Behind Dark Eyes

With special guest:

• Jeff Apter
  … in conversation with Bill Kable

Everyone remembers Jon English with those raccoon eyes and tall thin frame contributing to a very distinctive appearance.

Jon English had regular appearances in so many different forms of entertainment. He was a rock singer, a star of live musicals, a romantic star of acclaimed television series, and at all times a rascal. In between those activities he wrote sensitive music and became an entrepreneur.

But there was a lot more to his fascinating story as revealed by our guest today. Jeff Apter wrote Behind Dark Eyes: The True Story of Jon English. It is the subtitle of the book which gives a clue that all was not sunshine and roses for Jon English.

Jon had what could be described as a major folly in that he was fixated on bringing to the stage a major musical called Paris as in the historical figure involved with Helen of Troy. Never good with money Jon sank much of the personal fortune he had accrued from his showbiz exploits over more than 40 years into this production. To be staged as Jon had envisaged the show required millions of dollars investment and although Jon had support from big name stars it never quite made it.

We hear about the problems that sometimes engulf creative people who spend a long time on the road. Through it all Jon’s inborn sense of humour and fun shines through even as he approached his untimely end. This book is written with the full blessing of the English family who gave our guest Jeff Apter unfettered access to all the good and the bad stories.

Even if you were not in that audience for Superstar in 1972, even if you missed the Pirates of Penzance and perhaps even the television series which included Jon’s magical song Six Ribbons you will love to hear the true life story of Jon English as told by Jeff Apter in today’s show.

Jeff Apter

Jeff Apter is the author of more than 20 bestselling music biographies. His subjects have included Johnny O’Keefe, Keith Urban, Daniel Johns, the Bee Gees, and the three Young brothers — Angus and Malcolm (of AC/DC) and George (of Easybeats renown). As a ghostwriter, he has worked with Kasey Chambers, Mark Evans (of AC/DC) and Richard Clapton. Jeff was has written regularly about music for Vogue, GQ, The Bulletin, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian

Song selection by our guest: Glass Houses by Jon English

Note: This program is an encore presentation of the one aired on 29 April 2021.

Podcast (mp3)