Misplaced Pages

Lindy Morrison: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 21:45, 6 October 2005 editAltenmann (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers220,348 editsm Reverted edits by 203.221.246.246 to last version by Milesli← Previous edit Latest revision as of 08:17, 17 January 2025 edit undoHammerthehammer (talk | contribs)3 editsm Added family history.Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit 
(328 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
'''Lindy Morrison''' (born on ] ]) is a musician originally from ], ]. She played drums for ] from 1980 to 1990. She has also performed in Silent Figures, Shrew, ], The Four Gods, Deep Blue Sea, Cleopatra Wong, and ].
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Lindy Morrison
| image =
| caption =
| image_size = 358
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Belinda Morrison
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|11|02}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = ], ], Australia
| instrument = Drums
| genre = ], ]
| occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1978–present
| label = {{hlist|Able|Missing Link|]|rooART|]|]}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Silent Figures|Shrew|]|]|The Four Gods|]|Deep Blue Sea| Cleopatra Wong|The Rainy Season}}
| website =
}}
'''Belinda''' "'''Lindy'''" '''Morrison''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=]}} (born 2 November 1951<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |publisher=Fireside |year=2001 |isbn=0743201205 |editor-last=George-Warren |editor-first=Holly |edition=Third |location=New York |pages=378}}</ref>) is an Australian musician, activist and ]er originally from ], ]. After starting her career working for a new Queensland branch of the ] in 1972, and starting to play drums at about the same time,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tunesday – How to Become a Drummer with Lindy Morrison from the Go-Betweens |url=https://www.frankie.com.au/article/tunesday-how-to-become-a-drummer-with-lindy-morrison-from-the-go-betweens-544118 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=frankie magazine}}</ref> she became the drummer for female-led punk band ] in 1978 and then joined ] and ] to became the third member of ] in 1980.


She recorded and toured with the band until their first breakup in 1989, drumming on all of their first six albums and singing on the first three, while also working on a number of side projects, including ] (with ] and ]), and with ].
Morrison currently resides in ] with her daughter Lucinda. In her day job as a social worker she runs music programs for intellectually-challenged people. She also serves as Artistic Director for the ], a Board Director for the ], and National Coordinator of the benevolent society Support Act Ltd. She has also ventured into politics: as an ] candidate she failed to win a seat in Federal and ] state elections.


After the Go-Betweens, Morrison continued to work as a drummer but also started to take positions within the music industry, including as an artist representative on the board of the ],<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |title=Kristy Gostelow welcomed as inaugural PPCA Board Observership Program participant {{!}} PPCA |url=https://www.ppca.com.au//news/kristy-gostelow-welcomed-as-inaugural-ppca-board-observership-program-participant |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=www.ppca.com.au |language=en}}</ref> a role she held for nearly three decades. Her careers in music and social work converged in 1998 when she joined Support Act, a benevolent association for Australian musicians, as their National Welfare Coordinator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lindy Morrison |url=https://supportact.org.au/people/lindy-morrison/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Support Act |language=en-US}}</ref> Morrison has also worked as a lecturer at ], and has been involved with various community music projects, including as musical director for (for musicians with a mild intellectual disability) and with Bondi Wave<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2004 |title=Still lots to learn even if you began rocking in the cradle |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/still-lots-to-learn-even-if-you-began-rocking-in-the-cradle-20040621-gdj68p.html}}</ref> (for high school children).
]

In 2003 and 2004 she tried to enter politics with the ], unsuccessfully standing for seats in the eastern suburbs of Sydney in state and federal elections.<ref name="age" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Morrison completed a Masters in Legal Studies at the ] in 2010<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Cowle |first=June |date=2 May 2010 |title=Brunch - Lindy Morrison |url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/05/02/2887963.htm |access-date=2021-12-10 |website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> and has subsequently expanded her writing (much of which has been on her and other women’s experiences in the music industry) to include subjects related to copyright law. In 2013, she was awarded the ] for services as a performer and advocate. In 2014 she received the ] ].

