John Schumann
Encyclopedia
John Lewis Schumann is an Australian singer, songwriter
and guitarist
from Adelaide
. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk
group Redgum
, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)
", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during the Vietnam War
. The song's sales assisted Vietnam Veterans during the 1983 Royal Commission into the effects of Agent Orange
and other chemical defoliants employed during the war. Schumann was an Australian Democrats
candidate in the 1998 Federal election, narrowly failing to unseat Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
for the Division of Mayo
.
Since 2005 he has been performing as part of John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
, including fellow ex-Redgum member Hugh McDonald
.
studying Philosophy, English and Drama for his Bachelor of Arts
. In 1975 he contributed to a radical politics in art project, convened by Professor Brian Medlin with fellow students Michael Atkinson and Verity Truman. The three students went on to form political folk band Redgum
and began performing in local pubs and campuses. An 'underground recording' of their music was made at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) studios in Adelaide by Darc Cassidy - the tapes went on to become popular on campuses across Australia and on independent radio. Chris Timms (also from Flinders University) joined the group in 1976 and they toured to Melbourne as a part-time group. Schumann was by then teaching English and Drama at Marion High School and performing on weekends and school holidays. By December 1980, they decided to become a full-time band. Schumann wrote their biggest hits including "Long Run", "The last Frontier", "I Was Only Nineteen" (March 1983) and "I've Been to Bali Too" (1984). In 1985 Redgum toured overseas performing at major festivals across England and Europe including the Edinburgh Festival and in war torn Belfast in Northern Ireland. The band had a strong following in Scandinavia.
, where he released several records, including Etched in Blue (1987), and a children's record, Looby Loo (1989). The 1987 single "Borrowed Ground" from Etched in Blue was given the Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) Most Performed Australasian Country Work Award in 1988. In 1992 he recorded a single for Sony
entitled "Eyes on Fire", this was followed by an album for Columbia Records
in 1993, True Believers
.
; the 'Save The Franklin River' campaign including as a member of Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble (contained members of Goanna
and Redgum) to record a single "Let the Franklin Flow" in 1983 and seeking justice and compensation for Vietnam Veterans in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1998 Schumann accepted an appointment as the Chief of Staff for the then Leader of the Australian Democrats
, Meg Lees
. He stood against Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
for the Division of Mayo
in Adelaide
, winning 22.4% of the primary vote to Downer's 45.6%, taking the vote to preferences. After the distribution of preferences
, Downer held the seat 51.7% to Schumann's 48.3%. Despite coming close to winning the seat, Schumann decided not to contest the seat in the 2001 election, citing a number of reasons including family commitments and the Democrats' decision to elect Senator Natasha Stott Despoja
as leader in April 2001.
In 2005 Schumann invited a number of musicians (including ex-Redgum
members Hugh McDonald
and Michael Atkinson) to play and sing on an album, Lawson
, which comprises songs Schumann wrote based on poems by Australian poet Henry Lawson
. Lawson was credited to John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
and released by ABC Music.
Schumann and Redgum were bought back to public attention in 2006 when Australian Hip-Hop group The Herd
covered "I Was Only 19
" with Schumann supplying some vocals. On 18 August 2006, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew performed in Vũng Tàu
, Vietnam, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tân
. The concert was broadcast nationally by ABC radio.
In 2007 John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew provided the music for a stage play, "Lawson", starring Max Cullen as Henry Lawson. After refusing to appear live on the 1980s ABC music-TV show, Countdown, Schumann appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia in August and September 2007. He sang the Redgum hit "I Was Only 19" only. From late 2007, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew have appeared at major music festivals around Australia. Schumann signed a new multi-album deal with ABC Music and Behind the Lines
, an album of songs related to Australians at war, was released in August 2008.
for earlier recordings.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk
Bush band
A bush band is a group of musicians that play traditional Australian folk music or contemporary folk music played in a traditional Australian style...
group Redgum
Redgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)
I Was Only Nineteen
"Only Nineteen", "I Was Only Nineteen" or "A Walk in the Light Green" is the most widely recognised song by Australian folk group Redgum. The song was released in March 1983 as a single, which hit number one on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart for two weeks...
", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The song's sales assisted Vietnam Veterans during the 1983 Royal Commission into the effects of Agent Orange
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
and other chemical defoliants employed during the war. Schumann was an Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
candidate in the 1998 Federal election, narrowly failing to unseat Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
for the Division of Mayo
Division of Mayo
The Division of Mayo is an Australian Electoral Division located in the hills, east of Adelaide, South Australia and currently includes the towns of Victor Harbor, Lobethal, Mount Barker, Strathalbyn, Woodside and Kingscote....
.
Since 2005 he has been performing as part of John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew is an Australian folk group formed in Adelaide in 2005. The band's name is taken from a line in Henry Lawson's poem "Knocking Around". Since it was founded a number of Australian musicians have been involved...
, including fellow ex-Redgum member Hugh McDonald
Hugh McDonald (Australian musician)
Hugh McDonald is an Australian musician. Active since the 1970s, he performed and recorded with The Bushwackers, The Sundowners, Moving Cloud, and The Colonials....
.
1975-1985: Redgum
Schumann was born in May 1953 and attended Flinders UniversityFlinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
studying Philosophy, English and Drama for his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. In 1975 he contributed to a radical politics in art project, convened by Professor Brian Medlin with fellow students Michael Atkinson and Verity Truman. The three students went on to form political folk band Redgum
Redgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
and began performing in local pubs and campuses. An 'underground recording' of their music was made at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) studios in Adelaide by Darc Cassidy - the tapes went on to become popular on campuses across Australia and on independent radio. Chris Timms (also from Flinders University) joined the group in 1976 and they toured to Melbourne as a part-time group. Schumann was by then teaching English and Drama at Marion High School and performing on weekends and school holidays. By December 1980, they decided to become a full-time band. Schumann wrote their biggest hits including "Long Run", "The last Frontier", "I Was Only Nineteen" (March 1983) and "I've Been to Bali Too" (1984). In 1985 Redgum toured overseas performing at major festivals across England and Europe including the Edinburgh Festival and in war torn Belfast in Northern Ireland. The band had a strong following in Scandinavia.
1985-1993: Early solo music career
Schumann left Redgum (late 1985) due to continual pressure to tour and to spend more time with his young family in the Adelaide Hills. He embarked upon a solo career with CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, where he released several records, including Etched in Blue (1987), and a children's record, Looby Loo (1989). The 1987 single "Borrowed Ground" from Etched in Blue was given the Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) Most Performed Australasian Country Work Award in 1988. In 1992 he recorded a single for Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
entitled "Eyes on Fire", this was followed by an album for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1993, True Believers
True Believers (John Schumann album)
True Believers is the second solo album by John Schumann, previously the frontman of Redgum. Released in 1993, it was reissued in 2009.-Album artwork:...
.
1998-2001: Political career
Schumann used his public profile and became involved in social justice issues: rallying against Queensland's Premier Joh Bjelke-PetersenJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
; the 'Save The Franklin River' campaign including as a member of Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble (contained members of Goanna
Goanna (band)
Goanna is an Australian folk rock group which formed in 1977 in Geelong as The Goanna Band with mainstay Shane Howard as singer-songwriter and guitarist...
and Redgum) to record a single "Let the Franklin Flow" in 1983 and seeking justice and compensation for Vietnam Veterans in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1998 Schumann accepted an appointment as the Chief of Staff for the then Leader of the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
, Meg Lees
Meg Lees
Meg Heather Lees was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005, representing the state of South Australia. She represented the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 2002, and was an independent senator between 2002 and 2005, adopting the party designation Australian Progressive Alliance from...
. He stood against Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
for the Division of Mayo
Division of Mayo
The Division of Mayo is an Australian Electoral Division located in the hills, east of Adelaide, South Australia and currently includes the towns of Victor Harbor, Lobethal, Mount Barker, Strathalbyn, Woodside and Kingscote....
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, winning 22.4% of the primary vote to Downer's 45.6%, taking the vote to preferences. After the distribution of preferences
Australian electoral system
The Australian electoral system has evolved over nearly 150 years of continuous democratic government, and has a number of distinctive features including compulsory voting, preferential voting and the use of proportional voting to elect the upper house, the Australian Senate.- Compulsory voting...
, Downer held the seat 51.7% to Schumann's 48.3%. Despite coming close to winning the seat, Schumann decided not to contest the seat in the 2001 election, citing a number of reasons including family commitments and the Democrats' decision to elect Senator Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AM is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. She was a Democrats senator for South Australia from 1995 to 2008...
as leader in April 2001.
