Go-Betweens’ McLennan Farewelled

Some of Australian rock’s best-known names joined 1,000 fans and family May 12 to farewell the Go-Betweens’ co-founder Grant McLennan at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane.

They included members of the Church, Hoodoo Gurus, Powderfinger, Regurgitator, as well as Paul Kelly, Ed Kuepper and Dave Dobbyn and Dave McCormack of Custard.

His collaborator Robert Forster spoke of McLennan’s “warm, open and generous” nature.

“His songs will be remembered for 1,000 years,” Forster said. After a pause, he continued, “Sorry, Grant’s just told me 10,000 years.”

A few days earlier, the Queensland Senate passed a motion to acknowledge McLennan’s contribution to music. It was brought by Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett.