John Law, the veteran Australian talk radio host known as the “Golden Tonsil” for his trademark voice, has died at 90.
Laws, whose career spanned more than 70 years, was – at his peak – one of the highest paid radio commercials. His resume includes interviewing 17 Australian prime ministers and countless offers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Laws as an “iconic voice” while actor and former neighbor Russell Crowe said he was a “bad mate”.
In the 1990s, he – along with rival Alan Jones – was found to have broken commercial radio rules in a “cash-for-comment” scandal for not disclosing significant payments for on-air endorsements.
In a statement on Sunday, the ‘Laws’ in-laws said their “beloved father/grandfather/uncle” died peacefully at his home in Sydney earlier in the day.
“While fame and prominence became a staple in his life, for us he always had a reason, away from the microphone, cameras,” said the headlines.
Wildly successful but also polarizing, Laws retired last November after various studios at Sydney radio stations including 2ue and 2GB before his final 13-year run on 2sm. His shows were swept across Australia with a loyal following, especially in the highlands of New South Wales.
At the height of this career, he had two million listeners who were hooked on his morning radio press, according to the Associated Press of Australia, which he opened with his signature sentiment, “Hello World”.
In 2003, to mark his five decades as a radio host, his boss at the time 2ue gave him a gold microphone, which was stolen years ago.
Among the tributes to Laws was former Australian Minister John Howard who described him as “a commanding presence on Sydney and National Radio”.
Russell crow, who lived next to the laws for more than two decades, the said laws “worked hard, to be better, to the best, to the best, to the best, to the best, to the best, better than the word. I love him and I will not forget him”.
But his career has also been marked by many controversies including the questioning of a female child sex abuse victim if she is to blame.
In 2000, Laws was also found guilty of contempt of court for interviewing a hustler after an attempted murder and was given a suspended prison sentence.
A few years ago, the laws and another observer of the radio station 2ue were found to have broken the laws of homosexual explosion for discussing a young couple using derogatory language.
And in 2021, the laws also broke the regulations of the industry by calling a listener to a listener “lack of thought” and asking them to “say something that strengthens yourself”.
Born in Papua New Guinea in 1935, Laws and his family moved to Australia during World War II. He grew up in Sydney and began his radio career in regional Victoria in 1953 at the age of 18.
His career comes at a time when new broadcasting laws allow telephone calls to be made, with many words he continues to pioneer in how radio works.
For decades, he led the medium, with his influence that prime ministers and politicians, especially in elections, to get their Party messages to the wider public.
The former Prime Minister of Australia Paul Keating once said that laws that are able to reach the masses are important for any politician, you can prove Australia”.
The laws also changed the television – hosting hosts as well as a talk on Paanellist – and the Silver Screen, which was carried in the 1970 film Ned Kelly directed Mick Jaging.
During his career, the laws encountered in the Australian Media Hall of Fame and he received the order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to broadcasting and charity. The award was later upgraded to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, said Jones’ family had been offered a state funeral.