Comments on: Wane “Swampy” Jarvis

By: Tone Murphy

Tone Murphy — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:50:05 +0000

Swampy was Thee Mann!!!!! RIP. Big brother.

By: Bear

Bear — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:32:17 +0000

I ended up on this site through a friend on facebook, but coming across the news that Swampy had passed away brings me to add my condolances to his family and friends, albeit a bit late. I had the pleasure of touring with one of the true gentlmen of the industry. My last show was with Van Halen ’98 or ’99. I had earlier heard an old story about a certain tour manager for Max Merritt riding a pushbike through the foyer of a motel and into the pool whilst wearing only jocks and socks and being rather pissed. When relaying the story to Swampy, a big smile exploded onto his face, and he wondered how i found out about it. i never did get round to telling him who it was that told me as that was my last big gig. If you are reading this from up high, Swamp, it was Parrot who told me. RIP big fella
Bear

By: Nick Randall

Nick Randall — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:07:33 +0000

I knew Swampie when I was Production Coordinator for Melbourne’s Tennis Centre back in the late 80′s. My wife and I were talking about Coffs Harbour tonight and I remembered his connection with the place. I was shocked and saddened find this page and to know that he has passed. Wane was the most unassuming and professional tour pro I had the pleasure to work with at that time and I worked with quite a few.

He was always telling me how stressful the touring gig was and how he wanted to quit but that he needed to keep working. I have been out of that aspect of the industry now since 95. Behind all the lights and hype is a bloody hard business and it takes its toll.

Vale

By: Recko

Recko — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:02:11 +0000

G’day lisa, I did work with your brother when Mad Gorilla supported Misex a great lighting guy. But we were only the support band so therefore low on the food chain, I did try and talk to him and watch what he was doing but he was very guarded. I’m very sorry to hear about Jeff it isn’t an easy way to earn a living and has claimed too many of my friends and nearly myself in the late ’90′s.
Gibbo – Thanks for clearing that up it is hard to know who is who sometimes because as you know nearly everyone has a nickname. Most people in the industry wouldn’t know my name is steve. I probably should pull my finger out and get on War Stories & put the story of my nickname on there sorry I’ve been slack. Good to hear Took is still going strong.

By: Lisa Fielding-Smith

Lisa Fielding-Smith — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:29:39 +0000

hi rick… well,… all i can say as i am approaching 40 years of age that i still think of my darling brother every single day and i always knew he was gonna die… even when i was 6 years of age… i just knew he wasnt going to be around … sounds freaky… i hate the feeling i.. i knew it the moment i heard the song “seasons in the sun” i used to cry… i just knew….Jeffrey was my hero… i cant believe you are writing this, you are wonderful.. xx

By: Rick Scutts

Rick Scutts — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:49:52 +0000

Jeff Merryweather was the most talented lighting operator in the history of rock lighting. No one will ever be as good as Jeff was. In the late 70′s there was a band called Mi Sex who were probably better known for their incredible light show than their music…(regardless of the fact they were a great band).
I worked many times with Jeff when I was lighting such bands as “Jimmy and the Boys”, The Hitmen, Sherbs etc…Jeff was a very insecure type and never let the support band lighting guy have many lights to operate regardless of how hard he worked on the set up. I guess he didn’t want to be shown up. He had nothing to worry about there…he was the best. I was saddened by his death when I heard about it, but it didn’t surprise me…its often the ultra sensitive, artistic types mong us who sometimes find life too hard.

Merry Took has also been on the scene since the 70′s and as stated above is not Jeff Merryweather. Merry at one time however was Cold Chisel’s lighting operator.

By: Mark Gibson

Mark Gibson — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:39:59 +0000

Hi Recko, great to hear from you. Merry Took isn’t Jeff Merryweather, they are two seperate people. Merry Took owns & runs Staging Rentals in Sydney. They are a huge company doing really well. I’ve had the pleasure a few times in working for Merry. They were always great gigs.

By: Lisa Fielding-Smith

Lisa Fielding-Smith — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:33:13 +0000

Dont really know my brothers “work ” name… but it does tend to go with Merryweather!!! Jeff comitted suicide in 1983…… u know its probably best that you have been away from the industry.. it only fucks people up…

By: Recko

Recko — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:15:52 +0000

Was your brothers nickname ” Merry Took” ? If so yes i did work with Took ages ago, while Mad Gorrilla was off the road at one stage. Then later in the early nineties. I didn’t know he wasn’t with us either, but I have been away from the industry for some time.

By: lisa fielding-smith

lisa fielding-smith — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:09:32 +0000

he will probably remember Jeff Merryweather then…. shit, now i re-read the comments, did he die???? please let me know… he will be with my brother Jeff