Grant McLennan

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Grantley William McLennan (born February 12, 1958 in Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia , † May 6, 2006 in Brisbane , Australia) was an Australian guitarist, bassist , singer and songwriter . He became known as a member of the Go-Betweens .

The Go-Betweens

McLennan was born in Rockhampton, Queensland. After the death of his father, the family moved to a cattle ranch in northern Queensland. McLennan attended boarding school in Brisbane. In 1976 he began studying at the University of Queensland .

In 1977 he met Robert Forster , who inspired McLennan to learn to play bass and formed a band with him. After a few months of rehearsal, the duo recorded their first single. In 1982 the Go-Betweens released their first album, Send me a Lullaby . With the entry of bassist Robert Vickers, McLennan switched from bass to guitar. Forster wrote most of the songs in the initial phase, and over time McLennan developed his own signature style, often inspired by melancholy childhood memories ( Cattle & Cane , Bye Bye Pride ). McLennan and Forster never wrote their songs together, but arranged finished songs with the band.

Highly praised by the critics, the band never made their big break. After the essentially acoustic album 16 Lovers Lane (1989), McLennan and Forster dissolved the Go-Betweens by mutual agreement, but without first consulting drummer Lindy Morrison and multi-instrumentalist Amanda Brown .

Solo albums

The debut Watershed and its successor Fireboy are stylistically linked to McLennan's Go-Betweens songs and are characterized by sophisticated acoustic guitar arrangements and simply structured songs. The third album, Horsebreaker Star , was recorded in the US and combined country influences with McLennan's songwriting. His last solo album, In Your Bright Ray , is in the line of psychedelic guitar pop.

In the meantime, McLennan worked with Steve Kilbey of The Church under the name "Jack Frost". They first recorded a debut album that combined the different ways of working of McLennan (classic songwriting) and Kilbey (studio experiments). Three years later they recorded the second album Snow Job with drummer Tim Powles , which took a harder pace. Snow Job was released in 1996, four years after it was recorded.

In addition, McLennan made guest appearances with various artists, such as B. the Canadian songwriter Mae Moore .

The Go-Betweens II

In 2000, Forster and McLennan reanimated the Go-Betweens and released another three albums together, which were more commercially successful than the recordings from the 80s. The highlight of the success was the award of the Australian ARIA Award for the best rock album ( Oceans Apart ).

Grant McLennan died in his sleep in his Brisbane home on May 6, 2006 at the age of 48, presumably of a heart attack. Shortly afterwards Robert Forster announced the end of the go-betweens.

Solo discography

  • 1991: Watershed
  • 1994: Fireboy
  • 1995: Horsebreaker Star
  • 1997: In Your Bright Ray
  • 2007: Intermission: The Best Of The Solo Recordings 1990–1997 (Compilation. CD1: Robert Forster, CD2: Grant MCLennan) (Beggars Banquet)

For discography with the Go-Betweens see there.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME McLennan, Grant
ALTERNATIVE NAMES McLennan, Grantley William; McLennan, Grant W.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Australian guitarist, bassist, singer and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH February 12, 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Rockhampton , Queensland , Australia
DATE OF DEATH May 6, 2006
Place of death Brisbane , Australia