‘The Voice’ is back: John Farnham to break his silence for audio version of long awaited memoir

John Farnham’s iconic voice has been heard in public for the first time since drastic cancer surgery on his mouth. Listen to the music legend narrate his life story in his upcoming memoir.

John Farnham’s iconic voice has been heard in public for the first time since he underwent harrowing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour.

Farnham has been quietly recovering from the serious health battle at his Melbourne home since the surgery in August 2022.

And now the music legend’s golden voice can be heard again, having recorded the audio version of his long awaited memoir.

“I don’t enjoy talking about myself, I really don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I am an egomaniac,” Farnham says in an audio clip released on Tuesday.

“But dredging up the past and going through what has and hasn’t been is just not something I have ever really enjoyed.

“I will try to share as much as I can, but that is not easy because I have never really been that open. I guess there are reasons for that, reasons for my reluctance.”

John Farnham’s memoir will be released at the of October. Picture: Supplied

Farnham narrates the entire book on the audio edition which will be released on October 30.

His legendary voice does sound a little different since the operation to remove the tumour from the inside of his mouth, butit is still very much identifiably Farnham.

The book, John Farnham: The Voice Inside, has been written by Farnham and Poppy Stockell, who wrote and directed the singer’s Logie Award winning biopic Finding the Voice.

His wife Jill narrates two chapters in the book.

Farnham’s son James revealed that his father would be heard on the audio book while speaking to the Sunday Herald Sun on the red carpet at the recent Logie Awards.

“I am actually looking forward to hearing him read it. Being able to have the audio book and his voice is going to be really great,” he said.

Rob Farnham, Poppy Stockell and James Farnham at the 2024 Logie Awards in Sydney. Picture: Instagram

Speaking at the Logies, Stockell said it had been incredible to sit down with John and Jill Farnham to write the book.

In a clip released by the publisher Hachette, Stockell further explained the privilege of working with the Aussie superstar.

“The term legend almost falls short for someone like John Farnham,” she said.

“It is a hero’s journey with epic highs and epic lows and it is a story that reflects Australia from the ‘60s to the ‘70s to the ‘80s to now. A lot of John’s history is our history.”

Gaynor Wheatley and Poppy Stockell at the 2024 Logie Awards. Picture: Instagram

John Farnham and Glenn Wheatley in Russia. Picture: Instagram

For Gaynor Wheatley, whose husband Glenn Wheatley was an incredibly close friend of Farnham’s as well as being his manager, the memoir has been part of a long “to-do list” she has been completing since Glenn’s shock passing in early 2022.

“Glenn had this to-do list,” Gaynor said.

“I don’t think the book was actually on the to-do list, we got that all ourselves, but there is a to-do list and I am working my way through it.

“It is a big list. I am never finished and Glenn was never finished either and John has been amazing.

“He will deny this, but I think he has actually enjoyed the process (of writing the book).

“Poppy made it quite easy for him in a timeline fashion. I think he has enjoyed the process and it is just such a beautiful read.”

John Farnham is recovering at home in good spirits. Picture: Supplied

Farnham has been living a private life with his family since he underwent surgery in August 2022 to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth.

It has been a long road to recovery, but his sons James and Rob said in August that their dad was in good spirits and enjoyed singing at home and cracking jokes.

His resilience and strength over the past two years has been an inspiration to Rob and James, who became ambassadors for this year’s Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day Appeal to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

Originally published as ‘The Voice’ is back: John Farnham to break his silence for audio version of long awaited memoir