View source for Geoff Bullock

{{Distinguish|Geoff Eigenmann}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = 
| image               = Geoff Bullock 20090913.jpg
| image_size          = 
| landscape           = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Bullock at the piano, September 2009
| background          = solo_singer
| birth_name          = Geoffrey William Bullock
| alias               = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1955|11|6|df=y}}
| birth_place         = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| origin              = 
| death_date          = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place         = 
| genre               = [[Contemporary worship music|Worship]], [[contemporary Christian music|Christian]]
| occupation          = Cameraman, musician
| instrument          = Vocals, piano
| years_active        = 1975–present
| label               = [[Hillsong Music Australia|Hillsong]], Breedon Hill, Kingsway

}}
'''Geoffrey William "Geoff" Bullock''' (born 6 November 1955) is an Australian singer-songwriter and [[pianist]]. He helped pioneer the Hills Christian Life Centre, which later became [[Hillsong Church]]. He was appointed as the church's [[Worship music|worship]] [[pastor]] and was also the convenor of their annual [[Hillsong Conference|conferences]] from 1987 to 1995, before leaving Hillsong in late 1995.

Bullock has recorded over 20 albums and written two books, ''Hands of Grace'' (1998) and ''The power of your love... Jesus the unexpected God'' (2000).

== Early life and career ==

Geoffrey William Bullock<ref name="APRA Power"/> was born on 6 November 1955 in Sydney. His father is Peter and his mother is Beth; and he grew up with a younger sister, Jane. Bullock was raised as a [[Presbyterianism#Australia|Presbyterian]] and attended [[Knox Grammar School]]<ref name="Sexton"/> from 1964 to 1972. He completed tertiary studies at [[Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE|North Sydney TAFE]] in 1976 for a Television Operator's Certificate II. From 1975 to 1984 he worked as a cameraman at [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]] in Gore Hill, including work on ''[[Marcia Hines|The Marcia Hines Show]]'', ''Farnham and Byrne'' (see [[John Farnham]], [[Debra Byrne]]), ''Mastermind'', ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', ''[[Norman Gunston|The Norman Gunston Show]]'' and ''[[Play School (Australian TV series)|Play School]]'' as well as news and current affairs programs. During the early 1970s he played in "garage band after garage band"<ref name="Vasto"/> and by mid-decade was in a rock group, Arnhem, which toured the east coast of Australia.<ref name="Sexton"/>

In November 1978, at the age of 23, Bullock became a committed Christian.<ref name="Sexton"/><ref name="Adams"/> He said that "it was in that real charismatic, pentecostal awakening that was happening... I grew up with a bunch of teenagers and they started getting saved into what has become the Hillsong Church and eventually I went along and that was it."<ref name="Adams"/> He was on the team, led by [[Brian Houston (pastor)|Brian Houston]], that pioneered the Hills Christian Life Centre (later part of [[Hillsong Church]]) in August 1983.<ref name="Adams"/> Aside from Bullock and Houston the initial pastors were [[Pat Mesiti]], Mike Murphy, Donna Quinn and Michael Smith.<ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|26}} Bullock was appointed the worship pastor for Hillsong Church in Sydney and was the convenor of their annual [[Hillsong Conference|conferences]] from 1987 to 1995. [[Tanya Levin]] described him in her book ''People in Glass Houses: An insider's story of a life in and out of Hillsong'' (2007) writing that "[he] was our Piano Man. Short and stock, with blue eyes that pierced you like laser beams."<ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|40}}

Bullock was a pastor at the Hillsong Conference in July 1995.<ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|243}} He left Hillsong Church in October that year. In August 2004 he told David Adams and Lloyd Harkness of ''Sight'' magazine, "I burnt out, I suppose. At the time I was so convinced that God was asking me to leave and (now) I’m just not so sure... I just knew I had to go and I think, in a way, it was escaping a damaging spirituality that I'd allowed to happen. I don't want to blame those guys for it – it was my problem. Now I have become a very different person and so you can see that there was a divergence of style and theology and concept that came from it."<ref name="Adams"/>

