Redgum

Redgum were formed in 1975 when three students at Flinders University, John Schumann, Michael Atkinson (not the future Labor politician of the same name) and Verity Truman, collaborated for a musical assessment piece for their Politics and Art course. The trio quickly gained fame around the University community for their forthright songs, and by 1976 had been joined by violinist Chris Timms. The group were soon in demand for parties, pubs and rallies throughout South Australia and Victoria, but it was only after the group released their second album, Virgin Ground, in 1980 to strong sales and critical acclaim, that the group became a full-time going concern and started touring the nation.

Redgum made Australian music history by refusing to appear live on Countdown in the 80s while their single was No1 in the charts. But the band is probably best known for the legendary Vietnam war song ‘I Was Only 19’. The song was inspired by Schumann’s brother-in-law, Mick Storen, who was only 19 when he was sent to Vietnam. John didn’t expect the song to be a huge hit – he was on holidays in Bali when the record company called to say that ‘I Was Only 19’ was number one. Redgum had two more Top 10 hits – 1984’s ‘I’ve Been To Bali Too’ and 1985’s ‘The Drover’s Dog’.

John Schumann performed ‘I was only 19’ for the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert.

Schumann's 2008 album, Behind the Lines, is a reworking of some of Australia’s best known war songs such as Eric Bogle’s ‘Band Played Waltzing Matilda’, Midnight Oil’s My Country’, Cold Chisel’s classic ‘Khe Sahn’ and of course, ‘I Was Only 19’.

Links:
http://www.schumann.com.au/john