A giant Tōtara has fallen.
Phantom Billstickers is deeply saddened to share the news that the business’s founder Jim Wilson has passed away.
He gave the Dance Exponents their first real run, plastered Split Enz across walls before they were household names, booked The Clean, The Verlaines, The Androids, and made sure theunderdogs got stage time. He turned The Gladstone in Christchurch into a crucible of Kiwi sound, a beer-soaked temple of energy.

Long before there were charts or funding bodies or curated playlists, Jim was there, building scenes from sweat and soundchecks. No budgets. No bullshit. Just belief.
He didn’t just love music, he championed it. Promoted it. Pasted it to every surface until it became part of the landscape. He saw posters as instruments. Tools of rebellion. Invitations to something electric.

He believed in noise. In poetry. In the power of art in the streets to change your day, or your life. Raise a toast. Piss off a council. Stick something loud to a quiet wall.
That’s how we say goodbye.
Rest easy, the music is still playing.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Kelly, his step-children Tessa and Andrew, and his grandchildren, Isaiah and Jaya.
We’ve created a space where Jim’s writing and legacy can live on. If you knew him and have a story or photos to share, we’d love to see them.
www.jfwilson.co.nz