Having turned 70 in 2021, Morrison continues to work as a drummer, and recently said: “I certainly will never retire from playing music, that goes without saying. I keep getting interesting gigs with all sorts of different people.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three inspiring stories from amazing Aussies about retirement |url=https://www.apia.com.au/apia-good-life/community-relationships/inspiring-aussies.html |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Apia |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Morrison’s most notable recent collaborations have been with ], more than 40 years Morrison’s junior, and ], best known for his work with ]. After touring for 18 months, in May 2023, Morrison and Snarski released a mini album called "Someone said that Someone Said" as SnarskiCircusLindyBand. The band also consists of Shane O'Mara, Dan Kelly and Graham Lee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SnarskiCircusLindyBand - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=SnarskiCircusLindyBand |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Someone Said That Someone Said, by SnarskiCircusLindyBand |url=https://robsnarski.bandcamp.com/album/someone-said-that-someone-said |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Rob Snarski {{!}} SnarskiCircusLindyBand |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Varvaris |first=Mary |title=VIDEO PREMIERE: SnarskiCircusLindyBand - 'Since I Slept With You Everybody Wants To Sleep With Me' |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/video-premiere-snarskicircuslindyband-since-i-slept-with-you-everybody-wants-to-sleep-with-me/0cxvxcTHxsk/21-04-23 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=themusic.com.au |language=en}}</ref>

== Musicianship and performance style ==
Writing about her in the ] in 1983, ] said "Lindy Morrison's drumming remains great in the way that ] or ] are great; precise, quirky, inventive.”<ref>{{cite journal |author=Barney Hoskyns |date=15 September 1983 |title=Ridiculous and Wonderful |journal=]}}</ref>

Morrison is the subject of the book My Rock 'N' Roll Friend, written by the singer ] of ] and published in 2021. The two first met in 1983 at the ] in London, at a time when female instrumentalists were rare; Thorn’s book details the inspiration she took from Morrison, and attempts to redress her perception that Morrison hasn’t received the acclaim she deserved for her work with The Go-Betweens.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Gina |date=2021-09-07 |title=Exile on Man Street: On Tracey Thorn's "My Rock 'n' Roll Friend" |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/exile-on-man-street-on-tracey-thorns-my-rock-n-roll-friend/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Los Angeles Review of Books |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heathcote |first=Charlotte |date=1 April 2021 |title=Mirror Book Club reviews Reverend Richard Coles, Mel Giedroyc and Tracey Thorn |work=Daily Mirror |type=Review of My Rock 'n' Roll Friend by Tracey Thorn, Canongate. |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/staying-in/mirror-book-club-reviews-reverend-23839488}}</ref>

Thorn’s writing also captures something about the rhythmic eccentricities of The Go-Betweens: “Robert and Grant often unwittingly write songs in weird time signatures, and when they bring these songs to Lindy, she decides to try to reflect or capture honestly the oddities of their structures. She thinks the boys don’t really know how to count their bars, and they have no real sense of timing or rhythm, so it’s left to Lindy to literally drum it into them. She is determined not to ‘play through’ the quirky patterns, and not to straighten them out. She thinks that would be too nice, too boring.”<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Thorn |first=Tracey |title=My Rock 'n' Roll Friend |publisher=Canongate |year=2021 |isbn=9781786898227}}</ref>

Thorn describes Morrison as a transgressive performer, indiscreet and immodest with her legs wide apart, adding: “When she starts hitting the drums, all at once she’s making more noise than anyone else in the room. It’s not ladylike, this noise she’s making. And she’s in charge, whatever the guitarist or the lead singer may think.”<ref name=":3" />

As the title of his 2016 memoir ("Grant & I: Inside And Outside The Go-Betweens") suggests, Robert Forster’s writing about the band mostly focuses on the relationship between him and McLennan, but it also indicates that he understands Morrison’s importance to the band:

“Her drum kit sounded fantastic and she rode every queer-timed riff and rolled on every chorus we put to her. Before Hollywood is a master class in creative rock drumming; hers is the distinguishing instrument.”<ref>{{Cite book |last=Forster |first=Robert |title=Grant & I: Inside And Outside The Go-Betweens |year=2017 |publisher=Penguin Random House |isbn=9780143786405 |edition=Paperback edition; previously published as an ebook.}}</ref>

Speaking about Cattle And Cane, the lead single for "Before Hollywood", McLennan said of Morrison's drum part: “It had a great rhythm which I don't think any drummer in the world could've played except her. That rhythm never ceases to amaze me.”<ref name="Kingsmill" />

