The Silver River

by Jim Moginie

A moving and inspiring memoir of families lost and rediscovered, by a founding member of legendary band Midnight Oil.

For fifty years, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie was a driving force behind one of Australia's most iconic rock bands, Midnight Oil. As they made their way through the nascent domestic punk scene and the uncharted musical territory of the Western Desert to the concert halls of Europe and America, the band members developed a feeling of 'five against the world'. For Jim, this de facto family was a bulwark against a nagging sense that something was missing from his he'd long known that his biological mother had given him up for adoption as a baby. While Midnight Oil grappled with the challenges of chart success, their political activism and global tours, Jim's quest to find his birth family increasingly led him in different directions, to the quiet suburbs of Canberra and the meandering rivers and verdant hills of rural Ireland - and emotional reunions with long-lost relatives.

Threaded with vivid recollections of childhood, behind-the-scenes stories of band life and fascinating insights into the creative processes that produced some of this country's most beloved songs, The Silver River is at once a lyrical coming-of-age story, a heart-warming family chronicle and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Australian music.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2024

Reviews

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for Midnight Oil fans. This reads as a personal and poignant account of an extraordinary (and yet ordinary) man's life. His reflections are deep and thought-provoking and reading it you find yourself reflecting on a life lived. A unique view of the Oils and their career through the eyes of a sensitive and intelligent soul. I found this story threaded with both sadness but also a joy of living and appreciating life. It provided me with a different consideration of what it means to be part of an extraordinary band (and movement!) and yet Jim Mogninie remains humble and honest. Inspiring.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this.

Moginie's writing is effortless, his imagery precise - a real economy of style. The Silver River is a warts-and-all Midnight Oil music memoir - not in terms of depictions of excess, but of getting inside the psychology of the campaign for success, the realisation of that success and then capturing the emotional tumult when 50 years of campaigning grinds to a halt.

It's also a moving and measured exploration of the drive to find his birth parents, and the conflicted feelings that emerge - both expected and unexpected.

Can't wait to speak with Jim about his book during our live Q&A for Newcastle Writers Festival 2024, Watt Street Gallery, Sunday April 7 at 1.30pm.

Jim will also appear at the live reading and musical performance event Words & Music, Newcastle Conservatorium, at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Midnight Oil stories, especially those about the challenges with just making a profit on some of the later tours and with the downturn of sales and airplay in the '90s and beyond. But what makes this book from Jim Moginie so compelling is his search for his birth parents and how open Jim is about that entire experience. Midnight Oil is my favorite all-time band, but this book should be read even if you're not a Powderworker. It's a real gem!

[Geoff Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully poetic writer Jim Moginie is. No surpise if you’ve heard his guitar playing and song writing in Midnight Oil. Moginie weaves the story of the Oils, the search for his biological parents and discovery of his Irish heritage in this excellent memoir. Highly recommended.

[Brendan Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The audiobook is read by the author, the creator, the musician and songwriter, and one of the massive driving forces that powered Midnight Oil. Already one of my favourite bands, this book only gave me another level of appreciation for their body of work. Also a very person and heart moving life in words.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim’s vulnerability as an artist and a person comes across in this great read. The narrative is never laboured and moves along at a steady clip. For Midnight Oil fans, it may be a little light on details around the writing and recording of key songs and albums, but it puts that side of his life into great perspective.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read, following Jim’s life as he learns of his adoption, deals with fame and finds his other family outside the band. Recollections for me of Midnight Oil’s history, their concerts and the Sydney Olympics. Introduced more music to listen to.

[Andrew Fielding · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book for anyone interested in Australian rock music from 70s and 80s. Moginie follows his journey through his musical and personal experiences. The impact of adoption on a sense of place is clear. It ends with the final gig and sense of accomplishment and thanks. Well written and a pleasure to read.

[Tim Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read - a gentle meander through a fruitful life. Sparing in volume, rich in quality. I hope he writes another book.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author in question, and his principal work with the band in question, are both icons of the Australian music industry from my teenage years until now, these later 50’s year old years, of my life. So, I decided to add this work to several others about the band that I have read.

It was an excellent decision.

The author tells his story in his words and across ~40yrs of his evolution as a both a teenager to man, as a musician and as an individual who has taken a personal journey many of us can only seek to understand as we have not lived that experience or life (no spoilers).

