Grant McLennan - RIP

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?

grant seemed to have a way of opening up his mouth
and singing instant choruses
hed plucked outta the ether
words flew to him
he walk with melodies at his beck n call

i somehow fanangled my way into seeing him at urbis orbis in chicago about 12 years ago now, opening for...are you ready for this?... Jewel. there was a line through the coffee shop to the door before the door opened. he played solo accoustic and put on an incredible show -- the song i most remember is "haven't i been a fool", which remains my favorite from him probably because of the performance. the crowd (geez, maybe 75?) was so respectful, hardly a whisper uttered during any of the songs. it was gorgeous.

after a standing ovation, 90% of the crowd got up to leave. i remember Jewel, who took the floor very quickly, was reduced literally begging "please don't go!"

G.W : I ruined it for you. Did I steal its only tune? I'll give you a credit next time I see my publisher.

Very sad news, this.

I'm so glad that I saw the G-Bs play live last year.

-- "Dusty in Here"

Haha, yeah, I was there too, great show. Shit, this is awful news, I'm heartbroken.

ABC-TV (Aus) evening news just reported his death as the 3rd or 4th story. Which was pleasantly surprising. Many viewers of a certain age probably stopped chewing their dinner, even if he wasn't a household name...

Put '16 Lovers Lane' on at work on Friday and listened to it all the way through - I rarely do that with any album these days. Very, very sad news indeed.

Not in every state! Didn't get a mention on ABC News down my way.

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.