An enjoyable read of the well-known Australian talent, John Farnham. The book covers his early young life in London and his family’s desperate need to make a fresh start, as a “ten-pound POM”.

Author:	John Farnham with Poppy Stockell
Publisher:	Gadigal Country ; Sydney, NSW : Hachette Australia, 2024.
ISBN:	9780733652745
Characteristics:	xi, 356 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), portraits (some colour) ; 24 cm
Source:	City Library Melbourne
Date Read:	6-Mar-2025

As for other recent biographies I have read, you also learn about the era the subject came from. For John, it was the 1950s in Melbourne. Success was very slow in coming for Farnham, and it was a hard and difficult road with a number of bands and opportunities before becoming popular.

But singers cannot rest on their laurels, and a number of times John has had to rebuild his career. His best come back was with Whispering Jack, thanks in part to the encouragement from his friend and manager, Glenn Wheatley.

John comes across as a very humble guy, still living at home when his career started to take off. His mother refused to get a silent telephone number, and she didn’t mind fending off the many teenage girls who called. She even began to offer advice and became well known in the area for her comforting words.

He mentions the many other artists he’s met and worked with, including Tom Jones. Having read Tom Jones’ biography recently, I don’t recall the mention being reciprocated. Collaboration is an important part of show business, and John demonstrates this well. One artist who particularly touched John was April Byron in his early years of his career.

Age of Reason

John writes about the making of the music video, Age of Reason. One scene required him to stand on the razor edge of the ridge in the Cathedral Ranges in Victoria. A helicopter perched him on the rock, a precarious position for someone scared of heights. The text doesn’t capture the moment, and then looking at the video it would be quite a fall indeed, just half a step away, so well done John!

The Voice

John mentions that during “The Voice” referendum, he allowed the “yes” campaign to use his popular song You’re The Voice. To me this was disappointing as celebrities should not try to influence politics, and his reasoning in the book shows why. From the text, it’s clear he knows very little detail about what such a decision would mean and have on Australian politics.

Conclusion

Overall, the book is a pleasant read, and it would be especially appealing to Farnham fans who want to learn more about their idol and the struggles through life and his career that he faced. Made easier by having a loving wife and loyal and supportive friends; and even better if your manager is one of those friends. And his best supporter is his wife of forty years, Jill Farnham.

Further Reading