John Farnham

JOHN FARNHAM was LITTLE RIVER BAND'S second lead singer, in the years 1982 to 1986. FARNHAM, whose vocal talent was early recognized by EMI house producer DAVID MacKAY, signed with EMI in 1967. MacKAY suggested for JOHNNY FARNHAM to record a song had just swept over from England, Sadie, The Cleaning Lady. FARNHAM was real unhappy about this, and stated: "I thought it was really dumb. I admit, I didn't know much then and neither did Darryl, but we knew one thing - we didn't like the song." However, Sadie became #1 in Australia in October 1967 and stayed atop for further six weeks. At the time, it became the biggest selling single in Australia and stayed in the charts for 23 weeks. The sales exceeded 180,000 - a record which stood until 1979. Throughout the next years, JOHNN FARNHAM released a long string of singles, amongst them the likes of Friday Kind Of Monday, Jamie Rose Colored Glasses to Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. The nationally respected teen idol was occasionally backed by an accommodating group named ZOOT [in which BEEB BIRTLES was the bass player]. Further hits such as Comic Conversations, Sun, Baby Without You [a duet recorded together with Queen of pop, Allison Durbin] and Walking The Floor On My Hands. In 1973 he again hit the Top 10, which coincided with his marriage with GLENROY. I Can't Dance To Your Music and Shake A Hand were the last acknowledged hits of his pop career then. His 1975 album 'J.P. Farnham Sings' brought a more mature FARNHAM. The album comprised solely Australian compositions, but spawned no hits. The failure to touch the adult audience at this point resulted in the need to continue touring Australia, dressed in the obligatory black suit, and accompanied by a backing band, which could hardly play. Eventually EMI dropped the young artists, due to the fact that no more hits seemed to come out of him. In order to diversify his assets in different businesses, JOHN became involved in a restaurant called 'Backstage' in Melbourne, which later turned out to be a disaster.

In 1979 FARNHAM happened to be in Las Vegas for holidays, where LITTLE RIVER BAND were performing three sold-out nights. JOHN hadn't realized how big his fellow Australian musicians were in the US then. He was genuinely blown away by the perception of their success. Stirred up by these news, JOHN continued to ask LRB'S manager GLENN WHEATLEY a lot of questions. WHEATLEY, who firmly believed that JOHN was one of Australia's best vocal talents, suggested for the first time to take over JOHN'S management, but out of loyalty toward his current manager, JOHN refused at first. He would have found it difficult to sack his manager, DANNY FINDLAY. A few months later, towards the end of the year, FARNHAM eventually agreed to the suggestion, parted with FINDLAY and signed a management contract with WHEATLEY. When WHEATLEY sighted JOHN'S financial situation, he soon realized that it was a mess. FARNHAM owed more than he had, and WHETALEY estimated that the talented singer must have had horrible advise in the previous years. JOHN was introduced to KEN STARK, GRAEHAM GOBLE'S manager at the time, and to new accountants. FARNHAM'S assets needed to be consolidated, and the situation urged him to sell two homes he owned then. Already in February 1980, a new backing band was put together, with TOMMY EMMANUEL on guitar. FARNHAMS subsequent appearances at the Royal Command TV had him for the first time, performing the BEATLES' Help. Show host PETER FAIRNAMN initially objected, but WHEATLEY had encouraged JOHN that this was the arrangement which 'had something to it'.

On January 1st, 1980 WHEATLEY also signed JOHN FARNHAM to his own record label, WBE Records. WHEATLEY had previously conversed with GRAEHAM GOBLE about JOHN, and GRAEHAM stated that he'd love to do an album with him. The result was 'Uncovered', which soon would reach gold status in Australia. It became a stunning and beautiful example of his pre-LRB era, a comeback after a few years without chart-breaking success. Please Don't Ask Me became a big Australian hit and FARNHAM'S popularity was on the rise again. Throughout the year 1981 the situation between GLENN SHORROCK on one hand, BEEB BIRTLES and GRAEHAM GOBLE on the other, would become more and more tensed within LITTLE RIVER BAND. After the release of the 'Time Exposure' album and the subsequent tour, the lobbying toward exchanging the group's lead singer increased. Due to this friction, it was suggested to GLENN WHEATLEY to recruit JOHN as the band's new lead singer. This whispering campaign behind GLENN'S back commenced in late 1981, and even though WHEATLEY initially objected, GRAEHAM'S and BEEB'S direction was clear. WHEATLEY reminded them that GLENN SHORROCK was the band's "face" and that he was the one who sang all the great hits of them. But with the success of The Night Owls being in the charts [sung by WAYNE NELSON], the manager was immediately given a counter argument for this concern.

On February 2nd, 1981 the band gathered in GLENN WHEATLEY'S office and announced their decision. They wanted FARNHAM as their new lead singer. The FANRNHAM'S had just returned from a small vacation, and JOHN recalled the moment when he was asked to join the band. He remembered: "I thought long about it, for approximately five minutes." WHEATLEY also had to break the news to GLENN SHORROCK, who was devastated about the decision. He seriously hadn't expected this to happen. On his forthcoming solo album 'Villain Of The Peace' and the pertinent title song, SHORRROCK laid his feelings out with the lyrics. The band on the other hand instantly prepared their next recording. Down On The Border would become FARNHAM'S first official recording with LITTLE RIVER BAND [which also surfaced on the 1982 Greatest Hits album]. It became a Top 10 chart success. FARNHAM never pursued to step into the shoes of SHORROCK, but contributed with his very own singing and performing style. He knew that joining LRB would give him the chance of performing in the US, and his joining was also broadly supported by the Australian public. Meanwhile Capitol America wasn't so happy about the transition with the lead singers. They like SHORROCK, and they liked the blend the voices of him, BEEB and GRAEHAM had created. In October 1982 The Other Guy became LRB'S second Top 10 hits, this time also a huge success in the US.

