# Mad Mel

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**Mad Mel** (born c.1945 as **Mel Potts**, later changed to **Mel Happy**) is a Canadian-born Australian former disc jockey. He was part of the Good Guys team at radio station [2SM](/source/2SM) in Sydney.

## Career

In the early 1960s, Mel and his friend Rob McAdams started a local radio station (KITN) in [Victoria, British Columbia](/source/Victoria,_British_Columbia). They bought air time from [KONP](/source/KONP) in [Port Angeles, Washington](/source/Port_Angeles,_Washington) and broadcast via a telephone line from a local Victoria store from 4 pm to 8 pm on Monday to Friday, selling advertising to local merchants.[1]

In 1963 Sydney radio station 2SM was relaunched as a Top 40 station featuring Australia's first team of disc jockeys, known as "The Good Guys".[2] Mel was recruited to present the 10 pm to midnight slot. He portrayed a zany character with alter-egos like "Granny Scoopshovel"; the opening soundtrack had him released from a cage to start the program.[3] When [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) toured Australia in 1964, Mel asked his listeners to contribute to a Beatles gift of a woollen scarf. Over 11,000 pieces were received from as far as [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania) and [Fiji](/source/Fiji). Schoolgirls joined the pieces together in the 2SM foyer, the resulting scarf being over 10 metres long. To present the scarf, Mel hid at the Sheraton Hotel and surprised [Paul McCartney](/source/Paul_McCartney) in the corridor whereupon Mel was invited into The Beatles sanctum.[4] The scarf was too big for The Beatles to take back to England so Mel kept it. It has been valued at up to $10,000.[5] The scarf was put up for auction through [Christie's](/source/Christie's) in 2009.[6]

Mel subsequently befriended members of The Beatles and recorded banter with them for broadcast on his program.[7]

In 1965 Mel moved to [CFUN](/source/CFTE) in Vancouver,[8] presenting from 6 pm to 9 pm Monday to Friday, and 4 pm to 9 pm on Saturday.[9] Coincidentally, CFUN was also using the Good Guys format at that time, although Mel was known as the "Bad Guy".[10]

In 1969, 2SM program manager Rod Muir relaunched the Good Guys format and brought Mad Mel back to the station.[2] Mel promoted a number of events including the Mad Mel Big Stir, a concert under the [Sydney Harbour Bridge](/source/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge) featuring [Tamam Shud](/source/Tamam_Shud) and other bands.[11][12][13]

Mad Mel attempted a comeback in the 1980s on [2WS](/source/2WS) with additional material written by [Vic Davies](/source/Vic_Davies).[14]

It is believed that Mad Mel still lives in Sydney.

## References

1. Bennest, Jack (4 June 2006). ["Early Victoria Radio"](http://www.radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=65&start=18). *radiowest.ca*. Retrieved 16 July 2010.

1. ["2SM"](http://www.milesago.com/radio/2sm.htm). *milesago.com*. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Mad Mel Intro"](http://www.vancouvertop40radio.com/Images/Audio/CFUN/1965/mad_mel_intro_long.mp3). *vancouvertop40radio.com*. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. Baker, Glenn A. & Dilernia, Roger (1982). *The Beatles Down Under*. Wild & Woolley. ISBN 0-909331-44-8.

1. Cockington, James (23 May 2007). ["Blasts from the past"](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/investment/blasts-from-the-past/2007/05/21/1179601326907.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2). *Brisbane Times*. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Lot 120: The Beatles"](http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/the-beatles-1-c-340cdca327). *invaluable.com*. 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Mad Mel & Paul McCartney"](http://www.vancouvertop40radio.com/Images/Audio/CFUN/1965/Mad%20Mel_1.mp3). *vancouvertop40radio.com*. 1964. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. Robinson, Red (14 August 2009). ["The Beatles And Mad Mel, 1964"](http://redrobinson.com/blog/?p=164). *redrobinson.com*. Retrieved 16 July 2010.

1. ["CFUN Gallery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060912030825/http://www3.telus.net/vanradiomuseum/CFUNGallery.html). *Vancouver Radio Museum*. Archived from [the original](http://www3.telus.net/vanradiomuseum/CFUNGallery.html) on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2010.

1. ["Welcome to Mad Mel's Cage"](http://www.vancouvertop40radio.com/Station%20Selection/CFUN/1965/c-fun1965.htm#MadMel). *vancouvertop40radio.com*. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Mad Mel Giant Stir"](http://www.theoriginaltamamshud.com/images/madmel1l.jpg). *theoriginaltamamshud.com*. 1969. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Stir"](http://www.theoriginaltamamshud.com/images/madpart2l.jpg). *theoriginaltamamshud.com*. 1969. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Mad Mel's Giant Stir"](http://www.theoriginaltamamshud.com/images/madpart1l.jpg). *theoriginaltamamshud.com*. 1969. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

1. ["Farewell Vic"](http://www.copycentral.com.au/blog/index_files/580fe20e58336c9d68112d053d61aa12-21.php). *copycentral.com.au*. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mad Mel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Mel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Mel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.