== Life ==

=== Early life and education ===
Though born in Sydney, Morrison “grew up in Queensland, the daughter of an eccentric doctor father and a conservative stay-at-home mother”.<ref name="age" /> Her great uncle is the renowned writer ] who is the brother of her father’s mother. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Eley |first=Beverley |title=Ion Idriess |date=1995 |publisher=Imprint |isbn=978-1-875892-08-2 |location=Sydney ; New York}}</ref>


]]She attended ], an independent school for girls in ], and then the ], where she completed a Bachelor of Social Work in 1972. Her final-year tutor, responsible for arranging placements for social work students, was Roisin Hirschfeld, a member of the steering committee of the ] (ALS).<ref name=":4">"Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p32</ref>

=== Initial career in social work ===
The Aboriginal Legal Service (subsequently known as ], for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service) began operating out of the Uniting Church hall on Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, in the winter of 1972,<ref name="goss">"Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p36</ref> and Hirschfeld approached Morrison about joining the service late in 1972.<ref>"Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p35</ref><ref name="Jamie Walker p37">"Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p37</ref> Morrison became the organisation's first social worker<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSILS - Celebrating 50 years |url=https://history.atsils.org.au/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=ATSILS |language=en-AU}}</ref> and second full-time employee.

In her role as Aboriginal Field Officer for the ALS, she worked alongside the radical Aboriginal activist ].<ref name="Jamie Walker p37"/> Walker had founded a local chapter of the Australian ] and "refused to accept the legitimacy of 'White man's Law".<ref name="goss"/> The job of field officer involved her going out late at night on "pig-patrol" which she described as:
<blockquote>
"... trying to stop the Police from picking up Aboriginal people coming out of the hotels, because they'd take them in a put them in gaol for drunkenness and the next morning I'd have to go to court, ask for bail, take them across to the legal service and the lawyers would then have to work towards stopping them being locked up or fined. So pig-patrol was the first way to stop them doing that so we'd go out on a pig-patrol every night at 10 o'clock."<ref>In an interview recorded for the ABC Radio National program {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723143623/http://speechification.com/2007/12/13/pig-city/ |date=23 July 2008 }} and available at speechification.com (at 27:30 into the program material)</ref>
</blockquote>

=== Theatre and activism ===
During her time with the ALS, Morrison lived in central Brisbane, sharing a house with indigenous Australians, musicians and the actors ] and ]. It was during this period that she would meet the people and become involved in the activities that set the tone of her life, and started playing drums.<ref>In an interview recorded for the ABC Radio National program {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723143623/http://speechification.com/2007/12/13/pig-city/ |date=23 July 2008 }} Available at speechification.com (at 34:55 into the program material)</ref> After "burn out" and leaving the service of the ALS, a two-year sojourn in England followed.<ref name=age/> On her return to Queensland, she moved into acting, believing that "the only salvation lay in art".<ref name=age/>

She was part of the Popular Theatre Troupe<ref name=age/><ref>"The Go-Betweens" By David Nichols, Allen and Unwin 1997 p65</ref> which protested against ] ] government, performing their sharply satirical political street theatre<ref name="age" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bushtelegraph.wordpress.com/recent/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20061119221402/http://bushtelegraph.wordpress.com/recent/|url-status=dead|title=Films « Bush Telegraph|date=19 November 2006|archivedate=19 November 2006|website=archive.is|accessdate=10 December 2018}}</ref> around the state during a time when life in Queensland was felt to be strongly constrained by the government, select business groups, and political interests.<ref>"No! No! to Joh" by Pete Thomas published by Building Workers industrial Union (Queensland Branch) dated February 1979.</ref>

=== Musical career ===

====Shrew – Zero====
Morrison's first band, Shrew, performed in 1976 and 77. They were an all-girl acoustic band with members playing clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar. Their repertoire consisted mainly of covers of 1940s pop songs.

In 1978, Morrison joined the band ]. At the time, members included Irena Luckus, Nicki Nought and Deborah Thomas. The band started by performing ] and other punk covers before moving on to write their own material. Morrison said she left in 1981 because "They wanted drum-machines and synthesisers."<ref>{{cite book | author=Clinton Walker |title=The Next Thing |year=1984 | publisher = Kangaroo Press | location = Kenthurst, New South Wales |isbn=0-949924-81-4|pages=42–43}}</ref>
On Morrison's departure Zero became Xero.

