Southern Sons
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | The State |
| Founded | 1989 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Founder | Jack Jones, Phil Buckle, Peter Bowman, Geoff Cain, Virgil Donati |
| Defunct | 1996 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1996, reunited in 2019 |
| Successor | None |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jack Jones, Phil Buckle, Peter Bowman, Geoff Cain, Virgil Donati |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 5 (band members) |
Southern Sons is a rock group originating from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, established in 1989 by former members of The State alongside lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Jones. They gained recognition for their Australian top ten singles such as "Heart in Danger", "Hold Me in Your Arms", and "You Were There".
1989–1991: Formation and Southern Sons
The band Southern Sons came together in 1989, including ex-members of The State, notably guitarist Phil Buckle and frontman Jack Jones. In 1990, they contributed as session musicians on John Farnham’s album Chain Reaction and supported him on tour. They secured a contract with Farnham’s manager Glenn Wheatley through his label Wheatley Records.
July 1990 saw the release of their debut single "Heart in Danger", which climbed to number 5 on the ARIA Charts. Their self-titled first album was launched in November 1990, also reaching number 5 on the ARIA albums chart. Subsequent singles included "Always and Ever" and the ballad "Hold Me in Your Arms", the latter achieving a peak position of number 9 in March 1991.
1992–1996: Nothing But the Truth and Zone
In August 1992, Southern Sons introduced "Lead Me to Water" as the first single from their sophomore album, which peaked at number 36. Their second studio album, Nothing But the Truth, was released in November 1992, coinciding with guitarist Peter Bowman's exit from the band. The third single from this album, "You Were There," reached number 6 on the charts by May 1993. Additionally, three tracks by Southern Sons were featured in the Sydney Dance Company’s 1993 production of Beauty and the Beast.
Their third and final studio effort, Zone, was issued in 1996. The lead single "Don't Tell Me What's Right" included guest vocals by Colin Hay of Men at Work. The group disbanded later that same year.
1996–2018: Post-Southern Sons Activities
Between 1992 and 1995, Jones was married to Australian actress Rebecca Gibney, originally from New Zealand; the marriage ended in divorce. He resumed using his birth name, Irwin Thomas, under which he recorded with a new band. He also partnered with INXS bassist Gary Beers in the band Mudhead, releasing one album. In 1999, Jones performed alongside John Farnham during the I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour and at the Tour of Duty Concert for Australian peacekeepers stationed in Dili, East Timor. From 2004 until 2011, he played with Melbourne-based Electric Mary, releasing music independently before moving to New York City.
Jones and drummer Virgil Donati became part of Tina Arena’s backing ensemble for her In Deep tour.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Donati conducts clinics and records with various artists including Steve Vai. He joined U.S. rock group Soul Sirkus in 2005, founded the progressive metal/jazz fusion band Planet X in 2000, and has toured with Allan Holdsworth since 2012. Donati remains an active session musician contributing to numerous albums.
Geoff Cain spent several years living in Spain before returning to Australia; he now resides with his family in Warrnambool and continues participating actively within the local music community.
Peter Bowman departed prior to the release of Nothing But the Truth and has since concentrated on songwriting and producing records independently, notably collaborating with Debra Byrne on her Sleeping Child album.
Plans for a reunion tour are currently underway.
2019–present: Reunion of the Band
In November 2019, Southern Sons reunited—excluding Phil Buckle—to perform at the One Electric Day event held on Cockatoo Island in Sydney, sharing the stage with artists such as John Farnham and James Reyne. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has resumed touring across Australia, with performances extending into 2025.
Band Members
- Jack Jones – lead vocals and guitar
- Phil Buckle – guitar and backing vocals
- Peter Bowman – guitar and backing vocals
- Geoff Cain – bass guitar
- Virgil Donati – drums and keyboards
Studio Albums
| Album | Release Information | Chart Peak Positions | Certifications (sales benchmarks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | |||
| Southern Sons | 5 |
| |
| Nothing But the Truth |
|
26 | |
| Zone |
|
129 |
Compilation Albums
| Album Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Truth |
|
Extended Plays
| EP Title | Release Details | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Train Tracks |
|
40 |
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Peak Chart Positions | Certifications (sales benchmarks) |
Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||||
| 1990 | "Heart in Danger" | 5 |
|
Southern Sons |
| "Always and Ever" | 16 | |||
| 1991 | "Hold Me in Your Arms" | 9 | ||
| "The World Is Mine" (released in Europe) | — | |||
| 1992 | "Lead Me to Water" | 36 | Nothing But the Truth | |
| "I Can't Wait Any Longer" | 111 | |||
| 1993 | "You Were There" | 6 |
| |
| "Sometimes" | 99 | |||
| "Silent Witnesses" | 88 | |||
| 1996 | "Don't Tell Me What's Right" | 57 | Zone | |
| "Trust in Me" | 127 |
Video Releases
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Southern Sons: The Video (VHS) |
Official Music Videos
| Year | Track | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Heart in Danger" | Craig Griffin |
| "Always and Ever" | Lance Reynolds | |
| "Hold Me in Your Arms" | Craig Griffin | |
| 1991 | "Waiting for That Train" | Neil Stone, Robbie Blackburn |
| 1992 | "Lead Me to Water" | |
| "You Were There" | ||
| 1995 | "Trust in Me" |
Additional Contributions
| Year | Track | Compilation |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "The Little Drummer Boy" | The Spirit of Christmas 1993 |
| 1995 | "You Were There" | Music from Blue Heelers (Television soundtrack) |
ARIA Music Awards
Since their inception in 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements and creativity within Australia's music industry. Southern Sons earned several nominations and secured the Producer of the Year award in 1991, credited to Ross Fraser’s production on "Heart in Danger."
| Year | Work | Award Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Heart in Danger" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | Nominee |
| Southern Sons | Breakthrough Artist - Album | Nominee | |
| Ross Fraser for "Heart in Danger" | Producer of the Year | Winner | |
| Doug Brady for "Always and Forever" and "Heart in Danger" | Engineer of the Year | Nominee | |
| 1992 | "Hold Me in Your Arms" | Song of the Year | Nominee |
| Ross Fraser for "Hold Me in Arms" | Producer of the Year | Nominee |