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Unfinished Business: R.I.P. Grant McLennan

by Matthew Berlyant
7 May 2006

Grant McLennan

GRANT MACLENNAN died in his sleep on Saturday May 6th, 2006. He was only 48 years old. It’s been several hours since I found out the awful news, and I’m still stunned. This is awful not only because he died so young of seemingly natural causes, but also especially sad because it seems like he had so many great years of music-making still ahead of him.

Although I only heard them for the first time three years ago, I still consider MacLennan’s band THE GO-BETWEENS one of my favorite bands of all-time. I was first exposed to them via their 1988 LP 16 Lovers Lane, my favorite album of theirs and one of the best albums of the ‘80s. I bought a vinyl copy of it at a record sale for $3 and let me tell me, it was the best $3 I’ve ever spent. After playing it incessantly during that summer of 2003, I was hooked. Eventually, I acquired their entire back catalog as well as most of Grant’s and ROBERT FORSTER’s solo records. I was also lucky enough to see The Go-Betweens (who rarely toured in the U.S.) play live last June at Southpaw. It was also a memorable evening because I met my girlfriend Anne at the show, which is another big reason why his death has hit me so hard despite the fact that I never met him or knew him personally.

In tribute to Grant, I played 16 Lovers Lane earlier tonight since it contains some of his finest songs. In fact it’s a tour de force for both Grant and Robert Forster, but Grant’s songs always stood out on that album. “Love Goes On, ” “Quiet Heart,” “Streets of Your Town,” “Was There Anything I Could Do?” and “Dive for Your Memory” are all timeless classics and many of them were written about former Go-Betweens member AMANDA BROWN, with whom Grant was involved with romantically at the time. Fittingly, many of these songs are about the first rush of love as well as the day-to-day realities of being in a relationship with only the workman-like “Was There Anything I Could Do?” feeling slightly out of place in that regard. In fact, this was a constant theme in his work, though far from the only one. Regardless, “In the Core of the Flame” from the excellent 1986 LP Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express also stands out in this regard as does “This Night’s For You” from last year’s Oceans Apart, easily their best album since 1988 and the best of their three albums since their return in 2000 with The Friends of Rachel Worth.

While The Go-Betweens are a band who weren’t nearly as appreciated as they deserved to be during the ‘80s, they seemed to have gained many new fans since their reunion. Here’s to hoping that many others will continue to discover their fine back catalog and with it an appreciation of the songwriting gift that Grant McLennan shared with us in his all-too-brief life.

R.I.P. Grant.

Filed under memorial

Comments

Hey, this was a really nice piece…even if I’m the one with all the solo albums.


— That Above-Mentioned Girlfriend    2006-05-08 17:08    #

Horrible news! I too am a recent convert to their music and I can kick myself for not catching them live at their recent shows. Much love to the family and friends of Grant.


— Ed    2006-05-08 19:28    #

Well not all of them, sweetie. I have Horsebreaker Star, too, remember? Anyway I listened to the promo CD you have entitled Past & Present earlier today and man is it great. In particular “Simone & Perry” and “Lighting Fires” really kick.

Grant, you will be missed.


— Matt Berlyant    2006-05-08 21:43    #

I watched “That Striped Sunlight Sound” on Saturday night then went to their website after chekcing out the entire interview part – only to find the most terribly weird and awful news.

“In Your Bright Ray” kept going through my head yesterday. Today it’s the “moustache” line in “Simone and Perry”.

What a terrible, terrible loss.

He was a real hero of mine. Crap.


— Patrick Clifford    2006-05-09 05:11    #

I bought ‘Send Me A Lullabye’ after hearing ‘Hammer The Hammer’ at the very beginning and bought and lived everything since – Thanks Grant


— Paul Clissold    2006-05-09 10:19    #

I can’t conjure up enough words except for—thanks for opening my eyes to a world of sparkling melodies and connected melancholy. Grant, you exhibited such professionalism and underdog characteristics. More people will find you…


— FANBOY    2006-05-09 13:04    #

I am completely devastated by the news of Grant Maclennan’s passing. The Go-Betweens were a seminal influence on my life and the music I was in to in the 1980’s, and still are today.
I lived a little bit of what they sing about in Darlinghurst Nights, and even knew Frank Brunetti…

That song made me weep tears with the incredible memories it brought back…but nothing like hearing about Grant’s untimely death. I never knew him or the band personally but feel a deep grief with his loss.

With him goes part of my past…..and one of the best singer-songwriter artists Australia has ever produced.

My deepest sympathy to the rest of the band and families.
RIP


— BM    2006-05-09 13:27    #

I’m very saddened by this news.

I first heard the Gobe’s in europe at the end of the 80’s. I later saw them open for Lloyd Cole on his US tour. Since that time, they’ve been a very special band to me.

A few weeks ago, I purchased “That Striped Sunlight Sound”, but I only got to it over the weekend. On Saturday night, I sang the song “Clouds” to my 4 year old son at bed-time.