====The Go-Betweens====
] were formed in 1977 in ], ], by ] and ], who initially played bass guitar. The group had a succession of drummers and travelled to the United Kingdom in late 1979. They returned to Brisbane in 1980, at which point Morrison joined on drums and backing vocals. Their first single with Morrison, "Your Turn My Turn", appeared in September 1981 and was followed by "Hammer the Hammer" in March 1982.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> They recorded 10 tracks as demos in Brisbane during 1981, which had a limited release as ''Very Quick on the Eye'' by Man Made Records in 1982. The tracks showed that Morrison's "drum abilities, always a deeply underrated part of the band's appeal, fit hand in glove with the arrangements".<ref name="Raggett"/> By this time, Forster and Morrison were lovers and Morrison was living in ], an inner-city Brisbane suburb.<ref name="Dalton"/>

The band's first official album, '']'', produced by the Go-Betweens and ], appeared in February on ] in Australia.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> Morrison provided the album title, in preference to ''Two Wimps and a Witch'', from the ] novel '']''.<ref name="Kingsmill"/> Forster and McLennan wrote all the tracks, alternating lead vocal duties according to who provided the lyrics. A mistaken interpretation of the original album credits has seen Morrison credited with lead vocals on "People Know" when in reality she only ever sang backing vocals for the Go-Betweens. The only guest musician on the album was ] (of the ]) who played saxophone on "People Know".<ref name="Lullaby"/><ref name="AllMLullaby"/><ref>{{Citation |title=Send Me a Lullaby - The Go-Betweens {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/send-me-a-lullaby-mw0000186175/credits |language=en |access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> In 2002, UK label Circus released a 2CD version of ''Send Me a Lullaby'' which included "After the Fireworks". This was recorded as a collaboration with The Birthday Party's ] on vocals, ] on piano and ] on guitar. It had been released as a single under the band name, ] in 1982 on ].<ref name="NicholsTuff"/>

The Go-Betweens returned to UK and recorded their second album, '']'' (May 1983), with John Brand producing.<ref name="ARDb"/> It established them as cult favourites while "]" was released as a single and was " the band's absolute highlight of its earliest years".<ref name="McF"/> In 2001, "Cattle and Cane" was selected by ] (APRA) as one of the ] of all time.<ref name="APRA Cattle"/>

The next album release was '']'' (September 1984) which saw ] replace McLennan on bass, and McLennan moving to guitar. '']'' followed in March 1986, with the same line up. ] joined the band later in 1986. Within a few months, Brown and McLennan were lovers—many of McLennan's new lyrics were about this relationship.<ref name="Kingsmill"/><ref name="Beriyant"/> '']'' (June 1987), produced by The Go-Betweens for True Tone and Beggars Banquet contained their "most winsome and hummable songs, 'Right Here' and 'Bye Bye Pride'"; while Brown's contributions "added extra lustre".<ref name="McF"/> ] released a 2CD version of ''Tallulah'' in 2004; one of the bonus tracks, "Doo Wop in 'A' (Bam Boom)" was co-written by Morrison, Brown, McLennan and Forster.<ref name="APRA DooWop"/> In November 1987, the Go-Betweens returned to Australia and John Willsteed (who had previously played with Morrison in Zero) replaced Robert Vickers on bass.

The alternative radio hit "]" (July 1988) was the lead single for the band's sixth album, '']'' (August 1988). It became the band's biggest chart hit in both the UK and Australia, peaking in the Top 100. The follow-up single "]" failed to chart in either Australia or the UK, but peaked at number 16 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks charts in the United States. This minimal commercial success was hardly the hoped-for breakthrough for the band, and after recording six albums, Forster and McLennan disbanded the Go-Betweens in December 1989. Morrison and Forster had separated as a couple earlier and both Forster and McLennan pursued solo careers. In 2008, ''16 Lovers Lane'' was highlighted on ] (SBS) TV's ''The Great Australian Albums'' series as a classic example of 1980s rock music.<ref name="SBSGreat"/>

