Peter Rotumah

In the early 70’s Peter became interested in music after listening to great musicians such as Bob McLeod and Bob Marley. He saw how they could send across a powerful message about the struggle of the oppressed and make it heard by those who listened. At that stage he was particularly interested in Bob McLeod’s songs about the struggle of Aboriginal people in this country.
It was about this time that he got the opportunity to get up and sing a song or two at the Country Outcast gigs set up by Harry and Wilga Williams (who had a strong influence in developing contemporary Aboriginal music in Victoria) at the Grandview Hotel in Fairfield. One thing led to another and Peter began to meet up with a number of talented young Koori musos such as the late and great Henry “Chooka” Thorpe, Ian “Bear” Johnson, Ray “Buster” Thomas, Bindi Williams and Des Smith. All of these guys were proteges of Harry and Wilga.
In the late 70’s he joined a band with the former four guys and Mal Dobbins playing at the Albion Hotel in Carlton. The band was called Hard Times. 1979 at a time he was experiencing difficulties, Peter, along with Henry and Ian, wrote their first original song. That song was called “Only a Few” – song about the oppression of Aboriginal people. In 1981 Peter, Ian, Henry and a young Wayne Thorpe went to Adelaide to study at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music. At that time bands such as Us Mob, No Fixed Address and Kuckles were regulars on the Adelaide music scene. Hard Times also played regularly and Peter began to write more original songs such as Aborigine Child, Need for Freedom, Struggle No More, Dreamtime – songs that he still plays today.
From 1988 to 1992 Peter played bass for Richard Frankland’s Djaambi which went on to support Prince for his Australian tour. After that he formed his own band 3 Gubbas & Me before going solo.
Apart from doing the campus and festival circuits of Victoria, other ventures included a six week American tour initiated by the Chicago House of Blues Foundation in October 2000
Peter ventured into theatre composing sound and music for John Harding’s highly successful play “No Parking” in September 2001. He also sang and acted in Richard Frankland and Melissa Reeves soul searching “Magpie” in November 2001 and produced and played music for Circus Tarrangos, A Koori children’s circus in December 2001. Peter was also contracted to the compose sound and music for five plays of the Blak Inside 2002 series for the Ilbijerri ATSI Theatre Company in conjunction with the Playbox Theatre Company in Melbourne where he was nominated for a Green Room Award for Sound Design for Richard Frankland’s highly emotional and hard-hitting play “Conversations with the Dead”. As part of that series Peter also acted in “Conversations with the Dead” which returned to the Playbox Theatre in June 2002. In this play Peter’s role was that of “Uncle”, an Aboriginal stockman.
2006 saw him open the murundak - Black Arm Band concerts held as a part of the Melbourne Arts Festival on October. These concerts featured the cream of Indigenous Australian music. He has continued his association with the Black Arm Band in early 2008 performing concerts in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
Peter Rotumah has been penning songs and performing his music in Australia and overseas for the past twenty something years. He is a highly respected singer/songwriter and activist who continues to work tirelessly, fighting for the rights of indigenous people. Peter is deeply committed to the struggle of oppressed people’s - his music and message a powerful testament to this.
Peter Rotumah has been penning songs and performing his music in Australia and overseas for the past twenty something years. He is a highly respected singer/songwriter and activist who continues to work tirelessly, fighting for the rights of indigenous people. Peter is deeply committed to the struggle of oppressed people’s - his music and message a powerful testament to this.