Thank you Grant, rest in peace.


— Edoc    2006-05-09 14:38    #

I’d just finished reading “Kurier” Austrian daily paper and was gutted to see a small paragraph announcing Grant’s death. All the more so as a mobile phone provider here had successfully used “Don’t know where I’m going” from the last record in its advertising campaign thereby giving the Go-Betweens belated success.
My heartfelt regrets to Grant’s family, relative and friends and to Robert and the remaining members of the band, tonight I’ll go dig out my old records and tapes of the Go-Betweens and mourn by listening to all those beautiful songs you created together – thanks and R.I.P Grant.


— David Hewlett    2006-05-09 17:41    #

Thanks for the insight David. I had no idea that “Finding You” was used in a mobile phone commercial in Austria. I do remember reading that Oceans Apart was very successful there, though. It’s great to see them be appreciated like that there, which makes Grant’s death all that much more sad.


— Matthew Berlyant    2006-05-09 17:59    #

As I said before, I found this homage moving and I can relate to much of what you expressed. Cinchel and I were just listening to a few of Grant’s solo albums last night that we found online. Hopefully, we will find them at Reckless this weekend. Some of the songs hit me just as much as some Go Betweens song. There’s a real sentimental sadness there that I think we can all more or less relate to.


— Kirstie    2006-05-09 22:57    #

Devastating is a good word for this loss.

Absolutely devastating.

I always loved his Go Betweens’s stuff and all of his solo albums are flat-out excellent. I hope that everyone who is into the Go Betweens will go back and check them out. Please do. The loss will be that much more.

Watershed, Fireboy, Horsebreaker Star, and In Your Bright Ray (my favorite) (and even the Jack Frost stuff) are all on the same level as his work with Robert. Please, please seek them out.

Crap.


— Patrick Clifford    2006-05-10 06:41    #

Terrible to hear such news – just read The Guardian and there it was. All those memories and beautiful songs he has left with us to enjoy.
My thoughts are with his family
J


— julie    2006-05-10 13:09    #

There are some touching words about Grant (the last 3 days of blogging) over at Steve Kilbey’s (the Church) blog. Steve and Grant collaborated on 2 albums under the name Jack Frost. Both highly recommended. The latest Church album is a masterpiece in case you’re inclined top hear more wonderful music from down under.

http://www.stevekilbey.blogspot.com/


— starfish    2006-05-10 20:59    #

If that’s really you Steve, I’m honored that you’re reading this, though it’s too bad that it’s under such sad circumstances.

I’ve been a Church fan since I heard “Metropolis” on my high school’s radio station in Baton Rouge, LA in 1990. As such, I put Uninvited Like the Clouds on my most recent Top 10 list, but thanks for the recommendation anyway. Oh and I saw The Church play at Bowery Ballroom back in 2004 when Forget Yourself came out. Excellent show.


— Matthew Berlyant    2006-05-10 21:09    #

I read your comment more carefully and I see that you’re not Steve, but nevertheless, thanks for reading this and commenting. Sorry!


— Matthew Berlyant    2006-05-10 21:20    #

losing grant mclennan reminds me of another recent passing, nikki sudden. its so hard when the music they made is what a lot of us often use to get through these kinds of things. its awfully bittersweet being comforted by the things that hurt (or hurt by the things that bring comfort).

what a pisser.


— stink/cheat/torture    2006-05-10 23:24    #

I am glad I have found somewhere to share my sadness about Grant´s passing. Since Cattle & Cane I knew popular music should be poetic and deep but luminous, because I can’t find a better word than that, he has always been the brilliant part of the perfect binomial.

IT’S TIME TO GO BACK TO THE VYNILS, YOU WILL FIND HIM THERE.TALLULAH, LIBERTY BELLE, 16… GOODBYE


— esteban    2006-05-11 20:54    #

Grant MacLennan you were an uncompromising artist. God bless you


— Roy    2006-05-12 08:59    #

Matthew, what a moving piece on this sad story! I will try to see if I can get hold of your magazine also up here in Northern Europe.


— Mårten S    2006-05-14 12:43    #

This just really sucks! I had the great priviledge of seeing Grant thrice. First was on the last USA Go-Betweens tour (16 Lovers Lane) before they broke up. They played a small club in soutern CT in the late 80’s. I can’t even remember the name of the place. Amanda had by this time already left the band. Robert, I remember was arguing with Mindy the drummer by the bar before the show while Grant was maybe a bit melancholy after his recent break up with Amanda. Despite the obvious tensions (and the absence of Amanda’s many-multi instruments) they still put on a fine show. After moving to NYC I saw Grant & Robert at the Academy of Music where they opened for Lloyd Cole performing an acoustic set together. During the years that followed I saw brilliant solo shows by Robert and Grant at Brownie’s near Tompkins Square Park.

Now I’m really kicking myself for not seeing any of their reunited tours. Damn!

Chris F.


— chris    2006-05-22 19:55    #