FAREWELL TO A FIRST NATIONS HERO

MUSIC TITAN ARCHIE ROACH LEAVES BEHIND A POWERFUL LEGACY OF LOVE AND HOPE

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The silence spoke volumes. Stunned fans lost in the beauty and heartache of Archie Roach’s deeply personal anthem, ‘Took the Children Away’, were too mesmerised to move – until they finally erupted in applause for the little-known singer.

That was 32 years ago in 1990, when Australia discovered the incredible man who would become such a powerful advocate for First Nations people across the land, performing his achingly beautiful song as a warm-up to good friend, Paul Kelly.

Thinking he had bombed, Archie started to walk off stage, explains Paul, who says the “applause started to build and build” from an audience so moved they simply took a while to respond.

Archie was soon to be given top billing, with the track winning two ARIA awards and an International Human Rights Achievement award. He also toured with the likes of Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman and Patti Smith, with songs such

‘Tell Me Why’, highlighting the pain and suffering of Indigenous Australians.

KING AMONGST MEN