==== Post Go-Betweens ====
In 1991, the same year in which Morrison's daughter was born<ref name="age" /> and two years after the Go-Betweens split, Morrison and Amanda Brown reunited to form Cleopatra Wong, with Brown acting as vocalist.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cleopatra Wong - Egg |year=1992 |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/979382-Cleopatra-Wong-Egg |language=en |access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref> They went on to record two EPs (Egg, 1992, and Cleopatra’s Lament, 1993) releasing both of these on rooArt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleopatra Wong |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1885238-Cleopatra-Wong |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref>

Morrison’s career then moved more towards positions within the music industry, and community music projects, as detailed below. From November 2007 to 2011, however, she was a member of ], a five-piece band fronted by Jed Brown, and including Peter Jones (ex ]), Clyde Bramley, and, once again, ].

In 2018 Morrison co-produced and played drums on The Charm's debut EP "Invisible" and also began to play with Alexandra Lynn (aka ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-07 |title=Sexism, love songs and protests: Alex The Astronaut and Lindy Morrison In Conversation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/sexism-love-songs-and-protests-alex-the-astronaut-and-lindy-morr/10266248 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Double J |language=en-AU}}</ref>); in 2020 Morrison appeared in ]'s music video for the single "Caught In The Middle" as both a drummer and tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Alex The Astronaut writes songs to help her (and us) make sense of life's Big Stuff |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/alex-the-astronaut-theory-of-absolutely-nothing-feature-album/12596344 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}}</ref> and also performed on a live cover of ] ] that was recorded for ] ], broadcast on ABC TV and released on a compilation album.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Morrison recorded and toured with British band The Girl With The Replaceable Head.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-28 |title=News: Lindy Morrison (The Go-Betweens) joins The Girl With The Replaceable Head in the UK for series of gigs in May |url=https://www.backseatmafia.com/news-lindy-morrison-the-go-betweens-joins-the-girl-with-the-replaceable-head-in-the-uk-for-series-of-gigs-in-may/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Backseat Mafia |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2023, she toured with ], lead singer of ] and formerly ], to promote his fifth solo album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Channels |first=NSW Government Digital |date=2023-02-15 |title=Rob Snarski (Blackeyed Susans) & Lindy Morrison (Go-Betweens) |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/nsw-events/rob-snarski-blackeyed-susans-lindy-morrison-go-betweens |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=NSW Government |language=en-AU}}</ref> In May 2023, Morrison and Snarski released a mini album called ''Somebody said that Somebody said'' under the band name of SnarskiCircusLindyBand with Shane O'Mara, Graham Lee and Dan Kelly.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://themusic.com.au/news/video-premiere-snarskicircuslindyband-since-i-slept-with-you-everybody-wants-to-sleep-with-me/0cxvxcTHxsk/21-04-23 | title=VIDEO PREMIERE: SnarskiCircusLindyBand - 'Since I Slept with You Everybody Wants to Sleep with Me' }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/8181881/rob-lindy-and-band-on-stage/ | title=Rob, Lindy and band on stage | date=3 May 2023 }}</ref> With the same line up and again with Shane O'Mara as producer and recorded (as was the first) in his Yikesville studio, in May 2024 they released their second mini album called I Know I Know and toured to promote this recording. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-09 |title=I Know I Know. SnarskiCircusLindyBand {{!}} Loud Mouth - The Music Trust Ezine |url=https://musictrust.com.au/loudmouth/i-know-i-know-snarskicircuslindyband/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Music industry career ===
After she left the Go-Betweens, Morrison’s main focus switched to working within the music industry, drawing on her background in social work as well as her experience as a performing and recording musician, but her work also included educational and organisational roles.

Morrison was the Vice President Australian Women’s Contemporary Music Association 1988-1994.

