Jock Bain has passed away

I’ve heard the sad news from a few industry folks over the past few days that Robert “Jock” Bain had passed away. Tony Wilde has written a short piece in tribute.

“Jock started off working for bands in Melbourne with acts such as The Ferrets in the late 70’s. Thru the 80’s he did many miles with Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons as their monitor engineer and worked on many tours with many bands.

Eventually he headed overseas and worked for many acts touring England and Europe, many of them for the large production company Britannia Row, where he was much respected as a sound engineer and equally well liked as a great bloke.

After many years he started to spend time back in Australia, doing a lot of work for Johnston Audio Services. In 2009 he was Chief System Engineer on the huge “Sound Relief” bushfire benefit concert at the MCG with a record paying crowd of 82,000. To get an idea of the size of this event and Jock’s responsibility, please see:

http://www.johnstonaudioservices.com/news/news2009/sound_relief.html

He was very well read, intelligent and knowledgeable, always up for an interesting chat on a huge range of subjects, which makes it so sad to lose him this way so soon. Those of us who knew him for 30 years will miss him just as much as the younger guys in the biz who valued the time he happily spent teaching them the craft.

He is survived by his mother, sister Ruth and son Harry, who our hearts go out to.

RIP buddy.”

A service will be held at Le Pine Funerals, Carlisle st. St. Kilda, Thursday 21st April 2011 at 10am.
A wake will follow at the Esplanade Hotel St. Kilda.
Update:
Jock’s funeral service will be streamed and can be viewed here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/robert-jock-bain-rip

10 Comments

  1. Tony Wilde on April 20, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Hoots Mon,
    Well, after all these years it’s come to this.
    I’m gonna miss our chats about aviation, politics and girls. (aviation was your specialty, but you’ve still got a bit to learn about the other two I reckon!). I don’t know much about FOH or Monitors, so our interests outside the biz made for interesting convo.
    Only a couple of weeks ago you made me laugh when I made the observation about what a bogan I must have been when we first met in 1980, and you said “you weren’t a bogan, you were a Redneck”.
    You never liked the way I drove a rental car but I’ll admit now I really only drove like that to wind you up, and Rocky was usually egging me on, so I had no choice. And remember when that car knocked off your bike in China that time?…geez we laughed.
    I reckon where you are now will be even more dangerous if Rocky and Pat are cruising together, so look out.
    Adios for now….will see you sooner or later. Make sure the truck is loaded by the time I get there.
    And by the way, Andy Rayson’s Mum reckons you are a very naughty boy, and I tend to agree with her. Grrrrrr…..However, you gotta do what you gotta do. You know you had the support of all of us, and we will bloody miss your smile.
    Tony Wilde

    • Mark Holdom on April 24, 2011 at 8:07 am

      Tony
      Scotty Dot just told me Jock is gone.
      saw your message, thought I’d say hi and pass on my condolences.
      he was a cool guy
      hope you’re well
      ciao, Max

  2. Greg Little on April 27, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    wtf happened there – all of a sudden and out of the blue?

    ‘Tis a sad, sad day indeed for the industry to lose a bloke of Jock’s calibre…

    Jock, though you and I may have had our moments, you never lost my respect, and I’ll see you again on the next in

    R.I.P.

  3. Bear on April 28, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    ’tis a sad day indeed. My thoughts go out to all those who knew him. I worked with him for years before i left the industry. Everytime he came to Queensland on a tour I knew it would be a good one because he was in the crew. I only knew the Jock Bains as he was on tour. There were many more who knew him more personally, but on tour he was always smiling with a cheeky grin on his face. Always ready to lend a hand, he never chastised anyone even though you could see it in his eyes that he was pissed. He was always courteous and just generally a really nice guy. One you don’t normally find in an industry full of ego’s and superficiliality (?). But, shit, he used to arc up when I called him an irishman, which I did just to stir him up from time to time.
    Anyway R.I.P. Jock
    best remembered by one of your mates in QLD

  4. David Holt on April 29, 2011 at 7:50 am

    I and a lot of other blokes went to school with Bob at Haileybury in Melbourne. He’d formed a band even then and used to serenade us with humungous waves of amplified sound coming out of the school gym! He was a top bloke, had a terrific sense of humour–his rendition of “The Jabberwocky” has stayed with me–a Scotsman and a gentleman. RIP Bob. We will remember you with great affection. Our heart-felt condolences to all of family.

    David Holt. Haileybury’ 76.

  5. Tony Taubman on April 29, 2011 at 8:11 am

    Unbearable news.

    A beloved friend from our days together trying to make sense of Form 4 Physics, giving up, and turning to music instead. We explored music together, debating everything from Warren ‘Pig’ Morgan’s piano playing to the virtues of 10CC’s studio technique; he advised me, as a 15 year old, on the Jazz bass copy that my son Harry (also a good friend of Jock’s) now plays, better than I ever could; we stumbled through hilarious teenage bands together; and he gave me some of my finest moments of pure friendship and pure music, as we went different directions in life but remained on the same wavelength. My copy of ‘It’s Only Rock’n’Roll’ now a cherished keepsake.

    Desperately missed.

    “wall riding punks forever” (long forgotten line from obscure teenage band ‘Aggro’)

    • Martin Rowe on May 6, 2011 at 11:10 pm

      Very saddened and shocked to hear of Robert’s passing. Would often wonder how he was, obviously very successful in his chosen direction. Very hard to forget those teenage years together, so much happened……it only seems yesterday.
      Tony Taubman, are you able to put me in touch with his sister Ruth or his mother. Would like to speak with them.

  6. Paul Close on July 18, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    I’ve only just heard about Jock’s passing. A sad day, Jock was always fun to work with. Quite a few happy memories of him on shows at Perth Entertainment Centre, and the occasional phone call whenever I was visiting Sydney and he was there.
    RIP Jock, we’ve lost another good man.

    PC

  7. Pete E on January 22, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    What a gentle man always go for a laugh. taught me well and plenty. Thank You you will…..are missed

  8. Nic Ward on November 5, 2022 at 10:44 am

    Very late to the party, never too late though.
    I heard Jock left us a few years ago. I was thinking of him today so I thought I’d come here and put my 2Cs worth up for viewing.
    I met Jock when I was playing drums in the band the Church in 1980, he was always friendly to me, we were just a support band at that time and it was unusual for a roadie to even acknowledge the support band but me n Jock had some nice moments. We would cross paths out on the gig trail, always great to run into a friendly face.
    A few years later I was back in Canberra playing drums in a little local band and we got a support for Sharon O’Neil, fuck me if Jock wasn’t on the crew, it was great to see him, he was doing foldback and he gave me the best foldback I’d ever known. I never forgot it, to this day I can’t remember if I thanked him, I really hope I did.
    Very sad to hear how he went as well, very sad.

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