How did it start?
In his own words, James describes how he came to join RegionalLink
I was coming home from a concert in Kununurra (in the top east end of Western Australia) with Airnorth, who sponsor the now famous Ord Valley Muster. The band and I were flying back after having been there and performing with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra on the last night of the Muster which culminates in the fantastic Slingair Heliworks Kimberley Moon concert.
It is an open air concert held under the stars and we timed it specially to have the full moon rise over the stage as I starting singing one of my songs - Kimberley Moon. It's a spectacular site and an event certainly not to be missed. Anyhow I was on this plane coming back to Darwin and sat next to a bloke with whom I quickly started a conversation. He told me he worked for Airnorth. We talked for what seemed like hours about the problems of the bush and the difficulty Regional Australia faced with reducing infrastructure, services and basic needs.
He then told me about an idea that he was working on and that was to assist regional airlines and regional communities in maintaining sustainable and viable air services. He articulated a vision that I could clearly relate to, having seen and experienced the things he was talking about myself.
When we got off the plane, I shook his hand and expressed my appreciation of the discussion and asked..."by the way...what do you do in the company?".
"I run it," he said ...
"It turned out to be Michael Bridge the CEO and part owner of Airnorth. Some months later, I was pleased to begin working for RegionalLink as their Ambassador and 'voice' and the rest is now history...
James Blundell - What will he do with RegionalLink?
As well as appearing in print and electronic promotions for RegionalLink throughout Australia, Mr Blundell will be the voice of the group in announcements ranging from on-hold phone messages to in-flight safety briefing tapes. Many of his performances in regional Australia will also be supported by the new airline group.
"I grew up on a sheep and cattle station in Queensland, and have always been passionate about regional Australia and its people," said Mr Blundell. "The bush is really the heart and soul of this country and it is the RegionalLink commitment to sustainable flights to regional centres that has convinced me to endorse this concept."
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, the Hon Clare Martin MP, said the vast distances and sparse population of Australia made the regional airline industry critical to the national interest. "Healthy regional airlines are crucial to the well-being of remote communities, particularly here in the Northern Territory," said Ms Martin.
"The RegionalLink concept is to be applauded for its aim of providing sustainable and affordable services through a strategy of shared resources and lower costs for participating airlines."
James Blundell - The singer and song writer
In the current landscape of cross-pollinating musical genres James Blundell no longer finds himself bound by the artistic restrictions once imposed on country artists.
Finding common ground with the likes of noted music rebels such as Steve Earle and Gram Parsons who found initial success in the country genre before branching out with their own brand of country-rock Blundell's music in the year 2004 is as much rock and pop as it is country and roots.
The forthcoming studio album 'Deluge' sees the platinum-selling performer widening his repertoire with a sound guaranteed to appeal to rock and country fans alike (think Tom Petty, John Mellencamp). "The songs are about commitment, courage, and celebration," says James, "and I am really looking forward to going on the road to perform them."
Over the course of his 15 year career James Blundell has earnt himself a reputation as a master story teller with his ability to weaves tales of contemporary Australian life and traditional values into a style that appeal to the heartland of this wide brown land.
On 'Deluge' Blundell's writing skills are complimented by the talents of Phil Rigger and Terry McArthur from Sydney spoken word outfit the cube. Phil Rigger was also responsible for the production and mixing of 'Deluge'.
One of Australian country music's true success stories James Blundell has been the recipient of 9 Golden Guitar awards and is a four-time ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) Award nominee. He was the first local country artist to create an impact on the mainstream pop charts ('Way Out West' his duet with James Reyne was one of the biggest selling singles of 1992) and the first Australian country act to sign to a major label recording deal via Nashville in the USA.
'Deluge' is James Blundell's eighth studio album was released on Revenge Records via MGM Distribution on January 26, 2005.
AN ANTHEM FOR A GENERATION:
JAMES BLUNDELL RELEASES HIS LANDMARK NEW SINGLE 'POSTCARDS FROM SAIGON'
Every now and again a song emerges on the musical landscape that speaks about what it means to be an Australian at war. Of all the wars that Australians fought and died in Vietnam was the longest and most divisive. Of all the songs written about Vietnam John Schumann's 'I Was Only 19' best captured the times and the situations.
Now James Blundell has released the poignant and compelling 'Postcards From Saigon', a song which draws not only on the Vietnam War but also more chillingly tells the present day story of many of the 48,000 surviving Vietnam Veterans.
And for the soldiers that did make it home, unlike previous wars, many were shunned or marginalised, and left to come to terms with their experiences. This is the emotional heartland of 'Postcards From Saigon'. Written by James Blundell and Terry McArthur of Sydney spoken word band, the cube, the song is not so much about the Vietnam War as the effects of the war on the returned servicemen and women who survived it:
Says James Blundell, "From the day I recorded 'Postcards' I knew this was one of those special songs. And every time I have performed it the response has been the same. People want to know the story behind it; they want to talk about what it means. This song doesn't glorify war or depict our Viet vets as victims - that is something neither they nor I would want. This is a song that recognises many vets has suffered and continued to suffer terribly from the events of those times. This is a song that is about closing the circle, and seeing them for who they are."
Barry Billing puts it this way, "The first time I heard 'Postcards From Saigon I knew at last someone has told our story. Someone had cared enough to see past the thousand-yard stare and get to the bottom of what it means to be a Vietnam Vet. "
Billing and fellow Viet vet Barry Wright worked with director Paul Howarth on the video clip, which was shot in and around Sydney and Canberra. Howarth cast Billing as one of the video's central characters.
'Postcards From Saigon' is the second single off James Blundell's new album 'Deluge' and was released on Monday April 04 by Revenge Records (distributed by MGM). Artist Royalties from the sale of the single will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia and divided between the establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Museum, and the James Blundell Scholarship for the children of Vietnam Veterans.
For further information, please contact: Neil Richards @ Square One Entertainment
Ph: +61 7 5548 6268 Mob: +61 413 391 859 Email: management@jamesblundell.com.au
POSTCARDS FROM SAIGON
My brother had a dream
My brother wore the jungle green
My brother went to Vietnam
For Harold Holt and Uncle Sam
He sent postcards from Saigon
I'm alright but it's all wrong
Three postcards from Saigon
My brother kissed the face of death
My brother drew the deepest breath
His best friend faded in his arms
He felt guilty coming home
He sent postcards from Saigon
I'm alright but it's all wrong
Three postcards from Saigon
In the killing fields the bullets sing
"Purple Haze" in the pouring rain
It's a military tattoo come from Abel and Cain
Why must history repeat itself time and time again?
My brother divorced and remarried
One son up and two miscarried
Can you help to ease the pain?
Close the circle make him whole again
Get to know him by his name
Close the circle bring him home again
He sent postcards from Saigon
Three postcards from Saigon
c 2004 McArthur-Blundell (Qwincy-Mushroom Music)
For more information on James Blundell, please click here.