At first it seemed that the change of lead singers wouldn't effect the band's worldwide success, and shortly after JOHN'S joining 'The Net' was released, the first full album with JOHN singing on it. When the band commenced the recordings, most of the songs were already written, and it was basically asked of JOHN to harmonize and concentrate on the singing. Problem was, that LITTLE RIVER BAND were tied to Capitol Records with a group contract. They owed them so much money at the time, that a profit from the membership was hardly to be expected on a short-term basis for FARNHAM. In spring 1983 LITTLE RIVER BAND started their US tour, for the first time fronted by the new lead singer. JOHN simply tried to do what he could do best: sing and have fun, while he was on stage. But the group wanted to appear 'serious', and it came to a point when JOHN'S microphone cable was even shortened to hinder with from extensive movement on stage. On October 2nd, 1983 a band meeting was held backstage of the LA Universal Amphitheater, and the air was already so tensed, you could cut the air with a knife. The inevitable happened. JOHN would stand up and say to BEEB: "Get out of my way. You are stopping me from getting on with my job and doing what I want to be able to do." JOHN gritted his teeth, went out and - according to witness' accounts - did the performance of his life. After this show, FARNHAM was still fired up and is given back with the statement: "I'm sick of this bullshit, I'm sick of the crap that's going on, I'm not going to get dragged into this thing, I'm going to get on and do something." It was clear, that LITTLE RIVER BAND'S future had to be resolved upon their return to Australian.

BEEB and DEREK decided to leave the band. As always, GRAEHAM GBLE came up with alternatives and suggested to recruit COLD CHILSE drummer STEVEN PRESTICH for the drums. COLD CHISEL had just disbanded, and STEVEN was excited about the possibility of JOHN FARNHAM singing some of his compositions. It turned out that his song When The War Is Over surfaced on the 'No Reins' album. He also wanted success in America, and so he willingly agreed to the suggestion, as submitted by manager GLENN WHEATLEY. It would be harder to replace BEEB, though. GRAEHAM GOBLE suggested to hire DAVID HIRSCHFELDER instead, a very talented and skilled keyboard player. This would change LRB'S sound drastically, and the group would have to stop playing some of their guitar-oriented songs, such as It's A Long Way There.

This line-up prepared their next recording, which would later become 'Playing To Win'. As the producer of this album the band elected SPENCER PROFFFER, a man who had previously made experiences recording RANDY BISHOP and QUITE RIOT albums, and Capitol reinforced LRB to toughen up. WHEATLEY later recalled the way the writing splits were handled, and recollected how it became a nightmare. JOHN FARNHAM had come into the studio and presented Playing To Win to the band. "By the time it was recorded GRAEHAM had calculated that John ended up with 55.5 per cent, Graeham Goble 37.5 per cent, Wayne nelson 1.4 per cent, David Hirschfelder 1.4 per cent, Stephen Housden 1.4 per cent, Spencer Proffer 1.4 per cent, Steven Prestwich 1.4 per cent of the royalties for that song. Graham counted every lyric and worked out how many lyrics he contributed, went through every bar and worked out who contributed what note to each ,melody line. Every song became this complicated." FARNHAM was frustrated about this situation and was taken aback immensely. The title song was the strongest track on the album and surfaced as a single release, and while it received some airplay on American radio, it failed to ignite at retail. The album didn't sell through either. Capitol America was right with their initial fears, too many changes had alienated the band from their fans. The tour subsequent to the release cost the group more money than it brought in, and so the first financial cutbacks had to be faced. It seemed the crunch for the band finally came throughout their thirteenth tour through America.

After this disappointment the band went on and had their next album produced by RICHARD DODD, not a very well known choice for the role of the producer. GOBLE loved the recording, which contained a stirring version of PRESTWICH'S When The War Is Over. WHEATLEY didn't like the album, though, and even JOHN FARNHAM seemed to agree that the band's big days are over. He commences talking to GLENN WHEATLEY about doing another solo album. STEVEN PRESTWICH decided to leave, it was all too much for him. Then, the inevitable happened and Capitol decided to drop LRB. This happened even without notice and after selling millions of albums together WHEATLEY was disappointed that he didn't even get a telephone call. After three albums with LITLLE RIVER BAND and waning success the group ceased to exists in 1986. JOHN FARNHAM now decided to attempt continuing his solo career. GLENN WHEATLEY searched in vain for a producer for the forthcoming recordings, which turned out futile. As an emergency scenario it was decided for JOHN and soundman ROSS FRASER to produce the album on their own. WHEATLEY mortgaged his house to cover the expenses for the production. Later that year 'Whispering Jack' was released, spawning the single You're The Voice, which became FARNHAM'S first #1 single in 17 years.

More information about JOHN FARNHAM: http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/farnhamjohn/farnhamjohn.htm