Rest in Peace, Grant McLennan

sometime on saturday 6 may, grant mclennan, one half of the marvelous songwriting team that was the go-betweens, passed away in his sleep.

mclennan met robert forster at university in brisbane in the late seventies, thus beginning an on-off partnership that lasted for nearly thirty years and producing many marvelous songs that never got anywhere near the recognition they deserved.

despite widespread critical acclaim, the go-bies' sales were never more than minimal in their first incarnation in the eighties and they eventually threw in the towel towards the end of that decade. mclennan and forster both released several solo records in the nineties before reforming the go-betweens and, with the backing of sleater-kinnie, releasing the universally lauded the friends of rachel worth. the equally excellent bright yellow, bright orange followed a few years later and last year they released what mojo magazine deemed the "instant classic" oceans apart.

a year earlier, i had seen them for the first time, performing a greatest hits set at the barbican in celebration of the release of the remastered versions of their eighties output. rarely have i seen such a large audience revere a band so much. it was - to those in the know, at least - a triumph, of sorts, and every face that left that concert beamed like a baby with a new rattle.

despite burgeoning recognition in the UK and their native australia, they remained all but unknown in the USA and a friend of mine saw them play a 400 capacity venue in new york city only last year.

mclennan was, it seems, an affable, modest, literate man - something which comes through in many of his wonderful songs.

doubly sad is the fact that he died, at only 48, with seemingly many more great songs in his power.

he will not be missed nearly as much as he should be but those who do feel his loss feel it so keenly that it numbs the soul.


(a memorial thread has been put in place on the go-betweens message boards. amongst those posting are pat nevin, norman blake, gerard love and edwyn collins)