During Bullock's time at Hillsong Church, six albums were recorded and released by [[Hillsong Music Australia|Hillsong Music]] for which he wrote many songs,<ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|242–3}} including "[[The Power of Your Love]]", "Refresh My Heart" (both July 1992), "[[People Just Like Us|Have Faith in God]]", "You Rescued Me" (both July 1994), "[[Shout to the Lord (album)|I Will Never Be the Same Again]]" (1996) and "[[Friends in High Places (Hillsong album)|This Kingdom]]" (July 1995).<ref name="APRA Power"/> He co-produced some of the albums with Russell Fragar and / or [[Darlene Zschech]].<ref name="NLA Producer"/> He also wrote articles for various religious journals.<ref name="Bullock 95"/>

In 2006 Angelica Del Vasto of ''Worship Leader Magazine'' wrote about Bullock's song "The Power of Your Love" that it "encompasses the listener with... the empowering conviction that the Creator of the universe has done, and is doing, everything to convey His love to us. It compels us to face our own weaknesses and then fall into the arms of God."<ref name="Vasto"/> She noted that the "musical feel of the song [is due] to the use of minor chords to break up the major chords, a typical approach in his writing."<ref name="Vasto"/> Bullock acknowledged its influence on his later life, saying "so many of the songs that I had written [earlier] were given new meaning as I had to live out their inspiration. It is far easier writing a song than having to live out its words."<ref name="Vasto"/>

In January 1997 Bullock released the solo album ''You Rescued Me: The First Ten Years Anthology 1987-1997'', a double CD album on the Breedon Hill Music label which collected his works written while a member of Hillsong.<ref name="MusicBrainz Album1"/> In 1998 he issued ''Hands of Grace – Face to Face Worship'' on the Kingsway label, of which ''[[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]]''{{'}} Trevor Kirk said that "[his] recent work has noticeably veered toward the middle of the road. This project goes further, and infringes on the ambient. Loads of swirling synths and elaborate (and lengthy) arrangements."<ref name="Kirk"/> Bullock also wrote his first book, ''Hands of grace: Jesus, God's symphony of hope'', printed by Strand Publishing, in 1998.<ref name="NLA Book1"/> His album ''A Symphony of Hope'' was released on 21 May 1999,<ref name="MusicBrainz Album2"/> which was recorded with the [[Prague Philharmonic Orchestra]] and has [[Paul Terracini]] as conductor and arranger.<ref name="Croft"/><ref name="Mason"/> It had been recorded in Prague on Good Friday and included two tracks written by Terracini.<ref name="Mason"/>

In 2000 Bullock's second book, ''Power of your love: Jesus: the unexpected God'', was published.<ref name="NLA Book2"/> It was followed in early 2001 by another album, ''Deeper and Deeper'', of which Jennifer Brooker of ''Cross Rhythms'' said that it had a "broad rich sound, immaculately produced; some numbers are arranged for full symphony orchestra" although she also wrote that "Shame the songs aren't more memorable, anyone looking for another 'Power of Your Love' won't find it."<ref name="Brooker"/> In October 2008 Bullock reflected on his songs, saying that they are "about worship, but worship is an entirely different thing. It is a bit like love songs. Love songs aren’t love, they are songs about love. I think worship is far more your response and your meditation and being confronted by what it means to receive grace and forgiveness from God."<ref name="Lumsden"/>

On 22 August 2011 Bullock issued a triple CD compilation album, ''The Power of Your Love – The Songs of Geoff Bullock''.<ref name="CR Power"/> He has said about his later work, "All my songs and my whole spiritual journey since [Hillsong] is all about what God has done for me, rather than what I would like to do."<ref name="Hosking"/>

He was interviewed in 2021 podcast of "''I was a teenage fundamentalist''" about his faith and his time at Hillsong.<ref>[https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/i-was-a-teenage/geoff-bullock-leaves-3ckyXCrN2Tb/ Geoff Bullock Leaves Hillsong], ''I was a teenage fundamentalist'' podcast, December 7, 2021</ref>

