Southern Sons is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 1989 by members of The State along with lead vocalist and guitarist Irwin Thomas, who was then using the stage name Jack Jones. They are best known for their Australian top ten hits "Heart in Danger", "Hold Me in Your Arms", and "You Were There".
Career 1989–1991: Beginnings and Southern Sons
Southern Sons were established in 1989 and featured several members of the band The State, one such member guitarist Phil Buckle and Sons lead man Jack Jones in 1990 worked alongside John Farnham as session musicians on his album Chain Reaction, as well a accompanied Farnham on tour. The group signed a record deal with Farnham's manager Glenn Wheatley on his Wheatley Records label.
In July 1990, Southern Sons released their debut single "Heart in Danger", which peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. In November 1990, the single "Always and Ever" was released as well as the group's debut self-titled album, Southern Sons peaked at number 5 on the ARIA albums chart. A third single, the ballad "Hold Me in Your Arms" was released in March 1991 and peaked at number 9.
1992–1996: Nothing But the Truth and Zone
In August 1992, Southern Sons released "Lead Me to Water", the lead single from the group's second studio album. The song peaked at number 36. Nothing But the Truth, was released in November 1992 and came with the departure of guitarist Peter Bowman. The album's third single "You Were There" peaked at number 6 in May 1993. The Sydney Dance Company included three Southern Sons songs in its 1993 production of Beauty and the Beast.
Southern Sons' third and final studio album, Zone, was released in 1996. The album's lead single, "Don't Tell Me What's Right", featured vocals from Men at Work's Colin Hay. Soon after the album's release, Southern Sons disbanded.
1996–2018: After Southern Sons Jones was married to New Zealand-born Australian actress Rebecca Gibney from 1992–1995. The marriage ended in divorce. Jack Jones reverted to his birth name Irwin Thomas and has recorded under that name with several projects, including Mudhead and Electric Mary, while also joining John Farnham on multiple tours. In 1999 Jones played on the Tour of Duty – Concert for the Troops for peacekeeping Australian troops in Dili, East Timor.
2019–present: Band re-formation In 2019 the group re-formed after 22 years, for One Electric Day concert.
The group toured Australia in 2025 and again in 2026.
Members Jack Jones – lead vocals, guitar Phil Buckle – guitar, vocals Peter Bowman – guitar, vocals Geoff Cain – bass Virgil Donati – drums, studio keyboards Pete Drummond - tour drums and vocals
Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds)AUSAustralian (ARIA) chart peaks: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks to December 2010: All ARIA peaks: N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. Southern Sons Released: November 1990 Label: Wheatley, RCA, BMG Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette 5ARIA: 2× Platinum Nothing But the Truth Released: November 1992 Label: RCA, BMG Formats: CD, cassette 26 Zone Released: August 1996 Label: RCA, BMG Formats: CD, cassette 129
Compilation albums Title DetailsTruth Released: 1993 (International release) Label: RCA, BMG
Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positionsAUS Train Tracks Released: June 1991 Label: RCA, BMG Formats: CD, cassette 40
Singles Year Single Peak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds) AlbumAUS1990 "Heart in Danger" 5ARIA: GoldSouthern Sons "Always and Ever" 16 1991 "Hold Me in Your Arms" 9 "The World Is Mine" (European release) 1992 "Lead Me to Water" 36Nothing But the Truth "I Can't Wait Any Longer" 111 1993 "You Were There" 6ARIA: Gold "Sometimes" 99 "Silent Witnesses" 88 1996 "Don't Tell Me What's Right" 57Zone "Trust in Me" 127
Video albums Year Album 1991 Southern Sons: The Video (VHS)
Music videos Year Song 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"
Other appearances Year Song Album 1993 "The Little Drummer Boy" The Spirit of Christmas 1993 1995 "You Were There" Music from Blue Heelers (Television soundtrack)
Awards and nominations APRA Awards The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.
|rowspan="1"| 1991 | "Heart in Danger" (Phil Buckle) by Southern Sons | Most Performed Australian Work
|rowspan="1"| 1993 | "You Were There" (Phil Buckle) by Southern Sons | Song of the Year
|rowspan="1"| 1994 | "You Were There" (Phil Buckle) by Southern Sons | Most Performed Australian Work
ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. 1927 have won three awards.
! |- | rowspan="4"|1991 | "Heart in Danger" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | | rowspan="4"| |- | Southern Sons | Breakthrough Artist - Album
| Ross Fraser for "Heart in Danger" by Southern Sons | Producer of the Year
| Doug Brady for "Always and Forever" and "Heart in Danger" by Southern Sons | Engineer of the Year
| rowspan="2"|1992 | "Hold Me in Your Arms" | Song of the Year | | rowspan="2"| |- | Ross Fraser for "Hold Me in Your Arms" by Southern Sons | Producer of the Year
References