Just got an e-mail from Yep Roc records and it appears that Grant McLennan, of one of my all-time favorite bands, The Go-Betweens, died in his sleep yesterday in Brisbane. I don’t know if there are many GBs fans here - they weren’t exactly a huge group - but they put out some of the most literate, subtle pop music of the past 27 years. I’d personally recommend 1988’s 16 Lovers Lane, but I think “Cattle and Cane” off of 1983’s Before Hollywood is his high point as far as single songs go.
Anyway, he will be missed by me and many other aging music geeks. R.I.P.
I was glad to see that there had been a partial reconciliation between the boys and Lindy and Amanda.
It’s sad to see Grant go. He was a charming and modest guy. And - as I remember a drummer mate of mine saying - when he walked into the room, you could always hear da duh dum, da dar dah dah dar…
I liked his work. I got his Horsebreaker Star album while working at my college newspaper, but it wasn’t until a few years later when I met a real Go-Betweens fan that I investigated his former band.
This is damn sad news for any of us who grew up in Brisbane through the height of the Bjelke-Petersen years and the early days of 4ZZZ. The Go-Be’s early singles “Karen” and “Lee Remick” were staples in the end of year hot 100 and the band themselves were always an inspiration for any group playing the local club circuit (and that “circuit” was basically the Love In and the Palamino clubs in those days) that didn’t want to play Goth or Ramones covers.
A good guy and a lot of great music. Damn sad news.