== Personal life ==

Bullock married Janine<!-- Maiden name not yet known --> (born c. 1957, [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]]) in 1980 and the couple had five children within a decade.<ref name="Sexton"/><ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|40}} Janine was choir master on some of Hillsong Music's releases, including ''[[Friends in High Places (Hillsong album)|Friends in High Places]]'' (July 1995).<ref name="MusicBrainz Album3"/> The marriage broke down in 1996 and he later recalled that "It was over before I knew it. I was just too busy to even notice what was happening. People say, 'Weren't there signs?' Of course there were signs. But we just thought OK, we'll just have to work harder – serve God harder – we'll do more for God and he will bless us. We separated within weeks of leaving Hills. It was a very hard time and it got worse as the months went on. I had to face the fact of my failure as a husband and a father."<ref name="Lumsden"/><ref name="Benge"/>

Bullock's second wife is Victoria,<!-- Maiden name or previous married name not yet known --> They have raised her two children from a previous marriage.<ref name="Vasto"/><ref name="Allen"/>

Bullock has described his mental health issues, including "episodes of mania" and "long periods of depression".<ref name="Levin"/>{{rp|242–3}} In 2003 he was diagnosed as having [[bipolar II disorder]].<ref name="Allen"/><ref name="Thorp"/> In September 2010 he told Terry Allen of Christian Faith website of his condition, "[It] has caused all manner of symptoms in my life which has been confronting. One of the main ones being high levels of anxiety, which has seen me come and go publicly three times. I am now 10 years on and I feel the illness is manageable and the greatest gift, I think, is that I have been forced to learn insight into the way I think and the way that I do. I have learnt that by reflection on my past."<ref name="Allen"/>

Geoff Bullock is now retired (since 2016) and lives on Scotland Island.

== Bibliography ==

* {{Citation | author1=Bullock, Geoff | title=Hands of grace: Jesus, God's symphony of hope | year=1998 | publication-date=1998 | publisher=Strand Publishing | isbn=978-0-9586866-8-6 }}
* {{Citation | author1=Bullock, Geoff | title=Power of your love: Jesus: the unexpected God | year=2000 | publication-date=2000 | publisher=Strand Publishing | isbn=978-1-876825-49-2 }}

== Discography ==
{{See also|List of Hillsong albums|List of Hillsong songs}}

=== Albums ===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|-
! scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Album details
|-
! scope="row" | ''You Rescued Me: The First Ten Years Anthology 1987-1997''
|
* Released: January 1997<ref name="MusicBrainz Album1"/>
* Label: Breedon Hill Music
* Formats: 2× [[Compact Disc|CD]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Symphony of Hope''<br /><small>(by Geoff Bullock with [[Prague Philharmonic Orchestra]])</small>
|
* Released: 21 May 1999<ref name="MusicBrainz Album2"/>
* Label: Kingsway <small>(KMCD2171)</small><ref name="Mason"/>
* Formats: CD
|-
! scope="row" | ''Deeper and Deeper''
|
* Released: early 2001<ref name="Brooker"/>
* Label: Breedon Hill Music <small>(BHMCD1027)</small>
* Formats: 2× CD
|-
! scope="row" | ''Geoff Bullock''
|
* Released: 2007
* Label:
* Formats: CD
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Power of Your Love – The Songs of Geoff Bullock''
|
* Released: 22 August 2011<ref name="CR Power"/>
* Label: Kingsway Music <small>(KWCD3254)</small>
* Formats: CD
|-
|}

