Archie Roach: Tell Me Why

A new work sharing stories and songs from Archie Roach's new memoir and companion album.

Not many have lived as many lives - from stolen child, teenage alcoholic, seeker, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, to social advocate and First Nations leader - but it took almost a lifetime to find who he really was. 

He is Archie Roach.

In recent years he faced the sudden death of his life partner and musical collaborator of 38 years, Ruby Hunter, and went on to survive a debilitating stroke and lung cancer.
Forcibly removed at only two from loving parents, six other siblings and his community, Roach's early years were equally traumatic.  He bacame a teenage alcoholic and drifted into destitution whilst searching for his identity and place.

Tell Me Why, the title of his new Memoir (Simon and Schuster), is an intimate, moving and often confronting account of his resilience and strength of spirit, and also of a great love story.  It's an extraordinary odyssey of love and heartbreak, family and community, survival and renewal - and the healing power of music.

Tell Me Why, also the title of the companion album (Bloodlines), considered Roach's 18 song 'magnum opus', re-imagines eleven songs which have defined his extraordinary career, together with two songs, previously written but never recorded, two songs of early-influence and three brand new recordings.

Roach voices the joy, pain and hope he found on his path through these songs to become the legendary singer-songwriter and storyteller that he is today - beloved and respected by fans worldwide.