Bernard Fanning was born on August 15, 1969 is an Australian musician best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Powderfinger.

He went to St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane; after completing high school he decided to join a band.

In 1989, while at TAFE, Fanning met fellow musician Ian Haug who was the guitarist and singer of the group Powderfinger. After Haug discovered that Fanning was also a musician, he invited Fanning to join the band.

Initially as the backing vocalist, Haug identified that Fanning would be more suited as the group's lead vocalist and exchanged roles. Also during the early time of the band, Fanning invited his old school friend Darren Middleton to join the band also.

In the years to follow, Powderfinger gained success by recording a self-funded independent EP followed by signing to Universal Records subsidiary company Polydor Records. This deal saw Powderfinger's popularity grow to become one of Australia's most successful and respected rock acts with Fanning as its front man and generally considered the group's spokesperson.

Fanning made a small appearance in the 2003 film Ned Kelly as a musical performer in the bar. Fanning contributed several original songs to the film's soundtrack, Fanning's first commercial departure from Powderfinger.