==References==

{{Refbegin}}
;General
* {{Citation | author1 = Evans, Mark | title=Secularising the Sacred the Impact of Geoff Bullock and Hillsong Church on Contemporary Congregational Song in Sydney, 1990-1999 | publication-date=2002 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/29850415 | accessdate=23 October 2014 | location = [[Macquarie University]], Sydney | oclc = 134697037 }}. Unpublished Thesis.
* {{Citation | last = Levin | first = Tanya | title = People in Glass Houses: An insider's story of a life in and out of Hillsong | date = 25 July 2007 | publication-date = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zQneAAAAQBAJ | publisher = Black Inc | accessdate = 29 October 2014 | isbn = 978-1-92182-558-3 }}
;Specific
{{Refend}}
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="APRA Power">{{cite web|publisher=[[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) |title='The Power of Your Love' at APRA search engine |url=https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch#The%20Power%20of%20Your%20Love |accessdate=22 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021015339/https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch |archivedate=21 October 2014 |df=dmy }} Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g The Power of Your Love; or at 'Performer:' Geoff Bullock</ref>

<ref name="Sexton">{{cite news | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081010173555/http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/05/04/high-cost-of-faith/ | url = http://www.signposts.org.au/2006/05/04/high-cost-of-faith/ | title = High Cost of Faith | last = Sexton | first = Jennifer | work = [[The Australian]] | date = 29 April 2006 | archivedate = 10 October 2008 | accessdate = 23 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Adams">{{cite news | url = http://www.sightmagazine.com.au/stories/interview/bullock13.8.04.php | title = The Interview: Geoff Bullock | last1 = Adams | first1 = David | last2 = Harkness | first2 = Lloyd | work = Sight | date = 13 August 2004 | accessdate = 21 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Levin">Levin</ref>

<ref name="Bullock 95">{{cite news | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120717020122/http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal6/bullock.html | url = http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal6/bullock.html | title = Beyond Self-Centred Worship | last = Bullock | first = Geoff | work = On Being | date = February 1995 | archivedate = 17 July 2012 | accessdate = 22 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Benge">{{cite news | url = http://www.reality.org.nz/articles/27/27-benge.php | title = Geoff Bullock: No Longer the Golden Boy | first = Diane | last = Benge | work = Reality | year = 2005 | publisher = Diane Benge | issue = 27 | accessdate = 22 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Lumsden">{{cite news | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120215202121/http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?categoryId=1&articleId=1731 | url = http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?categoryId=1&articleId=1731 | title = Craving choruses don't strike the right chord | first = Mardi | last = Lumsden | work =  Journey Online | date = 17 October 2008 | archivedate = 15 February 2012 | accessdate = 23 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Allen">{{cite web | url = http://www.christianfaith.com/resources/geoff-bullock-opens-up | title = Geoff Bullock Opens Up | last = Allen | first = Terry | publisher = ChristianFaith (Terry Allen, Rob Donnelly, Stephen Cracknell, John Batchelor, Steve White) | date = 29 September 2010 | accessdate = 23 October 2014 | archive-date = 23 October 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023175500/http://www.christianfaith.com/resources/geoff-bullock-opens-up | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Vasto">{{cite news | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060716085609/http://www.songdiscovery.com/pages-ar/arti-011.htm | url = http://www.songdiscovery.com/pages-ar/arti-011.htm | title = The Power of Your Love | first = Angelica | last = Del Vasto | work = Worship Leader Magazine | publisher = Song Discovery | archivedate = 16 July 2006 | year = 2006 | accessdate = 24 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="MusicBrainz Album1">{{MusicBrainz release|mbid=9e0c8fb4-cff7-4abb-8cdd-9c6f96d4a8ee|name=You Rescued Me: The First Ten Years Anthology 1987-1997|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Kirk">{{cite news | url = http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Geoff_Bullock/Hands_Of_Grace_Face_To_Face_Worship/801/ | title = Geoff Bullock – ''Hands of Grace: Face to Face Worship'' | last = Kirk | first = Trevor | work = [[Cross Rhythms (magazine)|Cross Rhythms]] | publisher = [[Cross Rhythms]] | date = 1 February 1999 | issue = 49 | accessdate = 24 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="NLA Book1">{{Citation | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/10649982 | author1 = Bullock, Geoff | title=Hands of grace: Jesus, God's symphony of hope | year = 1998 | publication-date=1998 | publisher=Strand Publishing. [[National Library of Australia]] | isbn=978-0-9586866-8-6 }}</ref>

