Shire radio announcer Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones has celebrated turning 50 with the release of his first official memoir Fifty Shades of 50.
Written in the same quirky and irreverent style listeners know and love from his #1 Breakfast Show WSFM Jonesy and Amanda, this autobiography is the ‘secret diary’ every fan has been waiting for.
Readers learn all about the life and times of ‘Jonesy’ – from a suburban Sydney boy to becoming one of Australia’s most loved radio broadcasters.
His co-host Amanda Keller says, with Jonesy, what you see is what you get and the book is a unique insight into what makes him tick.
‘‘He’s a rare beast in the media,” Keller said.
“Where many are inner city elites pretending to be the everyman, Jonesy is the real deal.”
Jonesy was born in 1968 in Sutherland Hospital.
He went to a few schools, including “a poncy boarding one” and through the book fans get a sneak peek at Jonesy’s awkward ‘firsts.’
From underage beers and odd jobs, to full-on tongue kisses and porn magazine mix ups – all his growing pains and personal childhood memories are here.
When Jonesy gave up on art school after a couple of years a rich trail of jobs followed: sign-maker, outboard motor wrecker, truck driver, sewer worker, panel beater, kitchen hand and club DJ.
In between jobs, community radio beckoned with 2BCR Bankstown for six months. His big radio break came in 1990 with a night job at 6KA Karratha.
His memoir takes fans back to his early radio days as ‘BJ the DJ’ at 6KA, all the way to 2NM in Muswellbrook, i98FM in Wollongong and eventually to Triple M Brisbane where Jonesy worked alongside radio rival Kyle Sandilands.
While Jonesy’s style has always pushed boundaries, other ‘inside’ stories from the studio over the years are revealed, like a prank that lands Sandilands a girlfriend, an on-air call that goes wrong with Jimmy Barnes as well as his involvement in the controversial IVF rumour segment about Keller.
Jonesy talks about those unforgettable moments on the radio waves, including an impromptu interview with Sting, indulging in Guinness and Irish whiskey with U2 in Dublin, as well as late night calls and escapades with the late Angels front man and close friend Doc Neeson.
Beyond radio, Jonesy also shares his ventures in television, like performing on Dancing with the Stars, as well as how he turned down a co-host offer with Lisa Wilkinson on Chanel 7’s The Morning Shift and how he lost the role as host of The Bachelor to Osher (Andrew G).
Fast forward to recent years, Jonesy talks about fulfilling his childhood dream of working for Triple M Sydney.
He also opens up about WSFM’s hot pursuit of having him join the station, making the life changing career move to their breakfast show, as well as how he got Amanda Keller to eventually join the ARN team – and the rest is history.
Even with the highs and the lows, Jonesy’s story is a “feel good” one at heart.
Humorous and endearing, the twist and turns of this very reliable memoir reveal many more loveable chapters in his life including stories about his childhood friends and family, the fateful love story between he and his now wife Helen, the joys of parenthood, well as his passion for motorcycles and pursuit of happiness beyond the microphone.
Jonesy will hold book signings for fans at Harry Hartog’s Westfield Miranda on Saturday, November 25 at 10am and Berkeloews Cronulla on Saturday, December 2 at 10am.
- Fifty Shades of 50 is published by New Holland Publishers RRP: $32.99.
