Melbourne artist Jon Campbell has been collecting band setlists since the early 1980’s. (The first one being a Sunnyboys list, circa 1981). He was initially drawn to the hand lettering and the fact that each setlist represented a particular gig and moment in history, also how in the face of technology the handwritten list has remained and is the same process for Neil Young as it is for your local indi rockers.
Since 1998 Jon has been re-working the setlists into a series of works on paper and paintings, keeping the original hand lettering but changing colours and mediums. Adding value to the original lists. As Jon describes it ‘ In a way the setlists help to document a small but important aspect of rock’n’roll culture of which I am a participant and fan’. Some of the original band setlists, including, The Go-Betweens, Pikelet, Jeffrey Lewis, Tri-State Lovers and The King Jerklews (Jon’s band from the mid 1980’s and his handwriting) have been reproduced in a 64page book. Also reproduced are re-worked lists by, The Sacred Cowboys, Neil Young, Ed Keupper, Always and Architecture in Helsinki to name a few.
