Grant McLennan

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Grant William McLennan (12 February 1958 – 6 May 2006) was an Australian singer-songwriter with the independent band The Go-Betweens, which he co-founded with Robert Forster in Brisbane, Australia in 1977. In a career spanning almost thirty years, his work with The Go-Betweens (1977–89, and resuming 2000–06) is complemented by several solo releases and side-project collaborations with other performers. McLennan received a number of accolades recognising his achievements and contributions as songwriter and lyricist, including the naming of his 1983 composition "Cattle and Cane" by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the 10 greatest Australian songs of all time[1].

McLennan died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 48.

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[edit] Early life

McLennan was born in the city of Rockhampton, central Queensland. Four years later he moved with his family to Cairns after the death of his father, a G.P.. The family then relocated to a cattle station in central Far North Queensland, with McLennan spending five years at Brisbane's Church of England Grammar School (Churchie) as a boarder.[2] A number of McLennan's songs evoke the impressions and imagery of the regional background of his childhood, such as the breakthrough "Cattle and Cane," "Dusty in Here" (about his father) and "Bye Bye Pride."

In 1976 McLennan began a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Queensland. The long-serving and controversial Joh Bjelke-Petersen was State Premier at the time, and McLennan was arrested in a student protest against aspects of his conservative policies.[3]

[edit] The Go-Betweens

A year later, he first met with Robert Forster, who encouraged him to learn bass guitar (McLennan had no musical training) and join with him in forming a band. After several months playing and songwriting, the duo recorded and released their first 7" single in 1978, Forster's "Lee Remick" (B-side "Karen," 500 copies pressed). In this initial period Forster performed most of the songwriting, vocals and guitar; however as McLennan's own distinctive compositional style developed the two would soon share in songwriting and vocals for the band almost equally. By the time their first album was released (1982's Send Me A Lullaby), the Go-Betweens' line-up expanded to include Lindy Morrison as their permanent drummer. Later releases added Robert Vickers on bass (allowing McLennan to move to lead guitar), and then Amanda Brown on oboe, violin and a variety of other instruments (Brown and McLennan were in a relationship for several years during this time). John Wilsteed then replaced Vickers on bass after the latter left the band for their last two albums.

After recording six albums, The Go-Betweens disbanded in December 1989. During the break, McLennan collaborated on two albums with The Church's Steve Kilbey in the band Jack Frost, recorded four well-received solo albums, and collaborated with Powderfinger's Ian Haug in Far Out Corporation. Forster and McLennan reformed The Go-Betweens in 2000, and recorded three more albums. Their last studio album, Oceans Apart, won the band their first ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album. Their That Striped Sunlight Sound DVD has received a nomination for Best Music DVD at the 2006 awards, to take place on October 29.

Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane on 6 May 2006, aged 48,[3] from a reported heart attack.[4]. He was preparing for a party at his home and claimed he was feeling a bit unwell, and went upstairs to lie down. He was found later that night.

Over 1,000 people attended his funeral, including Australian musicians such as Paul Kelly and Ed Kuepper.

[edit] Solo discography

  • Watershed (1991)
  • Fireboy (1994)
  • Horsebreaker Star (1995)
  • In Your Bright Ray (1997)

[edit] See also


[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Bio/epitaph for Grant McLennan, APRA. The same site notes him to have been "...an unparalleled lyricist and a prolific and meticulous composer."
  2. ^ Bernard Zuel. "From the cane fields, songs of love and loss", The Sydney Morning Herald, May 8, 2006. Retrieved on May 8, 2006.
  3. ^ a b staff writer. "Go-Betweens frontman McLennan dies", ABCNews Online, May 7, 2006. Retrieved on May 8, 2006.
  4. ^ Noel Mengel. "Band founder dead at 48", The Courier Mail, May 8, 2006. Retrieved on May 8, 2006.

[edit] External links

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