‘Loving and real’: John Farnham’s sons spill on life with dad
As the John Farnham biopic gets set to screen, The Voice singer’s sons, Rob and James, have given a peek behind the scenes at the family’s lives away from the spotlight.
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
John Farnham’s sons, Rob and James, have opened up about their ordinary lives away from the spotlight — fishing, camping, horse riding and solving crossword puzzles — with Whispering Jack.
“I never really knew dad was famous when I was little,” James told the Herald Sun.
“It wasn’t until I was about 7 or 8 years old, but to me, he was still just my dad. I didn’t know what the big deal was about.”
James, who works as an audio engineer, said his famous father taught him to “how to fish, ride a bike, go camping, horse ride and cook a barbecue. We used to play cricket, go kite flying fish out on the beach at Port Douglas.”
James added: “Fishing with dad is probably some of my favourite times. He’d always sit there saying, ‘Wow, look how lucky we are.’”
He said Farnham, a master interpreter of lyrics, was also a “real wordsmith” with crossword puzzles, adding: “I love mentioning a random word to see if he knows the meaning. He always does.”
In a random reveal, James also said with a laugh: “He is also very pedantic about the way
one should pack a dishwasher.”
Rob, a singer-songwriter, told the Herald Sun: “He is a really great dad. He always runs to the door when we arrive home and says, ‘Hey mate, how are ya?’ and then give you a big
kiss on the cheek and tell you how much he loves you.
“He is basically the man you see on stage. Loving and real,” Rob added. “I’d bring friends over and he would always ‘be on’ for them, and be super funny, and make them feel
so welcome in our home.”
Their comments came as the biopic John Farnham: Finding The Voice had a VIP screening at St Kilda’s Astor Theatre on Tuesday night.
The doco-style film, written and directed by Poppy Stockell, tells a powerful riches-to-rags-to-reinvention story of a former teen idol who lost everything and, after one last roll of the dice, became Whispering Jack.
Farnham, 73, is continuing his recovery after surgery for mouth cancer last August.
Rob expressed his anger and frustration about the “cruel” and “ridiculous” irony of The Voice being stricken by cancer.
“It’s just s--- that The Voice gets mouth cancer. It’s cruel and it’s ridiculous,” Rob said at the VIP premiere of the biopic, John Farnham: Finding The Voice, at St Kilda’s Astor Theatre on Tuesday night.
“But dad is so resilient and driven in a lot of ways, and cancer is another hurdle to overcome. But he will do it.”
Rob’s younger brother James said Farnham is recovering well. “He’s doing good,” Rob said. “It’s still a long road to recovery, but he’s comfortable and happy. He’s taking it day by day, but doing well.”
They said it was “bittersweet” and emotional” to see a story they know so well on the big screen, with Rob adding: “We’re so proud of our dad, and his story, and how he rode all the ebbs and flows to have success. He deserves it. We love him so much.”
James said: “Dad climbed the mountain and planted a flag on top. He doesn’t need to prove himself to anybody.”
The biopic portrays Farnham’s wife Jillian, as the family’s pillar of strength, through good times and bad.
“Mum is the rock and support system of all three of us. She is the strongest one in the family hands down,” James told the Herald Sun. “She has a no bulls--- attitude and keeps us all grounded.
“Mum always has dad’s back, no matter what. She really is the backbone of our family. I worked with dad closely for 10 years (as a concert audio technician) on the road. I don’t know how she put up with him for 50 years. That’s love, eh?” James said, laughing.
Rob added: “Mum is such a strong woman and she always puts others in the family ahead
of herself. Mind you, she doesn’t let any of us, dad included, get away with much, either.”
Guests at the VIP screening included Eddie McGuire, Jeff Kennett, Derryn Hinch, Red Symons, and Farnham’s backing singers Lindsay Field, Venetta Fields and Lisa Edwards.
The biopic opens in cinemas on May 18.
‘Disrespectful’: Co-hosts turn on TJ over Djokovic gag order
One Sunday Footy Show panellist described it as the topic “everyone in Australia wants us to talk about” but an order meant the team couldn’t discuss it.
Ginnivan brings hint of Hokball to runway in catwalk debut
Hawthorn livewire Jack Ginnivan proved he’s a model Hawk when he hit the runway for Melbourne Fashion Festival’s closing event – but his girlfriend was noticeably absent from the front row.