John William Michael Field (born 15 May 1962) is an Australian composer and songwriter. He was a founding mainstay member of the Sydney pub rock band

the Cockroaches The Cockroaches were an Australian pub rock band active throughout the 1980s. The band was founded in 1979 by the Field brothers—Paul (lead vocals), John (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Anthony (lead guitar, vocals)—and Tony Henry on drums ...

on rhythm guitar and sharing lead vocals. He has written tracks for the children's music group,

the Wiggles The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. The group are currently composed of Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce and Tsehay Hawkins, as well as supporting members Evie Ferris, John Pearce, ...

, including "Hot Potato". His brothers, Paul Field (later the Wiggles managing director) and

Anthony Field Anthony Donald Joseph Field, AM (born 8 May 1963) is an Australian musician, actor, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a leader of the children's group the Wiggles and a member of the 1980s and 1990s pop band the Cockroaches. While ...

(the blue Wiggle), were also bandmates in the Cockroaches.

Early life and education

John William Michael Field was born on 15 May 1962 in

Darlinghurst Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district (CBD) and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Syd ...

and grew up in north-western Sydney as one of seven children. Their father, John Patrick Field (1932–98), was a suburban

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe ...

. Their mother, Marie, made sure that they all learned how to play at least one musical instrument. Field attended an all-boys boarding school, St. Joseph's College, alongside his older brother,

Paul Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chr ...

, and younger brother,

Anthony Anthony or Antony is a masculine given name, derived from the ''Antonii'', a ''gens'' ( Roman family name) to which Mark Antony (''Marcus Antonius'') belonged. According to Plutarch, the Antonii gens were Heracleidae, being descendants of Anton, ...

. Field was selected as the Under-19 New South Wales Cricketer of the Year. Anthony has declared that John would have been a professional

cricketer Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...

if it were not for his success in music.

Career

The Cockroaches and other music projects

In 1979 John Field, on rhythm guitar and co-lead vocals, formed an Australian rock, R&B and pop music band,

, alongside Paul on co-lead vocals, Anthony on co-lead vocals and guitar,

Jeff Fatt Jeffrey Wayne Fatt, AM (born 21 July 1953) is an Australian musician and actor. He was a member of the children's group The Wiggles from its founding in 1991 to 2012, and was also in the 1980s and 1990s pop band The Cockroaches. He was the old ...

on keyboards, Tony Henry on drums and Phil Robinson on bass guitar.McFarlane
'The Cockroaches'
entry. Archived fro
the original
on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2015. As a member of the Cockroaches, Field was recorded on their four studio albums, ''The Cockroaches'' (1987), ''Fingertips'' (1988), ''Positive'' (1991) and ''St. Patrick's Day 10am'' (1994), before they disbanded in 1994. Early in 1991 Anthony and Fatt had left the Cockroaches to form

, a children's music group, with

Murray Cook Murray James Cook, AM (born 30 June 1960) is an Australian musician, actor, and Disc jockey. Cook was one of the founding members of the children's band the Wiggles from 1991 to 2012. Cook provided guitar, vocals, and songwriting in the group ...

, Greg Page and Phillip Wilcher. Field helped write much of their music. In 1992 Field was a member of the Honeymen, alongside Sean Sennett. The duo released two singles, "Felt Like a Kiss" and "Motorbike of Love". Field has been in other live bands including The Alligators and The Oomph. His own group, the John Field Band, performs at parties and corporate functions. The John Field Band released two albums, a self-titled debut and ''Night Will Fall'' (December 2007). Field wrote, composed and directed a musical theatre production, ''

Evie and the Birdman ''Evie and the Birdman'', written by John Field (songwriter), John Field, first showed at The Bondi Pavilion (Sydney) for a two-week winter season. It then moved to the Mittagong, New South Wales, Mittagong Playhouse for another run a month later. ...

'' (July 2001), which originally starred

Sam Moran Samuel Alexander Moran (born 4 April 1978) is an Australian entertainer best known for having been a member of the children's band the Wiggles from 2006 to 2012. Early life Moran was born in Sydney and raised in Wagga Wagga. Career Moran stu ...

. Field created another musical, ''Who Loves Me?''. Field has also written commercial jingles, including one for Parklea Markets. In 2011 Field and Paul formed the Field Brothers, they issued a country music album, ''1964''. In 2014 Field issued a solo album, ''Bubba, mumma needs sleep: soothing music for babies and parents''.

Personal life

John Field is married to Jacqueline Fallon, who choreographed ''Evie and the Birdman''. The couple have four children. Field has a degree in education and, with his family, resides in Sydney. In May 2008, Field was diagnosed with

Dupuytren's contracture Dupuytren's contracture (also called Dupuytren's disease, Morbus Dupuytren, Viking disease, palmar fibromatosis and Celtic hand) is a condition in which one or more fingers become progressively bent in a flexed position. It is named after Guilla ...

and sought treatment.

References

;General * * Note: Archived n-linecopy has limited functionality. ;Specific

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Field, John 1962 births Living people APRA Award winners Australian songwriters People educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill Musicians from Sydney The Wiggles Australian rock guitarists Rhythm guitarists