Family and friends pay tribute to Australian music industry legend Mick Mazzone after he lost his battle with cancer

Family and friends were asked to wear their favourite band or concert merchandise to pay tribute to a music industry stalwart who worked with acts including Bon Jovi and Madonna.

Friends and family wore band shirts to farewell an Adelaide-born Australian music industry icon in an emotional funeral service on Monday.

Hundreds gathered at the National Wine Centre to remember music manager, promoter and sound engineer Dominic “Mick” Mazzone.

It came after his family released a statement that Mr Mazzone, 64, was surrounded by loved ones before passing away on April 16 following a battle with cancer.

He worked with some of the biggest acts in music including Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Madonna.

At the service, mourners were seen wearing band shirts featuring groups such as the Rolling Stones, Cold Chisel and Nirvana in Mr Mazzone’s memory.

The funeral was officiated by veteran artist manager and event producer Peter Rix.

“He loved his family, he loved his friends, colleagues and no one that I’m aware of ever had a harsh word to say about him,” Mr Rix said.

“People like Mick Mazzone do not come along very often and we have all been privileged to know him.”

His son Frank described Mr Mazzone as “an ever present father” for himself and his siblings Antonia and Alex.

“Dad was immensely appreciative of the life he got to live,” he said.

But during his illness, Mr Mazzone “downplayed this sort of stuff”.

“How he handled devastating news was how he handled most of his life,” Frank said.

“He had an epic stoicism in the face of this extremely dire threat.”

The life of Australian music icon Mick Mazzone was celebrated at his funeral at the National Wine Centre after he passed away last week battling cancer. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Antonia, who performed Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls at the ceremony, said “dad was always there for his family”.

“He taught us to never shy away from who we are and to just be ourselves without caring what other people think,” she said.

Alex described Mr Mazzone as “the most awesome and present dad”.

Dave Faulkner of the Hoodoo Gurus, which Mr Mazzone had managed, broke down into tears during an emotional send off.

“He’s going to be a very hard act to follow and the rest of our lives will be a hard act to follow not having him in it,” Mr Faulkner said.

Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss said simply “rest in peace mate” at the end of a performance of the group’s hit song Georgia.

Mr Mazzone received an Order of Australia in 2018 for service to both the music industry and the community.

He was also known for his charitable work as a trustee of the Golden Stave foundation, which has raised more than $15m for children’s causes through harnessing the power of both the music and entertainment industry.

The industry stalwart, who grew up in Torrensville, played in various bands around Adelaide before moving to Sydney in 1982.

During his time there, he was an audio engineer and tour manager for bands such as Don McLean, Midnight Oil, Madness and Sunnyboys.

In 1989 he established Mighty Management.

He would later establish a record label, M Records.

Originally published as Family and friends pay tribute to Australian music industry legend Mick Mazzone after he lost his battle with cancer