Peter Freebairn
ABOUT
Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Peter Freebairn grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne during the mid-1970s. At the age of 11, he became fascinated with the guitar – “I loved the look, sound and smell of the instrument,” he recalls.
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He scraped and saved, and with help from his parents, became the proud owner of his first acoustic guitar. Drawn to the sounds of The Beatles and Neil Young, Freebairn soon mastered enough chords to play along with his favourite songs.
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A year later he bought his first electric guitar and began jamming with other local kids, mostly blasting out 12-bar blues and Status Quo boogie. By 14 he had formed his first band, RAGE, with his brother Ross on vocals. The band played school gigs, parties and local halls – a classic garage outfit.
Around this time, Freebairn discovered surfing, often performing impromptu beachside gigs with drummer Paul Boyle on Victoria’s west coast.
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At 17, he formed an acoustic duo playing covers in Melbourne pubs but soon grew tired of performing other people’s songs. Moving to Sydney, he formed NEO CLASSIQUE, a rock band active on the Northern Beaches pub circuit for about a year before returning to Melbourne in 1990 to perform solo acoustic shows.
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Freebairn’s first major break came in the early 2000s with his band THE WISH. After recording a set of demos, he secured a publishing deal with BMG. The material attracted the attention of Daniel Jones (Savage Garden), who recorded and produced the tracks at his Queensland studio. The sessions were engineered by Peter “Reggie” Bowman(Southern Sons) with Darren Middleton (Powderfinger) contributing a guitar solo.
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The collaboration produced the national radio hits Love Is Alive, Gotta Let You Know and Don’t Change. Following the 9/11 attacks, Freebairn wrote Faith Alive, a song encouraging strength and unity during grief and loss. In 2006, the track was selected for the NBC television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, co-starring Matthew Perry. Its inclusion in a promotional clip aired during the Golden Globe Awards, reaching millions of US viewers.
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After The Wish disbanded in 2006, Freebairn formed Radio Vertigo, releasing two acclaimed EPs – Town of Deceivers and Evolution. The single Free received national airplay including on Triple M Melbourne.
Radio Vertigo in 2011. L to R: Ryan Adamson (bass), Peter Freebairn (guitar / lead vocals), Jo George (keys / backing vocals), Paul Boyle (drums).
In 2019, Freebairn released his debut solo EP, a six-track self-titled collection that received extensive community radio play. In 2021–22 he opened several shows for Melbourne band Jacobs Run during their residency at Richmond’s Jimmy Hornet.
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A burst of creativity in early 2023 led to his first full-length solo album, Silhouettes and Cigarettes, released by Pop Preservation Society on 17 May 2024. Freebairn wrote, arranged and produced the record, performing all instruments except drums. Paul Boyle contributed drums, and Jo George added keys and harmonies on the lead single I Got Lucky (I Got You). More about the release.
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In December 2024, Freebairn’s song Free was featured in J9 Faves, a recurring segment on the FanDuel Sports Network(formerly Bally Sports). Curated by Janine Kerr, VP of Music, the program highlights artists across Bally’s regional affiliates, including the YES Network (New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets) and Marquee Sports Network (Chicago Cubs). The placement gave Freebairn’s music international exposure across US sports broadcasts and digital platforms – a significant career milestone connecting Australian independent music with the North American sports and entertainment market.
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Since the album’s release, Freebairn has continued performing with Radio Vertigo, including a sell-out show at Melbourne’s Evelyn Hotel in August 2025 alongside label mates Horizon. He is currently writing and recording material for his next album, due in 2026.
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Freebairn’s melodic songwriting reflects his life experiences and deep sense of family. Known for his humour and modesty, he once quipped in an interview: “My mother once had a sewing machine that was a Singer.”
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His influences include The Beatles, Neil Young, Tom Waits, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, Curtis Mayfield, Robin Trower, XTC, Jellyfish and Matthew Sweet. Still an avid surfer, he lives with his wife and two daughters in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.