Grant McLennan - RIP

I won't write much since I'll probably compose something longer later, but anyone who knows me knows how much the Go-Betweens' music has meant to me over the years. I'm just happy he died at the peak of his powers; last year's Oceans Apart was as extraordinary as their peak '80s material.

(xpost to Anthony)

Seemed to be a very genuine, sincere man.
....who happened to write some great songs.

RIP.

I just saw the Go-B's last summer and got to meet Grant a bit backstage. He looked to be in incredible shape and in good spirits.

R.I.P. Grant.

Man. You know, I never saw them live or him solo, and I regret it terribly now. Had many chances too. You just think you'll eventually get the time.

The one story I have -- I interviewed him around the time Horsebreaker Star came out. Funny as hell, great times had. Towards the end I asked him about the song "Simone and Perry" and he mentioned it was about two friends of his. I offered that I had read the title thinking about Nina Simone and Lee Perry -- not being serious, just the first thing that leapt to mind. He laughed heartily and said, "That's a good idea, I might say that in the future!"

RIP. This is seriously sad.

Arrrgh.

Wishful thinking, I know.

Yet in the end, as cultists know and too few others will find out, the lyrics are worth digesting. If my favorite line involves, of all things, songs--"Really loved the one about those L.A. freaks/Did it take a day to write or was it weeks?"--that's only to say he knows more about them than the competition.

So true. Like I just muttered elsewhere, it's those people who actually break through my own 'the lyrics don't matter' stance that I end up cherishing all the more because they're actually good.

"Jim, with all due respect, are you joking? Grant's a serial sartorial shocker, and there he is, alas, caught once again on 'The Friends...' Why not hunt down a Forsterish canary-yellow suit instead? I'm not sure where you'd get that shirt, sorry."

I still want that shirt.

Yup. *sigh*

This guy should be remembered as one of the greats, and only about 5% of music lovers recognize his achievements.

4th martini coming up.

5th martini coming up.

What a horrible fuckin' day.

An actual genius. Not many that can be said about. RIP.

6th martini coming up.....

Yeah, Pontiac, MI at the 7th House. I remember it really vividly.

This completely sucks. Grant was what, only 48? Awful.

Our relationship’s changing all the time. We’re still discovering its magnitude. Any successful relationship requires a lot of give and take. If the spotlight’s on your partner instead of you, you learn to accept it. We’ve seen famous bands where they’re all friends break up, and it’s sad. We’re passed that point, though. We’re concerned with the greater good. Certainly in the ‘80s, when we faced a lot of commercial pressure—to write hit singles and so forth—it’s a bad situation for two songwriters, and was not good for our friendship. But the peak is still there, and we’re looking for new ones.

Just out of curiosity, how big were they in Australia?

the service was ok
a few too many messages from our sponsor, maybe
but it was ok

...

i had one of grants fave drinks a long island tea
which seemed to have 5 different white spirits in it
and certainly knocked me around
i met the moody and enigmatic ed kuepper
(and i hugged him!!)
what a gentlemen

http://hemlocktavern.com/prog_guide.php?

I asked him to talk about Grant which he was more than happy to oblige. He talked about working with him and what type of person he was. It was really nice to talk to someone who worked and knew him. Steve is very poetic and speaks with bravado at times. He lightened up the conversation saying, "Why did Grant have to go? He was such a gentleman. Why couldn't it have been Liam Gallagher?"

* Tribute show in Brisbane on Nov. 30

* First Jack Frost album has been remastered/reissued with extra tracks

And now, four years.

Damn. I've currently no Go-Between or McLennan songs on my iPod.

One of my favorite ILM threads, this. Lots of good writing, fond memories.

I've currently no Go-Between or McLennan songs on my iPod.
Wha???

Peter Milton Walsh (he of The Apartments) posted a rather stirring tribute to Grant today:
http://rileyrecords.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-6th-grant-mclennan.html

His observations on The Go-Betweens are equally fascinating:
What I liked most about them and the world of their songs, was its immaculate innocence. A childlike world, radiant with hope. Huge, huge hope. Daydream believers. In the howling chaos that seemed to be my life at the time, there was nobody like that. I’m not sure there ever had been.

That's crazy, I broke out Before Hollywood on Thursday, and then the rest of the catalogue, first time I'd listened to them in ages. Was thinking about how sad it was to lose that talent, and I didn't even notice the significance of the date. His River of Money gets me more and more every time.

My first thought when I saw this thread revived was that he wasn't dead anymore. :(

Eternally missed.

will play "Dusty in Here."

Aw man, that'd bring real tears. It's a strange feeling having real emotions for someone you've never met.

I write these words to his tune
that he wrote on a full moon
And a river ran, and a train ran, and a dream ran
through everything that he did

oh dear

10 years. Sigh.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wB0sgi5uL2w

Memory wastes.

Bigger-than-usual one of these tonight: http://www.bushhallmusic.co.uk/whats-on/events/6-may-16-this-nights-for-you-a-grant-mclennan-tribute-show-bush-hall/

(The one where Robert turned up and played some songs a couple of years ago was all-time for me.)

I miss him, I miss this band. Going to be playing their stuff today.

from Forster's Facebook page:

May 6, 2016. Ten years ago today Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens passed away. A sad anniversary to mark, but necessary in so many ways, not the least because he was a great singer-songwriter and a wonderful friend. I think of him often; he is not someone who has faded - remaining close to me as he always will be, in memory and music. We knew each other for just over thirty years - for seventeen of them we were in a band, for the remainder of the time the friendship was just as important and central to us. Grant and I did a lot of talking together. Pitching ideas, making plans, swapping enthusiasms we had, and laughing. We were a force together. The sting to this day shall be strong as he died in Brisbane, The Go-Betweens were a Brisbane band, and today I shall be out in the city and tonight will sleep in it. Thinking of Grant. Warm greetings to all who read this, and have Grant firmly in their lives too. Hold on. Fond Regards. Robert.

Beautiful tribute

That tribute gig looks great. Can't believe it's been 10 years.

I'm afraid to wear my Grant McLennan t-shirt anymore because I don't want it to fade.

Lovely piece here

https://medium.com/@RyanMaffei/gentlemanly-melancholy-7ff32d02763f#.8ssrq56xz

The best of Forser and McLennan's solo work.

Is the book ever coming out in the US?

Steve Kilbey's compiled and selling 3 hours of Jack Frost performance and interview footage as a download via his Facebook. $20 bucks. Grabbing it in the morning as I imagine it'll be perfect accompaniment to early Xmas Day wine drinking and vegetating.

I love this strummy alubm.

*album even

Fifteen years.

Robert Forster remembers:

https://www.facebook.com/robertforsterofficial/posts/202652301677146

Fifteen years since I wept at the passing of someone whom I didn't know personally. I now understand that I was grieving the end of the source of so much of the music that both defined and enhanced my youth. RIP Grant. Your songs were good company.

Coincidentally, I just bought his double album Horsebreaker Star after looking for it for a very long time. (It's not hard to find outside of the U.S., but I wanted a reasonable price for it since the U.S.-only single-disc version goes for peanuts, and I've been told that all but one of the excised cuts aren't really missed. I still wanted the original version though.)

I didn't listen to the Go-Betweens until well after Grant passed. Love them, wish I saw Grant and Robert on-stage when I had the chance.

Happy birthday.