Swanee (singer)

John Swan
Background information
Birth name	John Archibold Dixon Swan
Also known as	Swanee
Born	1952 (age 64–65)
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom
Genres	Rock Hard rock
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, drums
Years active	1966 –
Associated acts	The Party Boys Fraternity Feather Cold Chisel

John Swan OAM (born 1952 in Glasgow, Scotland), better known as Swanee, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer.

He was born John Archibold Dixon Swan in Glasgow, Scotland in 1952. He is the older brother of rock legend Jimmy Barnes, and musician and singer Alan Barnes, and the uncle of singer and stage performer David Campbell, Matthew Schlammel (who has a band called Schlam), and of singers Mahalia Barnes, Eliza-Jane Barnes, Elly-may Barnes and Jackie Barnes (who performed together as Tin Lids).

Swan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1952. He migrated to Australia with his family in 1961. When his mother remarried in the mid-1960s, he was the only child to keep the surname of his biological father, who was an adept boxer. While Swan's music career has never reached the heights of that of his more famous younger brother, he is well known and respected in his own right. His celebrity status has afforded him the ability to rally aid and help others, as his charitable and generous nature very often dictates.

Swan joined his first professional band, Happiness, as a drummer when he was fourteen. When he was seventeen, he enlisted in the Australian Army, and was discharged after two years of service. In early 1974 he was the drummer with the "James Wright Band", moving on to Jim Keays' Southern Cross for a short time. By late 1974 he was playing in Adelaide band Fraternity. Brother Jimmy Barnes had replaced Scott as Fraternity's singer but Barnes' stay was brief before he left to join Cold Chisel, and Swan took over on vocals. Swan also appeared live with Cold Chisel from time to time, providing backing vocals and percussion.

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