Aussie rocker remembered as 'blinding light that couldn't be ignored'

He died peacefully on May 7 at his home in Iloilo, Philippines after a "short illness", his sister and longtime Play School host Monica Trapaga confirmed.

She said "Iggy had immense creative energy, and spent over 50 years contributing to the arts, both in Australia and internationally".

"His friends and family will remember Iggy as a bon-vivant, a lively raconteur and a real Renaissance man, immensely and passionately knowledgeable in history and the arts."

Friends mourned the "high voltage" rocker, writer and event director with Jimmy Barnes saying he was "not only a shining light, but a blinding light that couldn't be ignored".

"From his days with Jimmy and the Boys to the Olympics and Vivid, he was ahead of his game and ahead of his time," the Cold Chisel singer said.

Barnes recalled a night Cold Chisel spent with Jimmy and the Boys and Mental As Anything at Narrabeen's Royal Antler with a gig poster from the time.

Jones fronted the shock rock band, famous for onstage antics involving sex, violence and S&M, from 1976 to 1982 alongside his collaborator William O'Riordan, known as Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth.

The I'm Not like Everybody Else singer later worked as a director for the Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations, Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, 2000 Olympic Games, 2006 Asian Games and 2010 World Expo.

Jones was awarded an Order of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018.

Author and TV personality Wendy Harmer posted a picture of the pair in 1994 at her wedding in Sydney's Rushcutters Bay.

"My dear, talented, funny, outrageous friend. Love you forever," she said.

"Here we are on my wedding day, when he sang for me and made the night wild and unforgettable!"