There’s a number of reports this morning from the Australian news media that Grant McLennan of the Go-Betweens passed away yesterday at the age of 48.
Both in partnership with Robert Forster, and on a handful of solo recordings, McLennan was a fantastic songwriter, performer and character to hang out with. I had the privilege of meeting him a handful of times over the years and he always struck me as humble, generous and a world-class wit. Though he penned a number of classics as a member of the Go-Betweens, “Cattle & Cane” and “Apology Accepted” amongst them, some of his solo works were just as good, 1991’s ‘Watershed’ and ’97’s ‘In Your Bright Ray’ (with Died Pretty’s Brett Myers on guitar) in particular.
Though hardly a household name, I can’t really sum up for you how pivotal a figure McLennan was other than saying if you had even a passing interest in smart, funny, heartfelt rock’n’roll over the past quarter century, Grant played a considerable role in shaping a more interesting creative environment. There’s a large stack of records on the Rough Trade, Postcard, Merge and Matador labels that might’ve turned out differently — or never seen the light of day — had he and Forster not teamed up. He’ll be missed. Like crazy.
When I knew him in the 90s (mostly during the solo years, but also during 16 Lovers Lane), it was obvious that Grant struggled with the fact that all of the accolades and critical praise had not translated into sales and/or some kind of mainstream acceptance. I wouldn’t say he was bitter, but maybe just a little superior (and100% justified in that feeling).
I saw him again one year ago on the eve of Oceans Apart’s US release and there was a joy in him that I had never witnessed before. Not to sound corny, but it was as if he had found a real inner peace. To me an undeniable transformation. Makes this even sadder and more tragic.
You are right in pointing out how many bands owe a debt to The Go-Betweens. “Liberty Belle and The Black Diamond Express” could be the most under-appreciated album of all time, and “The Wrong Road” was, I believe, Grant’s favorite of his own songs.
PS: “Rock n Roll Friend” is not Grant’s tune. Thats definitely a Forster number.
Damn…sad,sad news.
Very sad. My only chance to see the Go Betweens (w/ R.E.M.) was in Perth W.A. way back in 1988 (or89). Great performance, he will be missed.
Mike,
thanks very much for that — and you are correct, “Rock’n’Roll Friend” was not one of Grant’s compositions. I regret the error. Instead, I’ll submit “I Just Get Caught Out”.
The 3 Go-Betweens albums that I’ll call part of Grant and Robert’s reunion for lack of a better word, ‘The Friends Of Rachel Worth’, ‘Bright Yellow, Bright Orange’ and last year’s ‘Ocean’s Apart’ are all very good and compare favorably to the band’s previous high-water marks of ‘Before Hollywood’ and “Spring Hill Fair’ (the latter being my pick for the most under-appreciated album of all time, though albums that have actually been released and reissued at least once shouldn’t be eligible for such things)
yesterday was a sad day indeed when i heard the news. the go-betweens were a brilliant band and grant’s solo stuff was superb as well. he’s/ they’ve been a favorite of mine ever since i first read a go-betweens review in CONFLICT (gerard’s old zine) back in the mid 80’s. he will surely be missed…..
This is stunning, terrible news.
i’ve seen him play four times over the past decade, and I was always impressed that he seemed to take care of himself, as if he wanted to stick around. That’s what makes this news of his early death seem so strange.
I couldn’t agree more with the assessment of McLennan’s body of work, as there was hardly a more consistently successful songwriter going between ’80 and now, but among the routine flow of craftsmanship, there were the many masterpieces: “Apology Accepted”, the well known “Cattle and Cane”, “Devil’s Eye”, “Bachelor Kisses”, “Streets of Your Town” and the recent addition to the pantheon “Black Mule”.
And he was always willing to take a minute to talk about how much he loved the latest Spoon record, or descibe the amazing meal he just had down the street.
This is going to take a long time for me to believe he’s gone.
Fuck.
A truly great songwriter, a member of one of my favorite bands.
Terrible.
Requiescat.
You can count on one hand the number of artists that helped shape my musical outlook more than The Go-Betweens and it’s was Grant’s compositions that hooked me first, that mix of the melancholy and the uplifting. “16 Lovers Lane” coincided with a difficult time in my life and was a truly a valued companion.
I can still recall the delight upon finding a long-sought-after copy of “Spring Hill Fair” in a dusty used record store in Iowa City.. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has those peculiar dreams of finding those sorts of “Holy Grail” albums missing from one’s collections, both real and imagined, only to wake up and find it wasn’t to be. In this instance, it was, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more excited about a purchase of any kind since that day.
Last night was spent at home with a bottle of wine and the collected works of Mr. McLennan. Bless you, Grant.
He did some nice work on the Jack Frost discs with Steve Kilbey, too.
Very sad.