Calls to name St Kilda lane after late guitar great Spencer P Jones

A music promoter is leading the push to have an unmarked lane in St Kilda named in honour of a late industry great who he says “left a long and influential trail” for other musicians to follow.

Nick Haines wants this alley off Fitzroy St to be officially named Spencer P Jones Lane. Picture: Hamish Blair

A bid to have an unmarked St Kilda laneway named in honour of a “giant talent” of the Australian music scene is gathering pace.

Music promoter Nick Haines has launched a campaign to have the small alley between Fitzroy and Jackson streets dubbed Spencer P Jones Lane, in memory of the guitar great who died from liver cancer in August last year.

Haines’ “SPJ All The Way” petition has already garnered more than 330 signatures.

Haines said Jones — who played with The Johnnys, Beasts of Bourbon and Paul Kelly — and St Kilda’s live music scene were “inextricably linked”.

Spencer P Jones playing at Cherry Bar in 2014. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“Spencer played at all the famous St Kilda venues at one time or another, from the now sadly gone — and desperately missed — Crystal Ballroom, Venue and The Palace to the still going strong Prince of Wales and The Espy,” Haines said.

“Spencer’s contribution to the music scene can’t really be measured. He had fans from the biggest names in the business to people just getting started.

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“Melbourne is recognised globally as one of the great music cities in the world and people like Spencer are the reason behind this, and to honour them in this way is the very least we can do.

“He was a giant talent as an artist has left a long and influential trail and his reputation deserves recognition, celebration and honour.”

Beasts of Bourbon members Brian Hooper, Tex Perkins, Spencer P. Jones, Tony Ploor and Charlie Owen.

Haines said Jones’ impact was so far-reaching that many of Australia’s biggest names in music — including Ross Wilson, Kelly and Renee Geyer — came together to play a gig at the Prince of Wales in 2016 to raise money for his medical bills.

And, in April last year, Jones joined Beasts of Bourbon on stage at the Prince of Wales in what would be his final gig. It was the last time bandmate Brian Hooper would play before his death from lung cancer days later.

Haines’ dogged campaigning for greater recognition for the city’s music greats led to another previously unnamed St Kilda laneway being dubbed Rowland S Howard Lane in 2015.

The petition will be handed to the council next month.