Legendary singer John Farnham has made a “full recovery” from a chest infection after being hospitalised last month.
Coinciding with the Australian premiere of the first authorised feature documentary about his life, John Farnham: Finding the Voice, his family released a statement ahead of the red-carpet at the Astor Theatre in St Kilda on Tuesday.
Entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins told Nine’s Today Show the family didn’t want to spend all night answering questions about the much-loved singer.
Among those attending Tuesday’s premiere include his wife, Jill, their sons Robert and James, along with Daryl Braithwaite, Eddie McGuire, Totti Goldsmith, Chris Cheney, Ross Wilson, Claire Bowditch and Red Symons.
“Obviously, Jill and the boys don’t want to spend tonight [answering questions about] asking how John is … he is going OK, and they will be there at the Astor,” said Wilkins.
Farnham, 73, came down with the infection just months after he had surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his mouth.
“We’re pleased to say that John made a full recovery from a recent chest infection in late March which required hospitalisation,” the singer’s family said in a statement late on Monday.
“He is now comfortable and continues to receive ongoing treatment and rehabilitation care.”
While the Farnham family has asked for privacy, fans can send personal messages of love through a website dedicated to his recovery, weloveyoujohn.com.au
“The family would like to re-iterate their appreciation and deepest respect for all the medical staff that have attended to John over the past 8 months and the many thousands of kind messages that been received from across Australia and the world,” the family’s statement said.
On March 31, Farnham, 73, was rushed back to hospital amid ongoing rehabilitation from extensive cancer surgery in August last year, where he had part of his jaw removed.
The 12-hour-long operation involved removing a tumour and then reconstructive surgery.
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Directed by Melbourne-based producer Poppy Stockell, the feature length film follows Farnham’s life from the quiet suburbs of Melbourne to ‘60s pop fame, through the highs and lows of his career, and ultimately to his record-breaking success as ‘Australia’s Voice’
“It is unbelievable. You will laugh, you will cry. If you’re a John Farnham fan you’re already there but if you’re not, you will be. It’s a wonderful tribute, a testament to his talent,” says Wilkins.
“It’s a story of love and loyalty and perseverance.”
The documentary features Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Jimmy Barnes, Celine Dion, Robbie Williams, Daryl Braithwaite, Richard Marx, Glenn Wheatley, Gaynor Wheatley, David Hirschfelder, James Farnham, Jill Farnham and Paul Dainty.
Speaking to The New Daily last month, Stockell said it was an “absolute gift” to tell his story.
“The UK has Elton John, we have John, and I had the opportunity to tell his story … a filmmaker’s dream with such highs and lows, which were hard and heartbreaking,” she says.
“It is an epic story.”
Farnham shot to the top of the charts with his 1986 album, Whispering Jack.
“[It was] 25 weeks at No.1,” Wilkins said last month after an earlier update.
“It was the highest-selling album in Australia by an Australian artist, nearly a couple of million copies.”
“He got the double shot, released on vinyl and then CDs came along.”
Whispering Jack also produced one of the nation’s best-known anthems, You’re the Voice, and propelled Farnham to hero status.
He has received 19 ARIA awards, and was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1996, and Australian of the Year in 1987.
The feature-length documentary will premiere nationally in cinemas on May 18 for a limited season.
