Shane Howard | Long Play Series

Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and author Shane Howard is one of Australia’s most influential musicians, both as a solo artist and as the founding member and mainstay of folk-rock band, Goanna.

Formed in 1977 in Geelong, Goanna captivated audiences across the country with songs that that displayed a passion for Indigenous rights and environmental protection. Their 1982 hit song, ‘Solid Rock’, opened up a national conversation about the continuing injustices inflicted on First Nations peoples since colonisation which continues to resonate to this day.

As a solo artist Howard has released 14 albums and worked as a music producer for numerous artists including Archie Roach and Irish folk singer Mary Black. He was a founding member of national arts ensemble for Indigenous music, Black Arm Band, and in 2016 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts.

In this interview, Shane Howard discusses his life-changing trip to Uluru and how it inspired the song ‘Solid Rock’, the pressures associated with a rapid rise to fame, and his return to solo work both in Australia and overseas.

Interviewer: Brian Nankervis
Location: Bakehouse Studios, Richmond, 2022