The Go-Betweens are one of the most internationally influential indie rock bands from Australia, formed by guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan in Brisbane in 1977. Over the years they were joined by Lindy Morrison (drums), Amanda Brown (violin) and Robert Vickers (bass).
The Go-Betweens are best remembered as being critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful, being hampered by problems with record labels throughout the band's life. In spite of this, The Go-Betweens toured overseas numerous times, produced such indie hits as Cattle and Cane (1983). Forster and McLennan disbanded The Go-Betweens in December 1989, without prior notice and without even consulting Morrison and Brown.
In 2000 Forster and McLennan reformed The Go-Betweens. Morrison and Brown, still bitter about the sudden disbandment in 1989, refused to rejoin the group. Instead Forster and McLennan were assisted by all three members of Sleater-Kinney, the results of which can be heard on the album The Friends of Rachel Worth.
Discography
Albums
- Send Me A Lullaby (1981)
- Before Hollywood (1983)
- Spring Hill Fair (1984)
- Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express (1986)
- Tallulah (1987)
- 16 Lovers Lane (1988)
- The Friends of Rachel Worth (2000)
- Bright Yellow Bright Orange (2003)
- Oceans Apart (2005)
Trivia
- Until 16 Lovers Lane, all Go-Betweens albums had a double 'L' in the titles. Originally this was purely a coincidence; however this motif was adopted again on 2003's Bright Yellow Bright Orange.
- The intimate relationships within the band, between Morrison and Forster, and between Brown and McLennan, were famously messy.
- Brown is now a screen composer (a composer of film and television soundtracks); Morrison is currently a social worker, and as an Australian Democrats candidate failed to win a seat in State and Federal elections.
Further reading
Last updated: 05-07-2005 05:36:37
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
