A member of the internationally successful 1960s-70s Brisbane band New World (originally New World Trio) with hits such as Try To Remember, Tom-Tom Turnaround and Sister Jane, John later pursued an academic career and is now Professor in the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University.

A few years ago John rekindled his love of music and began writing songs and performing around Brisbane, including at Red Hill Folk where big chief Anne Infante suggested (forcefully) that he record some of his growing repertoire.

He thereupon spent time with Mark Smith at Real Productions to produce two albums, one folk-based entitled ‘Such is Life’, the other more in the singer-songwriter mode entitled ‘Australia Made Me’, both launched at Red Hill Folk in March 2018.