VALE GRANT MCLENNAN

Cattle & Cane. Bye Bye Pride. Streets Of Your Town. Bachelor Kisses. World weary troubadour storyteller Robert Forster was always the cooler one to love, but it's the songs of Grant McLennan that come easiest to mind when you think of The Go-Betweens. He belonged to that precious group of Australian songwriters who wrote with a uniquely Australian voice (along with the likes of Forster, Nick Cave, Don Walker and the late David McComb), and his too-early death on Sat 6 May 2006 at the age of 48 has robbed us of one of the country's greatest talents, not to mention called time on a band who proved that reformations can sometimes truly recapture - and even exceed - past glories.

The first Go-Betweens reunion show at the Gov was one of the most joyful things I ever saw: Forster and McLennan on acoustic guitars, shooting grins at each other over fumbled chords, both made stronger by the presence of the other. I interviewed him several times since then and always found him friendly and erudite, with a keen knowledge of music and an obvious love for his band. And he recommended some very good wines too.

He was a charming gent, a fine singer, a talented musician and an astonishing songwriter.

Rest well, Grant.

Andrew P Street