I nterviews - A nother Article Worth Reading.
Like many FOH engineers, Mark McElligott was a musician first until he saw the light and the employment prospects.
A native of Townsville, Mark managed to get himself into Brisbane after lying about his abilities as an engineer to a covers band that needed an urgent replacement.
Apparently there was enough native talent that he pulled off the gig without the band noticing - and thus started a career in studio and live engineering.
Mark comes from the days when Brisbane had a vibrant live scene, and the bands used to occupy what is affectionately remembered as "The Target Building" - a disused Target store in Fortitude Valley that was taken over for a number of years in the eighties by Brisbane's up and coming bands. This was a period of excitement for Mark, as he worked on numerous projects and bands in his studio. This was the environment that fostered Powderfinger themselves.
http://www.johnstonaudioservices.com/news/200401_powderfinger.shtml