2001-current: later career
Schumann is a co-director of Schumann & Associates - a communications, public relations and consultancy company. He speaks on issues of social justice and Australian identity to universities and companies. In 2008 Flinders University recognised him as a distinguished alumnus for his contribution to Australian music and social justice. He is not affiliated with any political party.In 2005 Schumann invited a number of musicians (including ex-Redgum
Redgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
members Hugh McDonald
Hugh McDonald (Australian musician)
Hugh McDonald is an Australian musician. Active since the 1970s, he performed and recorded with The Bushwackers, The Sundowners, Moving Cloud, and The Colonials....
and Michael Atkinson) to play and sing on an album, Lawson
Lawson (album)
Lawson is the first album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew. It is Schumann's first album since 1993's True Believers.It marked the first time that Schumann had worked on an album with Hugh McDonald and Michael Atkinson since Schumann left Redgum in 1986.The album consists of the poetry of...
, which comprises songs Schumann wrote based on poems by Australian poet Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest writer"...
. Lawson was credited to John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew is an Australian folk group formed in Adelaide in 2005. The band's name is taken from a line in Henry Lawson's poem "Knocking Around". Since it was founded a number of Australian musicians have been involved...
and released by ABC Music.
Schumann and Redgum were bought back to public attention in 2006 when Australian Hip-Hop group The Herd
The Herd
The Herd may be:* The Herd , the 1960s UK band that launched Peter Frampton's career* The Herd , a hip-hop outfit from the suburbs of Sydney, Australia* The Herd , a 1978 Turkish film...
covered "I Was Only 19
I Was Only Nineteen
"Only Nineteen", "I Was Only Nineteen" or "A Walk in the Light Green" is the most widely recognised song by Australian folk group Redgum. The song was released in March 1983 as a single, which hit number one on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart for two weeks...
" with Schumann supplying some vocals. On 18 August 2006, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew performed in Vũng Tàu
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
, Vietnam, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tân
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
. The concert was broadcast nationally by ABC radio.
In 2007 John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew provided the music for a stage play, "Lawson", starring Max Cullen as Henry Lawson. After refusing to appear live on the 1980s ABC music-TV show, Countdown, Schumann appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia in August and September 2007. He sang the Redgum hit "I Was Only 19" only. From late 2007, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew have appeared at major music festivals around Australia. Schumann signed a new multi-album deal with ABC Music and Behind the Lines
Behind the Lines (John Schumann album)
Behind the Lines is the second album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew.It consists almost entirely of cover songs and musical renditions of poems...
, an album of songs related to Australians at war, was released in August 2008.
Personal life
Schumann met Denise 'Denny' Storen in 1981 and they later married, she is the sister of Vietnam Veteran Mick Storen, whose recollections inspired "I Was Only Nineteen". The couple have a son and a daughter.Discography
See RedgumRedgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
for earlier recordings.
- Etched in BlueEtched in BlueEtched in Blue is the first solo album by John Schumann, previously the frontman of Redgum, in 1987, the year after he left the band. It was reissued on cd in 2009.-Track listing:#Borrowed Ground#Thunder Across The Reef#Holy Mary#Coming Home...
(1987) - Looby Loo (1989)
- True BelieversTrue Believers (John Schumann album)True Believers is the second solo album by John Schumann, previously the frontman of Redgum. Released in 1993, it was reissued in 2009.-Album artwork:...
(1993) - Portrait: The Very Best of John SchumannPortrait: The Very Best of John SchumannPortrait: The Very Best of John Schumann is a "best of" album by John Schumann, previously the frontman of Redgum. It includes songs from his previous two solo albums, Etched in Blue and True Believers, I was only 19 from his Redgum days, and a previously unreleased track, "One True Game", about...
(2002) - LawsonLawson (album)Lawson is the first album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew. It is Schumann's first album since 1993's True Believers.It marked the first time that Schumann had worked on an album with Hugh McDonald and Michael Atkinson since Schumann left Redgum in 1986.The album consists of the poetry of...
- as John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew (2005) - Gelignite Jack - (2007) (a best of album)
- "Behind the LinesBehind the Lines (John Schumann album)Behind the Lines is the second album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew.It consists almost entirely of cover songs and musical renditions of poems...
" - as John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew (2008)
External links
- John Schumann Official Website
- John Schumann In Vietnam ABC Radio