In the early 1980’s, Jono was working as a reporter on “Simon Townsend’s Wonder World” and had been doing a few bits and pieces on ABC Radio with Clive Robertson and Graham Bond when 2JJ asked Jono to do a Jonathan Coleman show on a Saturday night. That panel operator turned out to be Ian ‘Dano’ Rogerson. He wasn’t supposed to talk or be on the radio, but after one, then two, then three links late
r - it was a double act, which quickly morphed into ‘Jono & Dano’. This Saturday night show on 2JJ from 9pm till midnight became very popular very quickly which led to a more high profile timeslot… and a new name. Enter “Off the Record with Jono & Dano” from 2pm till 6pm on Sundays. This would eventually lead to Jono & Dano doing breakfast on Triple J, before the move to commercial radio and breakfast at 2SM and ultimately their own night show (6pm to 10pm) on Sydney’s Triple M in 1984. At the time, Jono & Dano were the highest rating Sydney night-time show, with 30%+ of the audience. Jono & Dano left Triple M to concentrate on TV, with “Late Night with Jono & Dano” on the Seven Network, “Have A Go” (also on the Seven Network) and the very successful “Saturday Morning Live”, which replaced “Sounds”. Sadly when the then Federal Government outlawed tax-free lunches, the boys went their separate ways to pursue individual projects. Jono & Dano have worked on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows through mcm media, including Cover To Cover ’88, Planet Rock, Rocksat, My Generation and The Jonathan Coleman Experience. In 2009, the story continues…so watch out Australia - your favourite band is back together.
