Perth Voice Interactive

AFTER 40 years in the cosy bosom of public service, former punk rocker Neil Fernandes has emerged from his creative cocoon and is enjoying an Indian summer as a singer-songwriter.

Back in the late 1970s, Fernandes played with Kim Salmon and Dave Faulkner in Perth’s first punk rock band The Cheap Nasties.

The band broke up and became The Manikins, before Salmon went on to form the Scientists and Faulkner went on to form the legendary Hoodoo Gurus.

But what became of cult figure Fernandes?

Well he completely dropped off the musical radar and realised his “childhood dream” of becoming a public servant; working in the vocational educational system for four decades, before retiring in 2016 as managing director of Central TAFE.

His only real musical output during this period was playing with TAFE’s School of Rock at their Christmas party.

But in retirement the creative juices started flowing again and he blew the dust off his Les Paul.

“Music had always been my foremost passion, but I’d been writing briefings, speeches and reports instead of songs – much easier to do, but far less spiritually rewarding,” Fernandes says.

“It was Dave Faulkner who gave me a brief Garageband lesson some years ago that enabled me to transform the many iPhone snippets into home recordings.

“I don’t play live very often…once or twice a year to be precise…but have been regularly releasing songs.

“Nowadays, I play, write, and record almost every day….making up for lost time, and thoroughly relishing doing it for my own gratification.”

Fusing Americana, roots and rock, his solo material is like JJ Cale meets Mark Knopfler with a hint of Tom Petty.

His 2024 track Ducks in a Row is particularly good, conjuring up images of a slow-burning road trip across America’s Deep South.

His laconic, gravelly voice has lots of character, and he’s pretty handy on the guitar, knocking out tasteful, melodic solos.

Fernandes has embraced the digital age and records at home on his trusty Mac.

Occasionally friends will contribute parts remotely and his son Christopher plays drums, but generally he’s a one-man band.

“I play all original songs, when I do play, and do it solo,” Fernandes says. “Almost everyone with whom I’d love to play is already playing in bands, but I do have a faithful co-conspirator in my recordings, Howard Shawcross, bass player and mentor extra-ordinaire, who sorts the wheat from the chaff amongst the songs.”

Away from music, Fernandes says he is happy and contented, enjoying retirement with his wife, kids and grandkids.

But after a few beers late at night, does he ever sit on his porch and think about what could have been if he had pursued a career in music with his old mucker Dave Faulkner?

“I don’t think I was ever cut out for life as a gigging musician. I’d not have survived,” he says.

“I’d hated touring so never wanted to leave home as my contemporaries did, nor tour again.

“So, as I’ve said on many a previous occasion, ‘While my friends went on to fame and fortune, I realised a childhood dream of becoming a public servant’. If there is a wish, it’s that I could have developed the craft of songwriting, which is what I’m trying to do these days.

“And now, my only hope is that more people listen to my songs than read the reports I wrote when I worked in government!”

Fernandes doesn’t play many gigs, but he’s making a rare solo appearance at the Perth Folk and Roots Club 5pm-8pm on Sunday January 26 at Inglewood Bowling and Sports Club on Stancliffe St in Mt Lawley.

Also on the bill are The Snake Charmers, and the house band. It’s free entry. To find out more see perthfolk.org.