How many Kiwi musicians can we name who have had a lane or a street in Australia named after them ……….? None that I can think of. On Friday online music mag Noise11 announced that the councillors at City of Port Phillip unanimously approved the naming of a laneway after Spencer.

He came to Australia from Te Awamutu in 1977 so for the purposes of the NZ musicians book I am researching & writing his arrival is too late for inclusion but news like this is something I believe needs to be dispersed.

In Australia he had a long stint playing guitar for Paul Kelly but he is best known for his time in the Johnnys and the time he spent in Beasts of Bourbon (with Tex Perkins out front). Spencer also established a solo career as a singer-songwriter and released a number of high quality albums. He died in August 2018.

Now will the State Government approve the next step in the lane-naming process and make Spencer P. Jones Lane a reality?