Mic drop: John Laws bids farewell after 71 years on air

Sipping a bourbon and Coke in his studio after his last show in 71 years, surrounded by media, cameras and wellwishers, radio veteran John ‘Golden Tonsils’ admitted he’ll miss the attention.

“Golden Tonsils” John Laws has signed off the airwaves for the last time in 71 years.

The veteran broadcaster said it was “hard to comprehend” the outpouring of love and support as he bid listeners farewell.

“I really will miss you,’ he said.

“And I will miss all of the memories that have gone before me in all of these years, it has been a long time.

“I have no reason to complain. It is obviously sad to say goodbye, and I am obviously sad to have to say goodbye.”

Last day on air … Laws at 2SM radio at Pyrmont. Picture: Richard Dobson

Laws closed the show by playing Roger Miller’s ‘Less Of Me’, as he has done every day for years.

Afterwards, with some of his children and colleagues in the studio, he sipped a bourbon and Coke as he reflected on his final show.

“I feel a bit sad but I feel okay,” he said.

“It will probably catch up with me in the next day or two but I’ve got no right to complain at all, I’ve had a terrific life and I’ve had a terrific career and I’ve got a terrific family. So I am okay but it is the end.”

It is most definitely the end of an era of radio in Australia. Many have said there will be no other John Laws.

“That is very kind, but I don’t know whether you need another John Laws do you?” he said.

‘PAIN IN THE ARSE SOMETIMES’

“He could be a dreadful pain in the arse sometimes. so maybe life will be easier for people if they haven’t got a John Laws in their life to complicate issues.”

Laws’ studio was packed with television cameras and photographers as he said it was too soon to consider what he will miss.

“Thank you all for coming in, you make me feel very important and I am not,” he smiled cheekily.

“I will miss that, I will miss the attention because I am very much a spoilt child and I like a bit of attention so maybe we could organise to … once a month maybe send a bunch of people in just to talk to me, can we do that?”

Prime time … Laws in his hey day.

FOND FAREWELLS

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton were among those to bid farewell during Laws’ final show on Friday morning.

Mostly though, the veteran talkback radio host kept it about his fans in his final broadcast from 2SM studios in Pyrmont, after more than seven decades of broadcasting.

“You have continued to grace us with your extraordinary capacity to talk with and listen to Australians,” Mr Albanese told Laws.

“I look forward to catching up for another lunch. It would be good. You are great company face-to-face, as well as the way you’ve connected with generations of Australians. So you won’t be replaced.

“You will be, I think, forever regarded as Australia’s greatest broadcaster.

It’s a remarkable career that you’ve had. I think the way that you connect with people, your sense of humour. When you hear that voice, It’s a voice that is trusted and that is remarkable.

“Well John, you deserve every accolade.”

Laws, 89, told his listeners first as he announced news of his retirement last month.

“Why now? I am buggered if I know actually,” Laws said on the day.

“I haven’t got any plans other than I want to travel more. I love travel, I love seeing how people live in other parts of the world — and not necessarily the rich parts. I like to see how people live, generally. I just love that feeling of getting away.”

Laws with Ray Hadley in 1989.

The radio legend broadcast his final show

after an amazing 71 years on the airwaves.

Laws scored his first on-air gig in 1953 at Bendigo station, 3BO. Four years later, he joined metro broadcaster 2UE.

There, he became one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll music, and rose to become one of the country’s most powerful talkback radio hosts – and one of Australia’s highest-paid radio personalities.

He stepped away from radio for four years from 2007, before returning to his job at 2SM and the Super Radio Network.