Paul Field
“ In 1969, Dad had a major heart attack at 36. When the ambulance came to take him to Blacktown Hospital, they told Mum he wouldn’ t survive,” Paul recalled. Miraculously, John survived, underwent a triple bypass, and went on to become a respected figure in the Blacktown community.
“ He used to write methadone prescriptions at the pharmacy and visited schools to lecture about drugs. But after being held up for the third time, that was enough,” Paul said.
Still, their father was unwavering in his support:“ He always encouraged us to pursue our dreams— he had our back.”
The three Field brothers— Paul, Anthony, and John— boarded at St Joseph’ s and soon developed a passion for music. Paul became the lead singer and booking agent of the band they formed together. Anthony and John played guitar, and future Wiggle Jeff Fatt joined on keyboards.
“ We played everywhere. We were only teenagers, performing at Kings Cross venues,” Paul said, still slightly astonished.
“ There were drugs everywhere, and we were offered drugs,” he added.
They steered clear, guided by their father’ s trust— and occasionally, his watchful eye when he came to their gigs.
The group, named The Cockroaches, went on to achieve platinum sales, tour Australia alongside the likes of INXS, play 300 shows a year, and earn a reputation as“ Australia’ s hardest-working rock’ n’ roll band,” according to The Daily Telegraph.
Australian musicologist Glenn A. Baker described their sound as“ rangy, loose-limbed, good-natured, energetic, self-effacing, intuitive, harmonic, melodic, enduring, soused and fiercely frantic.”
Even if they’ d stopped there, The Cockroaches would be remembered as a notable Blacktown export— but that was merely the prelude.
While on tour in 1988, Paul’ s daughter tragically died from SIDS. The band disbanded not long after. Anthony would later say his niece’ s death“ ultimately led to the formation of The Wiggles.” Before launching The Wiggles, Anthony and other members returned to study early childhood education. Paul completed his teacher training and briefly worked in classrooms before regrouping with the team to form The Wiggles.
The rest is history: The Wiggles went on to conquer the world, performing for more than a million fans annually, selling millions of DVDs and CDs, winning countless awards— and even topping Triple J’ s Hottest 100 in 2021 with their cover of Tame Impala’ s Elephant, mashed up with Fruit Salad.
Still a westie at heart? Paul left Lalor Park over 20 years ago.
“ We needed a bigger house for the kids,” he explained.
But instead of seeking a harbourside mansion, he moved just next door— to
The original and best! Founding members of The Wiggles – Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Anthony Field. Paul Field managed the beloved group from 1996-2020.
Kings Langley.
These days, Paul tours with a Countdown-style tribute show to 1970s and’ 80s music, records his own albums, and maintains The Wiggles connection through his son, Dominic.
“ Dom went to St Pat’ s Blacktown, loved rugby league, but decided he was too small— so he switched to touch footy and played for NSW,” Paul said.
Dominic’ s latest and proudest achievement? Creating a new Wiggles character, The Tree of Wisdom, which now features in the group’ s shows.
Anthony’ s daughter, Lucia, has also joined the modern iteration of The Wiggles. Her father has even written and recorded a potential theme song and halftime anthem for the Wests Tigers.
If it’ s accepted, could it be the secret weapon to complement Jerome Luai’ s arrival?
Meanwhile, National Party senator Matt Canavan gave The Wiggles an unintentional compliment, stating:
“ The Wiggles are free to do what they like. It was nice while it lasted. But you go woke, you go broke.”
The Wiggles are long odds-on to prove him wrong.
Just as well infants, preschoolers, and kindy kids don’ t vote— Canavan’ s song and dance wouldn’ t draw much of an audience.
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BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 49 // APRIL 2025 7