John “Swanee” Swan
About John Swan
John Swan, more commonly known as Swanee, was born John Archibold Dixon Swan in 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland. He came to Australia with his family in 1961 and is the only one of his siblings to keep his natural fathers surname. He is the older brother of Jimmy Barnes and the uncle of David Campbell.
Brief History
Swanee started his musical career as a drummer in the band Happiness before moving on to other bands such as Fraternity, Feather and Cold Chisel. He branched out on his own, under the name Swanee, in 1979, releasing the album “Into The Night”. His first commercial hit was in 1981 with his version of “If I Were A Carpenter” off the album “This Time Is Different” which featured two other hits, “Temporary Heartache” and “Lady What’s Your Name”
In 1987 he replaced angry Anderson as lead singer in Paul Christie’s “Party Boys” where he had another hit with “He’s Gonna Step on You Again” and then “Hold Your Head Up”. He left the band around 1989 to again pursue a solo career that still persists today.
Videos
Recordings
as Swanee (albums):
- Into the Night – 1980
- This Time is Different – 1982
- Ready for Action – 1983
- Days Gone By – 1984
- Bushido – 1985
- Heart and Soul – 1997
as John Swan
- It Could Have Been You (single) – 1985
- You’ll Do Something (single) – 1985
- Angel (single) – 1986
- Have a Little Faith – 2007
with The Party Boys
- He’s Gonna Step On You Again (single) – 1987
- The Party Boys – 1987
- Hold Your Head Up (single) – 1987
- Gloria (single) – 1988)
Other Resources
Known Gigs
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 15/01/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| with Bon Scott, Jimmy Barnes and The Lonely Hearts | ||
| 11/04/80 | Sydney | Stagedoor Tavern |
| + Flowers & INXS | ||
| 28/11/80 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Boys | ||
| 27/02/81 | Melbourne | Myer Music Bowl |
| + AC/DC + The Angels | ||
| 13/11/81 | Gladesville | Bayview Hotel |
| + Flaming Hands | ||
| 10/09/83 | Blacktown, NSW | Blacktown RSL Club |
| 12/10/86 | Ponde, SA | Hells Angels Concert |
| 13/06/99 | Blacktown, NSW | Blacktown RSL Club |
|
The Boys Are Back In Town show. Choirboys + Matt Finish + Spy Vs Spy + Dee Minor & The Dischords + Outline + The Radiators + Swanee + Zarsoff Bros + Mandrake + Lie Detectors |
||
[…] sick that day and his place was taken by ex Daddy Cool drummer, Gary Young. You will also find John Swan standing side stage. At the end of the show I managed to talk my way backstage […]
[…] Swanee […]
hello john trying to contact you through your e.mail please e.mail me as I need to
speak to you.The band I played was Tailor Made please contact me thx. regards
matey JC
Hi John and Virginia, hope all is good with you both. Think of you often and hope
to see you again one day as you were the best neighbours.
Love Jenny, Ross,Matt,Beau and Nick (Tamborine Mt.)
[…] Swanee […]
Hi
I am one of your Auntie Gretta daughter in laws, she just turned 80 we had a celebration in a restuarant in Princes square Glasgow and she looked so regal . Auntie Pat sent a card. I know she misses all her brothers and sisiters we all know your Dad as Uncle Jim or Gentleman Jim the boxer it would be lovely to get in touch.
April ( Graemes wife)
Love to get to kno w you guys
Loved my dad More than life itself
[…] to go and film/photograph there and also to film all the musicians I grew up seeing, including John Swan. I sent a friends request to John on face book and then asked could I film, telling him I […]
[…] sick that day and his place was taken by ex Daddy Cool drummer, Gary Young. You will also find John Swan standing side stage. At the end of the show I managed to talk my way backstage […]
23\7\16 Seen you play at Barooga sporties what night to bring back memories loved it loved it loved it hanks for the night
Hi John, enjoyed working with you, hope you are in good health and enjoying life!
[…] Swanee […]
[…] of note e.g. “Lady What’s Your Name” & “Temporary Heartache” for Swanee). Although Alan Mansfield was the obvious choice, he had taken up an offer to join Dragon as a […]
[…] The Reels, Laughing Clowns, The Elks, Lime Spiders, The Riptides, D-Minor and the Dischords, Swanee, Moving Pictures, Richard Clapton, Dynamic Hepnotics, Russell Morris, Lonely Hearts, Old 55, boy […]
Saw John twice in concert. My own opinion is that he was a cut above Jimmy. Jimmy could sing but John had a voice. To this day I can still see him pumping out ‘River Deep Mountain High’. I thought he was going to blow the roof off.