McLennan, Grant

▪ 2007

      Australian singer-songwriter (b. Feb. 12, 1958, Rockhampton, Queen., Australia—d. May 6, 2006, Brisbane, Australia), was a gifted writer of literate, impassioned songs and the driving force, along with his songwriting partner, Robert Forster, of the cult favourite Go-Betweens, the rock group they originally formed when they were students at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Throughout the 1980s, including periods of residence in Glasgow, Scot., and London, the Go-Betweens released albums that were revered by critics and other bands but had little commercial success, and they broke up in 1989. After reforming in 2000, the group released the much-lauded The Friends of Rachel Worth. In the 1990s McLennan, who was greatly influenced by Bob Dylan, made several solo albums, notably Horsebreaker Star (1995). He was best remembered for the song “Cattle and Cane” (1983), a poetic reminiscence of his youth in Queensland.

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