The Go-Betweens were one of Australia's most talented and influential bands, but they never became as popular as they deserved to. They were formed in Brisbane in 1977, by Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, and released 9 albums, the first in 1981, the last in 2005. During that time they moved between Australia and London, regularly changed record labels and line-ups, and broke up a number of times, but they seem to be on a creative high when Grant McLennan died in 2006 of a heart attack, having been a lifelong heavy drinker.
Robert Forster has written a memoir about the life of the band, and his insights into his great, old friend. It should be very moving, especially at the end with the death of McLennan, but strangely it isn't. Forster has a very unemotional style, it's all very matter of fact, as if it's all happening to someone else. He describes what's happening, but never how he feels. That said, it's very good about songwriting, playing music and touring endlessly with a band; and what songs! The best thing about music memoirs is that they take the reader back to the music. Finding out about the inspiration behind the songs means that you can listen to them with new understanding. Go-Betweens lyrics are sometimes obscure, but I now have new understanding of their aching, melancholy songs. They both wrote separately, but credited all the songs to Forster/McLennan, a nod to Lennon/McCartney. They agreed from the beginning that they would contribute 5 songs each to each album, and they were just beginning writing for their new album when McLennan died. It seems that, sadly, none was recorded. They were very different personalities - Forster very serious, intellectual, tortured, literary, but eventually found happiness and contentment, McLennan reclusive, seemingly more relaxed and happy, but secretly miserable.
The cover of the book is revealing. It's a Bleddyn Butcher photograph from 1983. McLennan is seemingly about to, but not quite smiling, looking directly at the camera, Forster looks off to the side.