John Farnham doco reveals music legend’s unknown struggles

John Farnham doco reveals music legend’s unknown struggles

The trailer for John Farnham: Finding the Voice, a brand new big-screen documentary charting the ups and downs of the exceptional life and pop profession of the Australian icon, has been unveiled.

The first style of the primary authorised documentary film concerning the singer arrives with the 73-year-old in hospital, receiving remedy for a respiratory an infection and recovering from profitable surgical procedure in August to take away a mouth most cancers.

The two-minute teaser suggests Finding the Voice will reveal aspects of Farnham not previously seen by his adoring international fan base.
Camera IconThe two-minute teaser suggests Finding the Voice will reveal elements of Farnham not beforehand seen by his adoring worldwide fan base. Credit: FRANCES NEWHILL/Supplied

Due to hit cinemas on May 18, the 92-minute biopic guarantees to provide followers a front-row seat because the star goes from fresh-faced Johnny Farnham singing Sadie (The Cleaning Lady) — his first No. 1 launched in 1967 — to John Farnham, aka The Voice of Whispering Jack, the album that topped the Australian charts for an unimaginable 25 weeks.

The two-minute teaser suggests Finding the Voice will reveal elements of Farnham not beforehand seen by his adoring worldwide fan base.

TV Week’s King of Pop for 5 consecutive years from 1969 reveals that he labored to close exhaustion following the success of Sadie (The Cleaning Lady).

“Either I was working or I was asleep,” he says within the trailer, “and when I was awake I was vulnerable.”

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While his breakthrough single made him a heart-throb very like Harry Styles right this moment, Sadie was an albatross round his neck.

“People never saw me as a credible singer,” admits Farnham, whose struggles after his preliminary success are explored in uncooked element in Finding the Voice.

The Pressure Down singer talks about not having sufficient cash to take eldest son Robert to McDonald’s for dinner and the 19-time ARIA winner additionally admits to affected by melancholy.

The documentary notably covers supervisor Glenn Wheatley’s unwavering perception in Farnham.

Glenn Wheatley with John Farnham in Moscow in 1989.
Camera IconGlenn Wheatley with John Farnham in Moscow in 1989. Credit: Supplied/TheWest

When each document label within the nation knocked again what would change into Whispering Jack, the previous bassist for rockers The Masters Apprentices determined to self-fund the discharge.

Finding The Voice additionally reveals Chris Thompson, one of many 4 UK songwriters behind You’re The Voice, initially refused permission for Farnham to cowl the tune — however the decided singer recorded the longer term Australian anthem anyway.

The single drove the success of Whispering Jack, which was launched when Farnham was 38 years outdated and went on to change into the second highest promoting album in Australian music historical past, behind solely Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell.

Not dangerous for a document made within the storage of Farnham’s suburban Melbourne residence with producer Ross Fraser and multi-instrumentalist David Hirschfelder, who each seem within the big-screen retelling of Oz rock’s most epic comeback.

WATCH THE TRAILER IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Finding the Voice options Wheatley, who died from problems with COVID-19 final 12 months, in addition to fellow musicians Jimmy Barnes, Richard Marx, Celine Dion, Darryl Braithwaite, Robbie Williams, and the members of each the Farnham and Wheatley households.

The movie additionally options his shut good friend, late singer Olivia Newton-John, whose loss of life final August got here solely two weeks earlier than Farnham’s most cancers surgical procedure.

The film also features Farnham’s close friend, late singer Olivia Newton-John.
Camera IconThe movie additionally options Farnham’s shut good friend, late singer Olivia Newton-John. Credit: Sandra Jackson/WA News

Finding the Voice was directed by Melbourne-based documentary maker and former Triple J radio producer Poppy Stockwell, who wrote the script with Paul Clarke.

Clarke is greatest identified for creating ABC TV music exhibits Recovery and the award-winning Spicks and Specks, in addition to writing the Australian rock documentary Long Way to the Top.

Stockwell stated Finding the Voice was about Farnham’s lengthy journey to cement his place in Australian music and tradition.

“John Farnham: Finding the Voice is about an artist finding the path they were meant for, it is about finding a voice the audience will respond to, it is about how you need to change to stay relevant and ultimately it is about the audience showing the artist the way,” she stated.

John Farnham reveals he suffered from depression.
Camera IconJohn Farnham reveals he suffered from melancholy. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

In an announcement issued on March 31, Farnham’s spouse Jill stated the beloved entertainer was persevering with his prolonged restoration.

“He’s always been a strong and determined person with everything he’s ever done and we are all so very proud of him,” she stated.

“He is responding well to the specialist care he’s receiving.”

Finding The Voice hits cinemas on May 18, with particular Mothers’ Day screenings on May 14.

FIVE THINGS WE KNOW FROM THE TRAILER OF JOHN FARNHAM: FINDING THE VOICE

  1. Chris Thompson, one of many 4 writers of You’re the Voice, initially refused permission for Farnham to document the longer term Aussie anthem.
  2. Farnham struggled with melancholy following his preliminary fame.
  3. Before the success of Whispering Jack, Farnham was so broke he couldn’t afford to take his son to McDonald’s.
  4. Manager Glenn Wheatley pushed the then Johnny to change into John.
  5. Every document firm within the nation handed on Whispering Jack earlier than Wheatley determined to self-fund the album’s launch.

Source: www.perthnow.com.au