person or book cover
Photo courtesy of Clay Djubal
Jo-Ann Simmons Jo-Ann Simmons i(A89897 works by) (a.k.a. Joann Djubal; Joann Simmons)
Born: Established: 1961 Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Poet, writer, lyricist, stage designer.

As a writer, Jo-Ann Simmons' work has appeared in a number of publications. Her creative output over the years has ranged from poetry and song lyrics to short stories and reviews.

Although born in Sydney, Simmons was largely raised in Darwin, Northern Territory. From 1981 to 1984 she lived in Armidale, N.S.W., graduating with a teaching diploma from the Armidale College of Advanced Education. During that period she was also associated with the rock band Shoot the DJ, initially as lighting/sound operator (later focusing on lighting). Simmons collaborated with Clay Djubal on many of the band's original songs and stage designs. Although she once claimed that her worst poetry often made the best lyrics, the variant metres, themes and writing styles reflected in her poetry/lyrics during that period allowed Shoot the DJ greater opportunity to experiment with new musical directions and thereby evolve from its initial hippy/punk leanings towards a more intricate rock/pop sound. Her collaboration with Shoot the DJ continued when the band relocated to Sydney in 1984. She also contributed lyrics to a number of songs recorded by the creative collective Some Trippin' Diggers. Her lyrics can be heard on the retrospective releases Mind-Driving (Shoot the DJ, 2008) and Paralytic with Intelligence (Some Trippin' Diggers, 2009). One of her songs ('... And I Laugh') also appears on the Some Trippin' Diggers CD The Larrikin Demofestos (2008).

Simmons and Djubal returned to Armidale in early 1987, having spent much of the previous year on the Gold Coast, and established the artistic/literary cafe, Clayz Kitchen (1987-1988). In 1994, Simmons returned to live in Darwin, and has since spent many years on the North Queensland coast. She also writes reviews and articles under the name Joann Djubal for magazines such as Multihulls.


Australian Writing and Rock Music affiliation: lyricist, songwriter.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • 'Two Pages of Words' by Simmons appears in Clay Djubal's Incurable Sneezes (q.v.) as part of the poem 'I Hate Men (She Said).'

  • Further Reference:

    • 'Jo-ann Simmon,' Northern Tablelands Music Industry Archive at Have Gravity Will Threaten - online (Sighted 31/08/10).
Last amended 30 May 2023 14:39:13
Influence on:
'I Hate Men (She Said)' Clay Djubal , 1986 single work poetry
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