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Sharon O'Neill was born on November 23rd 1952 in Nelson, New Zealand. She began in the music industry as a member of a folk trio. Deciding to get into the industry full time, she gave up her job as a radio programmer and joined a band which played the New Zealand pub circuit. Her first venture as a solo artist was the 1978 LP "This Heart, This Song" which won her the Female Vocalist of the Year award in New Zealand. Her next LP was "Words" in 1980 and later that year she toured Australia as support act for Boz Scaggs. Her most successful single so far has been "Maxine" in 1983 which caused a minor scandal with its controversial video. What's your first memory? "A little wooden beetle! It was striped, had two wobbly antennae, was on wheels and had a string I used to pull. I must have been about two. Every time I see one in a shop I immediately think of it. Where is it now? Probably buried 40 feet under in Nelson, New Zealand". What did your parents do for a
living? "My father was an artist. He used to design
glass with a sand-blasting technique. The designs were sometimes
of people, foliage and nativity scenes for churches. Mum wrote
great poems though not for publication. That's probaby one of the
reasons I started to write lyrics. Mum's style was kind of
humorous". Was was your first record bought? "Girl On A Swing" by Gerry and the Pacemakers. I must have been about 10. I liked his voice. I bought it of a friend who was a bit older than me. He ripped me off because he charged me full price and he'd already played it stacks of times!" What was your first concert attended? "You'll laugh! It was Kenneth McKellar, the Scottish tenor. My mother loved him. It was at the Majestic Theatre in Nelson and he wore a kilt. I suppose I was about seven. I enjoyed it because I love music". What was your first stage performance? "In a school hall though it wasn't my school. I was singing with my girlfriend, Nancy. We sang "Winkin Blinkin' And Nod" and I was so blinkin' nervous I could hardly play the guitar. I'd done competitions before but they were for ballet. I'd never actually stood on stage and sung. I felt great at the end of it". What was the first song you wrote? "Life Upon Life" in my hippy days. I must have been about 14 or 15. Say no more! It was a very confused song. I don't know what I was trying to say. I suppose it was about an awareness of things pilling on top of you. I think I wrote it sitting on the corner of the kitchen table with my guitar. The acoustics were good in the kitchen. Every now and then Mum came out and told me to keep the noise down. But in a nice way". Did you have a part-time job then? "No. But my girlfriend and I did spots in cabarets at the weekends. They were more like drunken revelries. We'd do five or six folky songs and then lapse into a bit of pop. Stuff like Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds Of Silence" and Mary Hopkins's "Temma Harbour". Your first crush? "A guy from school who had spots. Peter was his name. He was taller than me. That's what attracted me. And he was shy. That was a challenge. We'd sit on the school bench and hold hands". Where did you meet your first husband, Brent Thomas? "In Hamilton, New Zealand. He'd just left a band and so had I. A few days later we were parked in a street and he was parked on the other side. The guy we were with knew him. He waved, we went across and met him. Shortly afterwards we all formed a band called Jessika. I had a cat called Jessika so we thought we'd call it that". Your happiest holiday ever? "It was on a farm in Wairapa, New Zealand, when I was about 8. I remember they had horses, ducks, dogs, frogs and possums. I was in my element. I'd never been on a farm or that close to animals before. I remember the smell. What was it like? Manure". What's your bedroom like? "A mess. It's not decorated. It's totally functional. There's a bed, a wardrobe and very important, a laundry basket. It's important because it hides things. There are papers and books everywhere and little ideas for songs scribbled everywhere. There's my teddy bear, he's called "The Wee Chap" and is only 5 inches high". Can you repair the car if it breaks down? "No! I'd probably get out and get a cab. I'd ring my husband and say 'help'! Still, I never played with dolls but with 'hammers and nails'. I enjoy trying to be handy". Have you ever bought an outfit you've never dared to wear in public? "No. But I have been on stage when my trousers split. That's daring, isn't it? I was in New Zealand doing a tour around the pubs. That's the worst environment ever. I had these satin pants - they were flared and multi-coloured - and basically they were too tight!" Who would you most like to write a song for? "I've always wanted Linda Rondstadt to do one because I've always been in love with her voice". A favourite book you've read? "Clive James and "The Crystal Bucket". It was very funny - a joy to read. I'm trying to find time to read more. Before I always thought if I had any spare time I should use it to write songs. In some ways music can be very numbing to the brain". What would you be if you weren't a
pop star? "I'd
probably be in an office typing. I'm pleased I can sing and write
songs. Still, I've done temping as a legal secretary at many
different times in my career. It's called money to survive".
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