Father of four Shannon Noll has come a long way in the 16 years since his runner-up placing on Australian Idol in 2003.
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The boy from Condobolin in central western NSW, will turn 44 next month, racking up and impressive five top 10 albums, 18 platinum, an four gold accreditations, plus an Australian music industry history-making ten consecutive top 10 singles since Idol.
Along the way he has also found himself in trouble with the law, but says it has always been self inflicted.
"It's always been myself doing damage to myself. Usually it's after I've gone a bit hard, and pushed the barrow too far, trying to live up to that rock star attitude," Noll says.
"Gone are the days when you can carry on like a rock star though. Growing up looking up to Jimmy Barnes and American rocks stars, I thought that's what you do, but you can't throw tvs out of windows and stuff and not suffer the consequences."
Family has always been important to him and he says being away from his is hard. "There's a lot of time spent away. It's always on weekends. The hardest is on Sundays. I'm usually driving home on a Sunday night and on Monday everyone's gone to school and work. I try to make the time up during the week."
Despite what some might think, Noll says it's not a glamorous life.
"You fly in, fly out, drive to the venue, do a sound check, go back to the hotel to shower, do the gig, then it's on to the next town.
"I've been around Australia 10 times, but I've seen most of it through the window of the Tarago. I should get the kids in the band. Jimmy [Barnes] had it right with the Tin Lids."
His youngest boy, Colton, was born in December. "He's an all round great little fellow. He smiles all the time."
Noll says his two older brothers and sister "absolutely love him".
Noll grew up on the land and his two brothers have never really known anything other than farming, so the drought has had a deep impact on his family and many of his mates.
He recently headlined a gig in Cobar to raise money for the farmers and has always been the first in line to donate his services for fundraising concerts. One hundred per cent of sales from his single Lean on Me (released last September) about the hard times the farmers are going through, go to Queensland charity Drought Angels.
"Growing up on the farm, I know it's not over. People are getting closer to the edge, even if it rains now, it will be six months before they get any benefit.
"I'm very lucky to be able to do this after 16 years. I'm so thankful to my fans for giving me the opportunity. It's not a committee that decides if you have a career it's the fans. Some people follow me everywhere I go. They catch up with each other, it's very social. Some have got friends all over the country now."
On this tour he is performing all his hit singles including Don't Give Up, Shine, Drive, Now I Run, Learn to Fly, What About Me, Loud, and three singles from his latest album Unbroken. He will also be giving fans an insight as to how the songs came about.
"I'll have a bit of chat to the crowd, talking about my experiences along the way. People tell me after shows how songs affect them. Lift helped a few people through some dark times, and to be able to do that for a total stranger, that shows what a beautiful thing music is. What About Me has been a beacon for people less fortunate, it touches people, and I'm very lucky to have been able to do that.
"I always hoped something would happen [with his career], but I could never put it into details. At the time, [when starting out] I was just trying to remember the words. Now looking back, it's been amazing.
"We've been having a lot of fun with the shows. It's [the Mid-North Coast] is a great part of the country. We're looking forward to getting up there."
As to the future, Noll says he's been writing and hopes to have a new single out sooner rather than later.
"Eventually, I'd like to get some acreage, but I've got to focus on the bread and butter and I'll think about that in the future. I couldn't go too long without doing a gig, I'd get itchy feet."
Former Port Macquarie band Bounty Hunters is the support act.