Premieres Monday, January 19 at 8.45pm on ABC
To celebrate triple J’s 40th birthday, we take a look back at the irreverent cultural icon which has tapped into the hearts and minds of Australia’s youth culture.
The story of triple j is the story of a recalcitrant Australian teenager growing up, adapting to, and impacting upon a very different world to the one in which it was born. From the station’s anarchic beginnings in 1975 as Sydney’s alternative radio station, Double J, to its restructuring and controversial rebranding as it went national as triple j in the 90s, to its role in unearthing new talent and staging major music events for the nation’s youth.
We also look back at the station’s first female DJs Gayle Austin and Keri Phillips; the controversial radio documentary Ins and Outs of Love; at Fuck the Police – the song that shut down the station due to its explicit lyrics and themes; Jen Oldershaw’s disastrous interview with Nirvana; and the debate about triple j’s playlist as the station continues to field criticism for what it plays and what it doesn’t.
This tale of triple j is told by a stellar line-up of the larger-than-life characters – DJs, managers, producers, comedy duos, and music stars from the 70s to now. We hear behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Roy & HG, Jono & Dano, Gotye, Missy Higgins, Daniel Johns, Wil Anderson, Adam Spencer, Myf Warhurst, Hilltop Hoods, Peter Garrett, Mikey Robins, Helen Razer plus many more, who share their stories of what it was like to work at this iconic station.
With a pumping soundtrack evoking the mood of each decade, Sounds Like Teen Spirit explores how one small radio station became the finger on the pulse of a burgeoning Australian youth culture and revolutionalised the cultural landscape for a new generation.
Production details: An ABC TV production. Producer: Rebecca Baillie; Commissioning Editor: Mandy Chang.