OK, so I’m a respectful fan of the authors artistic contributions to one of the most formative musical acts of my, and many other, Australian’s lives who went on the evolution of Midnight Oil from Sydney northern beaches band telling the stories of that time in the late 1970’s, through the nuclear threat age, through the greater awareness of indigenous rights in Australia and into the environmental actions now entrenched in many parts of the world and our society. The truths and stories conveyed have been evolutionary as you would hope for from an artist such as the author.

His personal story is also aptly told, without grandeur, without a seeking of attention or emotion from the reader, but in a style that brought all that at least from this reader as I was allowed an insight and a greater understanding of the author.

Follower, fan or passionate devotee or not, in this readers opinion, time is well invested in reading this.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit dumbstruck after finishing this book. It's extraordinarily well written, pure poetry and every word is crucial and precious.
I couldn't skip a single word.
Yet it's not ego driven or a brag, characteristic of so many autobiographies, especially those that document an internationally successful career in music like Jim's.
That might have been an easier, expected path to take but this book is a whole level above.
While it feels selfless in the writing, it's a journey of self discovery.
It's also a fascinating insight into the machine of the commercial music industry and how hard it must be to stay artistically pure within that machine. Always straight shooting yet exquisitely written, humble, funny, fascinating, Jim Moginie is a truly gifted writer.

[Andrew Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read by someone living the contradiction of not being keen on the spotlight but being a member of one of Australia’s greatest musical acts. Jim provides an insight into the workings of the band, but also what it took to make the band work. A brutally honest description of the doubts and second guessing that occur when even the best start to lose their way, but still the desire to keep on trying. The journey to find his own family, and to gain their acceptance, allows the angry rock and roller to finally find his own peace.

[Flermilyxx]

** Some thoughts: 9:07AM (GMT+11) | Sydney, Australia (at computer; work begins soon) **

Purchased this for my Dad, who's a massive Midnight Oil fan; now he's finished it, he's given it to me to read.

Standout moment: Moginie's recollection of a gig in early 1976 where his band, the FARM/Midnight Oil, supported AC/DC at Ryde Youth Club at an underground car park beneath the shopping centre to thirty or so teenagers, some doing a range of tricks on their skateboards (as kids do). That night, the AC/DC boys would supposedly be heading to Bondi Lifesaver for a show. Crazy!

[Rachael McDiarmid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently watched the Midnight Oil documentary and re-lived all the fantastic memories of their concerts, their songs, and what they contributed to not only musical culture but to society and political life as a whole. It was a natural fit then to continue with The Silver River, Jim’s memoir, which provided great insights into that long part of his life but also his personal life and what it was like to be adopted and rediscover your family. In a way, it was a book about family - his musical one and his private one. I enjoyed it.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably not my usual fare as music and bands are not the first thing I think of in terms of books, but it was an enjoyable and interesting read. Especially his being identified as of Irish origin by a chambermaid during a trip there, before he knew the origins of his birth family. Also finding out that Peter Garrett got the job as frontman for Midnight Oil when he was the only person to answer the ad the band put in the Herald! Not only for rusted-on fans.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir by a founding member of Midnight Oil, arguably Australia's most successful and well known rock n' roll band. Midnight Oil was quintessential Australian. The author's story was more than the story of Midnight Oil. He was adopted and he eventually sought out his birth family, although he was very fortunate as his adopted family gave him a wonderful like that allowed him to pursue his dreams.

[Lulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book wasn’t just a story of one’s existence in a band… There was so much more and I am thankful. Not your average musician’s autobiography. An incredibly well written account of the highs and lows, twists and turns that made the great Jim Moginie. Such a rich story, I could not put the book down. Thanks for sharing your story with us Jim. Cheers.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very personal amount, sometimes indulgent but some very interesting flashbacks into the Oils and their journey. Jim's had quite a life, from being adopted through to finding his birth family & being in a crazy industry. Anyone interested in Aussie rock history def worth a read.

[Duncan Swann]

50%

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Loved!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An understated tale of loss and triumph, and the surprising influence of the flute, on a guitar player.

[tinkingaboutbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF. Interesting, however I got to the half way point and gave in to my huge TBR pile.

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. Very tedious. I guess you have to be a midnight oil fan to enjoy this.

[Suzanne Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. A wonderful story especially if you’re a Midnight Oil fan