A ROCK music icon who produced blockbuster tours for AC/DC and Dire Straits has died at the age of 82.
Garry Van Egmond died on Saturday after surgery complications, his entertainment company, TEG, said.
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The Australian music industry legend, from Melbourne, put together some of the world’s biggest tours – including for AC/DC.
His shows sold more than 35 million tickets.
TEG Group CEO Geoff Jones said Van Egmond was “not only a highly valued colleague but a thoroughly decent person, and a resounding talent with the highest integrity”.
“His legacy will stand the test of time,” he said.
His company hailed him a “respected music industry stalwart” in a touching tribute.
Van Egmond spent almost 50 years in touring, theatre production, event merchandising, marketing, and promotion across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Van Egmond organised four of the biggest concert tours of Australia – Dire Straits in 1986, Jesus Christ Superstar in 1992, Riverdance in 1997 and AC/DC in 2010.
His Dire Straits tour made the Guinness Book of Records after selling 250,000 seats in Sydney alone.
It held the record for more than 30 years until Ed Sheeran’s 2018 tour pushed past one million ticket sales.
The music industry icon was also behind AC/DC’s Black Ice Tour in 2010 – which became the fastest-selling concert in Australian history.
It sold 520,000 tickets in under three hours – with the concert going on to sell more than 760,000 tickets in Australia and New Zealand.
On the day the tickets went on sale, he told Billboard: “It’s been an amazing reaction. I’m quite amazed and absolutely stunned.”
Van Egmond’s son, Christo Van Egmond, called his father a “true gentleman in the business”.
He said he was “highly regarded and respected by artists, managers, agents and everyone he worked with”.
“He was a superb mentor to me and I have enjoyed working with him for nearly 30 years,” he said.
“Over that time we have presented some amazing events in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
“He was a fantastic father and friend to me and will be missed dearly.”
Garry also had a daughter, Katie, and grandchildren Hugo and Saskia.
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