<ref name="MusicBrainz Album2">{{MusicBrainz release|mbid=e36ff1a5-1e28-4ba5-b34d-84185fe56849|name=A Symphony of Hope|accessdate=31 October 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Croft">{{cite news | url = http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Paul_Terracini_The_Prague_Philharmonic_Orchestra/A_Symphony_Of_Hope_Geoff_Bullock/42487/ | title = Paul Terracini, The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – ''A Symphony of Hope'': Geoff Bullock | last = Croft | first = Philip |publisher=Cross Rhythms | date = 18 March 2008 | accessdate = 31 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Mason">{{cite news | url = http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Paul_Terracini_Symphony_Orchestra_Of_Prague/A_Symphony_Of_Hope/1045/ | title = Paul Terracini, The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – ''A Symphony of Hope'' | last = Mason | first = Rebecca |publisher=Cross Rhythms | date = 1 October 1999 | issue = 53 | accessdate = 3 November 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="NLA Book2">{{Citation | url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/40802993 | author1=Bullock, Geoff | title=Power of your love : Jesus: the unexpected God | year=2000 | publication-date=2000 | publisher=Strand Publishing. National Library of Australia | isbn=978-1-876825-49-2 }}</ref>

<ref name="Brooker">{{cite news | url = http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Geoff_Bullock/Deeper_And_Deeper/3108/ | title = Geoff Bullock – ''Deeper and Deeper'' | last = Brooker | first = Jennifer |publisher=Cross Rhythms | date = 1 May 2001 | issue = 62 | accessdate = 24 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="CR Power">{{cite news | url = http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Geoff_Bullock/The_Power_Of_Your_Love__The_Songs_Of_Geoff_Bullock/116010/ | title = Geoff Bullock – ''The Power of Your Love – The Songs of Geoff Bullock'' |publisher=Cross Rhythms | year = 2011 | accessdate = 26 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Hosking">{{cite web | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110812140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96103/20110813-0000/salvos.org.au/about-us/news-and-resources/documents/cm_10_jul.pdf | url = http://salvos.org.au/about-us/news-and-resources/documents/cm_10_jul.pdf | title = Worship in a New Light | last = Hosking | first = Julia | work = Creative Ministry | publisher = [[The Salvation Army in Australia|Salvation Army]]| archivedate = 12 August 2011 | date = July 2010 | accessdate = 26 October 2014 | pages = 6–8 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name="NLA Producer">Geoff Bullock as record producer:
* [[Hillsong Church|Hills Christian Life Centre]]'s ''[[Stone's Been Rolled Away]]'' (1993):&nbsp;{{Citation | author1=Fragar, Russell | author2=Bullock, Geoff | author3=Hillsongs Australia | author4=Hills Christian Life Centre | title=Stone's been rolled away | publication-date=1993 | publisher=Hillsongs Australia | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33842204 | accessdate=28 October 2014 }}
</ref>

<ref name="Thorp">{{cite web | url = http://nouwen-network.com/geoffbullock.html | title = Geoff Bullock – Excerpt from an interview with Kandus Thorp | last = Thorp | first = Kandus | work = Hope TV | publisher = Nouwen Network | location = [[Shire of Noosa|Noosa]], QLD | year = 2009 | accessdate = 31 October 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="MusicBrainz Album3">{{MusicBrainz release|mbid=d32496f8-782d-48a6-afbc-c37448d17315|name=Friends in High Places|accessdate=31 October 2014}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
* {{MusicBrainz artist|mbid=bcdd480d-f1cc-4ccf-bce7-708138b5255b}}

{{Hillsong2}}

{{Hillsong musicians}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bullock, Geoff}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian Charismatics]]
[[Category:Australian gospel singers]]
[[Category:Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Australian Christian Churches people]]
[[Category:Australian performers of Christian music]]
[[Category:Christian music songwriters]]
[[Category:Hillsong musicians]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:People educated at Knox Grammar School]]