Fiona Horne was the lead singer of 1990s Australian electro-rock band, Def FX, before continuing on to author several best-selling books on Modern Witchcraft. She was a popular radio and television personality, appearing on many programs around the world. She is now a commercial pilot, humanitarian aid worker, world record holding skydiver, professional fire dancer, yoga instructor and freediver.
Musical career
Horne started playing in bands when she moved to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1984. Her first band was Sister Sludge, which only lasted for six months until Horne moved back to Sydney. She then formed a punk-thrash band, The Mothers, in 1985. The Mothers started as an all-girl punk band, although the lineup changed a number of times. This was the first band with Horne performing both vocals and guitar. In October 1987, The Mothers, comprising Horne, Nat, Jo Collings and Rick, released their first single, "Drives Me Wild"/"Get Outta My Life", which was followed in 1989 by the EP, 12-Incher, with the line-up of Horne, Rick, Luke and Cristina Calero, both of which were released on the Waterfront Records label. The Mothers broke up in 1989. In 1991 Horne formed the industrial-dance-rock band Def FX with Blake Gardner, Sean Lowry, Martyn Basha. The band issued three EPs, Water, in June 1991, Surge, in November and Blink in June 1992 on the Phantom label before signing to EMI. In December 1992 the band released their debut album, Light Speed Collision, which was also released in the US by RCA/BMG in July 1993. At the 1994 Big Day Out Horne made headlines by appearing topless on stage. In September 1994, they released the EP Post Moronic, which reached No. 43 on the Australian charts. The band were dropped from the EMI label. In May 1995 they released their second album, Ritual Eternal, on their own label, Cicada. The album was nominated for 'Best Independent Release' at the 1995 ARIA Music Awards. They then signed with Universal Music Australia's subsidiary label Grudge, which released the band's third album, Majick, in July 1996. It became the band's only certified release, going gold in 1997. Def FX disbanded in May 1997. In 1998 Horne made several appearances on the television series Good News Week, singing duets with the show's host, Paul McDermott. Virgin/EMI subsequently released a single of their duet, "Shut Up/Kiss Me", in November 1998, which reached No. 48 on the Australian singles charts in December. In October 1999, Horne released her debut single, "Let’s Go Out Tonight", on Air Records. The song was co-written with Pete Farnan and Simon Austin. In January 2000 she formed a cover band, Mullet, with Nick Gill, Piet Collins, Scott Owen and Greg Hirtzel. In March 2007, Horne released her first solo CD, Witch Web. In 2010, she released the spoken word albumMagickal Life-Guided Meditations and Spells for Positive Change, on her own label, Mystic Monkey. In 2012, Def FX reformed for a national tour in May–June, playing in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide. This was followed by another tour in October - November 2013 with the band playing shows in Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane.
Modelling and acting
In October 1994, she featured in a nude pictorial in Black+White magazine. In 1998 she was featured in the September issue of Ralph, FHM Australia and the November issue of Australian Playboy. After moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Horne featured in the October 2005 issue of Playboy. In 2001, Horne starred in the Australian opening season of Eve Ensler's theatrical production The Vagina Monologues; she also appeared in an episode of the Australian television seriesPizza that year. Horne has continued to act, appearing in the 2005 film, Unbeatable Harold, which starred Dylan McDermott and Henry Winkler and the 2007 film Cult, starring Rachel Miner and Taryn Manning. Horne also appeared in the independent fantasy features, Fable-Teeth of Beasts and Ember Days. In 2004, Horne was a host in the reality television showMad Mad House for the Sci Fi Channel. She also competed in Australian Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu for the Seven Network Australia.
Few Witches were more prolific in the late 1990s and early 2000s than Fiona Horne. She put out ten books in nine years, edited another one, and in 2004 she starred in the SciFi series Mad Mad House as the 'Alt' Host and Witch. She became the voice of a generation of modern Witches in a time when television shows like 'Charmed' and movies like 'The Craft' and 'Practical Magic' dominated popular culture.
Personal life
Horne is currently a commercial pilot and works for a charter company based in the Caribbean. She also co-ordinates and executes humanitarian aid missions. Fiona also works as a yoga instructor and professional fire dancer - she performs regularly in the Caribbean at resorts and private events, as well as special engagements in New Orleans and Los Angeles. Fiona is vegetarian and was formerly vegan. In July 2017, Rockpool Publishing Australia published Fiona's autobiography, The Naked Witch.
