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[Bio/epitaph for Grant McLennan], APRA. The same site notes him to have been "...an unparalleled lyricist and a prolific and meticulous composer.".

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

Contents

1 Early life
2 The Go-Betweens
3 Solo discography
4 See also
5 Notes and references
6 External links

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. 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.

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 intial 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. McLennan collaborated briefly with The Church's Steve Kilbey in the band Jack Frost, then recorded four well-received solo albums. Forster and McLennan reformed The Go-Betweens in 2000, and recorded three more albums.

Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his home in Brisbane on 6 May, 2006, aged 48, from a reported heart attack.. He was preparing for a party at his home and went upstairs for a nap before the festivities. He was found later that night.

The Australian band Smudge recorded the single "Don't Want To Be Grant McLennan" in 1991. McLennan was reportedly not especially happy about it and his management threatened to sue.[Interview with Evan Dando], from NME, March 1993.

Solo discography

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

Notes and references

External links

[BBC News - Go-Betweens singer dies in sleep]
[http://www.go-betweens.net] - Official website of The Go-Betweens