at Virgin Records and a DJ at Alan McGee's Death Disco.

In 2000 she became a presenter on the London radio station, XFM (Weekend Breakfast). Her time there also included a three-week stint producing Russell Brand on-air before he was sacked by the station for bringing in a homeless man. She later joined its parent station Capital FM, presenting the Capital Top 30 Album Chart Show and The Rock Show.

Jane made her UK Television debut in 2001 presenting an eight-part music series called "Play Loud" on BBC TV, Channel "Play UK".

In 2001 she also briefly worked for Courtney Love, sharing a London house with the former Hole lead singer.

Jane has done reporting from important music festivals and award shows in the United Kingdom and Australia, including Glastonbury Music Festival, Reading Music Festival, the BRIT Awards, The Metal Hammer Awards, The NME awards and the Mercury Music Awards, and in 2004 she was invited to be a judge at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.

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.

She joined BBC Radio 6 Music in 2002, and presented Jane Gazzo's Dream Ticket from June 2004 to September 2005. In addition, Jane presented other varied BBC Radio 6 Music shows and specials.

In a 23 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:

In December 2005, she returned to the airwaves on BBC Radio 6 Music, presenting the mid-morning show during the holidays as well as joining BBC Radio 6 Music's "Music Week" show, previewing gigs and music events around the UK as well as presenting other specialist music shows.

In 2006 Jane 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").

In January 2007 she joined Rockworld TV, presenting and interviewing various artists.

Jane DJ'd at various festivals and venues around the UK including All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Camber Sands as well as Death Disco, Camden Lock, Keston Lodge, Latitude Festival and Defectors Weld venues in London.

Return to Australia in 2007

In May 2007 Jane returned to Australia to join Foxtel music Channel V as daily presenter and VJ. She co-hosted the 'whatUwant' daily request show, as well as artist and festival specials. Her first major broadcast for Channel [V] was presenting the network's Live Earth coverage from Sydney Football Stadium on 7 July 2007. She has also presented from the Homebake festival, Splendour in the Grass, the ARIA Awards red carpet, Sound Relief and the Big Day Out.

She was voted No. 24 Sexiest Woman in the World by Australian FHM Magazine in June 2009.

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. She also hosted the daily music news programme "WTF" three times a week.

On 16 June 2012, Gazzo moved to Max, a 24-hour music platform on Foxtel as a full-time host and VJ, presenting countdowns and interviews.

In February 2015, Jane was appointed morning presenter on Triple M in Melbourne.

Her first book, a biography of Australian singer John Farnham, John Farnham: The Untold Story, was released in February 2015 through Random House.

Personal life

Gazzo was born and raised in Melbourne and is the daughter of a Melbourne clothes designer.

She is related to the late American actor, Michael V. Gazzo.

Awards

In June 2011 and 2012 Gazzo was nominated for Favourite Female Television Personality at the 9th & 10th Annual Astra Awards.

Interviews

In her career, Jane has interviewed an array of musical stars including Mark Ronson, Kim Wilde, Jessie J, Rick Springfield, Lionel Richie, David Guetta, The Chemical Brothers, Lily Allen, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Strokes, Elton John, Noel Gallagher, Marilyn Manson, Silverchair, Nick Cave, Arctic Monkeys, The Vines, The Presets, Molly Meldrum, Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day, Good Charlotte, Lady Gaga, Delta Goodrem, Casidhe Brown (Gippsland unearthed http://casidhe.com) and Bryan Adams.

Selected books