The youngest of three boys, Shannon formed a band and "Cypress" played gigs in country pubs however, he was in debt and out of work. His brothers encouraged him to enter Australian Idol, a TV talent show that had millions of Australian's voting for their favourite singers. At audition, his performance of "Hold Me in Your Arms" impressed the three judges. The emotional Marcia Hines, said that, "she had just discovered a voice," and the acerbic Ian Dickson "Dicko" said, "Australia will love you." The competition was fierce and over fifteen weeks, Shannon tackled all manner of music from U2 to Frank Sinatra. Eventually, Shannon emerged as runner-up. He went on to sign a multi-album deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment and so began an incredible music journey.
His first single was the Moving Pictures' song, "What About Me". Twenty-one years after its debut, it was back at number 1 in Australia and later, at number 2 in Ireland. "Dicko" was right; Australia did love this boy from the bush.
Shannon's debut album titled "That's What I'm Talking About" entered the charts at No.1 and put Shannon Noll well and truly on a successful musical path. The albums' second single, "Drive," was a pedigree tune written by Phil Thornalley and Bryan Adams. It went top 5 and was Shannon's choice to perform at the 2004 TV Week Logie Awards. The ensuing momentum was massive and forty live shows followed in forty-seven days as yet another #1 single hit the market in the albums third single "Learn to Fly." When all was said and done the debut album "That's What I'm Talking About" had been a No.1 album and had gone on to sell a certified 5 times platinum and had remained in the top 100 albums chart for almost a year.
Setting a cracking pace, Shannon set sail for the UK and the USA with the intention of writing a second album with big-time hit makers Desmond Child and Dianne Warren. However, he felt that songs crafted with Australians were more connected to the type of album that he wanted to create so after some live shows in America, it was back to work down-under. At the same time, he was asked to play support on the Bryan Adams tour. This gave Shannon a chance to road test new songs like "Lonely". The fans loved it and in August, "Shine" was released as the first single from "Lift".
Again, it was a number 1 debut and later that year at the ARIA Awards, was nominated as Australia's Highest Selling Single. The album also showcased his burgeoning song-writing ability. Of the thirteen songs on "Lift", Shannon co-wrote eleven, a long way from the one song that was included on "That's What I'm Talking About." This second album had him digging deep and mining an emotional arsenal that included finding love, self-belief, over-coming the odds and, death. In particular, "Now I Run" hit to the heart and focussed on Shannon's relationship with his late father, Neil.
"The track's inspired by my fathers' passing. .I didn't want to not do him justice so it was a very touchy thing to write about so early in my writing career."
The inspiring title track "Lift" was selected as the theme song for the Australian version of "The Biggest Loser". It went onto spend thirty-five weeks in the top 100 singles chart and the following year, Shannon sang it at the Australian Open Tennis final. The album "Lift", shot back into the top 10 and in seventy-two shows, Shannon performed before two hundred thousand fans. "Lonely" was released as a fourth single and for the third time, Shannon won Best Male Artist at the MTV Australian Music Video Awards. He was also recognised twice by ARIA with #1 Chart Awards for the album "Lift" and the single "Shine".
At the end of the album's cycle, Shannon found new management and focussed on exploring opportunities in the huge American market. Back home, he was chosen as the opening act for shows by the Billboard topping, Live and another Australian chart record lay ahead for him. In teaming up with Natalie Bassingthwaighte to record "Don't Give Up", Shannon became the only Australian male singer to crack ten successive top 10 singles.
At the start of 2007, it was time to get writing again. He began at home and then upped stumps to continue the creative process in Los Angeles, Nashville and New York. He worked with Grammy nominated producer Luke Ebbin whose credits include Bon Jovi and Melissa Etheridge.
"I've grown a lot and I've learned a lot," says Shannon, "and it's that experience that I can now put into the recording studio as well."
Of the albums' first single "Loud," Shannon says, "Loud" starts soft but builds into a gutsy rock song that snakes its way through a myriad of sounds that often reflect Brit pop. It's about rebellion. It made me think of the times when I would get in my Dad's car on the farm and just pump up the volume."
"Loud" was one of the top 100 singles of the year and Shannon was again declared Best Male Artist at the MTV Australian Video Music Awards.
He continued to inspire sports stars by performing at the opening ceremony of the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne. He then took to the stage as Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.
Meanwhile, "Turn It Up was certified a platinum album and "In Pieces" became the second single. Says Shannon, "This song is such a strong ballad and has a personal message for me. I think many people will be able to relate to the message in it."
In 2008, he was the subject of "This Is Your Life", an emotion charged TV tale that plotted his meteoric success from farm boy to music icon which has seen him sell over 1,000,l000 units of CD's and DVD's in this country alone as well as becoming the only artist to notch up 10 consecutive Top 10 hit singles.
Shannon has now released "No Turning Back: The Story So Far." It's a classy collection of ten big hits and five new songs lead by "Summertime."
"It's not just all the songs that everyone's heard.. there's something new and a couple of them are really close to my heart, " states Shannon.
THERE'S NO TURNING BACK!