Morrison became a board member of the ] in 1994<ref name="ppca.com.au"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719045207/http://www.ppca.com.au/more_info.htm|date=19 July 2008}}</ref> and served as a representative for registered Australian recording artists (making contributions to changes in policy to benefit recording artists)<ref>"High Voltage Rock 'n Roll" by Christie Eliezer Omnibus Press 2007 first edition p129</ref> until 2021.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

She joined Support Act Ltd, a benevolent society for Australian musicians, in 1998, as their National Welfare Coordinator.<ref name="ppca.com.au" /><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724200108/http://www.supportact.com.au/contacts.shtml|date=24 July 2008}}</ref> This role expanded greatly as a result of the ], and after spending much of her time with Support Act as their only social worker, she came to lead a team of seven social workers and four admin assistants by the time she stepped down.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-14 |title=Lindy Morrison announces retirement from Support Act |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/lindy-morrison-retirement-support-act/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Music Network}}</ref>

In 2007, Morrison was appointed as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the ], for her services as a board member, and because she "gave great assistance to community music initiatives and guidance in issues around performers' rights".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Council of Australia, About the Council |url=http://www.mca.org.au/web/content/view/130/6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812055042/http://www.mca.org.au/web/content/view/130/6 |archive-date=12 August 2008 |access-date=11 August 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Morrison is the author of a short workbook entitled "Australian women in rock and pop music" and made an hour-long video to accompany it. Intended as student material, the work is housed in the Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, and in the National Library of Australia.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525082351/http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an12117055 |date=25 May 2011 }} {{ISBN|1-875856-73-0}} (video) 1875856765 (workbook)</ref> Interviewees for the video include ], ] and ]. More recently, she has also written numerous articles for Australian newspapers such as the ] and ] as well as articles on legal matters relating to the music industry.

She was Musical Director of Trace Elements at the Mt Isa Theatrical Society (with ] and ]) (1995) and Musical Director for Beachport Festival by the Sea (1996), Blacktown Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival Stunt Streets (1998), Dandenong Ranges Music Council Yarra Ranges Youth Music Festival (1998), Rocky Fringe River Rhythms Musical Director (2000) and Whittlesea Artist in Residence (1999-2000). Morrison was the Artist in Residence at South Sydney Youth Service (1998–2001) and was employed by TAFE as the head tutor for the music course run by SSYS.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/eas/youth/publica/nextstep.doc |title=Community Grants Program publication 'Next Step', November 2000, p9. |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731025828/https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/eas/youth/publica/nextstep.doc |archive-date=31 July 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She also taught contracts and copyright and music business modules at TAFE.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Election-2004/She-bangs-the-drum-for-politics/2004/10/05/1096949102387.html |title=The Age, 6 October 2004 |access-date=17 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310141659/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Election-2004/She-bangs-the-drum-for-politics/2004/10/05/1096949102387.html |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Morrison's work in community music includes directing a group of intellectually disabled musicians for 24 years known as The Junction House Band,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farouque |first1=Farah |date=2007-01-04 |title=Storyline Australia: Junction House Blues |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/storyline-australia-junction-house-blues/2007/01/03/1167777142186.html |url-status=live |accessdate=2017-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924204103/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv-reviews/storyline-australia-junction-house-blues/2007/01/03/1167777142186.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>"Junction House blues" . Academy Library, University of NSW@ADFA Local id: 346809 Shelf: av DVD ML3534 .J86 2007 and University of Canberra – University of Canberra Library Shelf: BRN375844</ref> including for their performance at the first Australian event for the Wataboshi Festival, which had previously been held in a number of a different Asian cities<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901050345/https://mail.cofa.unsw.edu.au/pipermail/master-art-admin/2003-May/pdfmnqtR20H13.pdf|date=1 September 2007}}</ref> and was visiting Australia for the first time. A documentary on the band called Junction House Blues was produced in 2007. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4pwegUSbj8 |title=Junction House Blues |date=2024-07-30 |last=lindymorrison1 |access-date=2024-10-14 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

On 26 January 2013, Morrison was awarded an ] for services as a performer and advocate<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian Honours Search Facility |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1147109 |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref> and the next year she received the ] ]. In 2019 she was nominated for the ] in the Humanitarian category. In 2023, she was awarded the Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Queensland Music Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/thelma-plum-ball-park-music-2023-queensland-music-awards-1235293718/ | title=Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music Lead 2023 Queensland Music Awards | magazine=] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://themusic.com.au/news/lindy-morrison-queensland-music-awards/KCqWOj08Pz4/29-03-23 | title="In Our Art There Lies a Truth": Lindy Morrison's Incredible QMA Acceptance }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-29/queensland-music-awards-thelma-plum-ball-park-music/102155630|title= Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards|website=]|date=29 March 2023|access-date=30 March 2023}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
Morrison stood for election (unsuccessfully) as a candidate for the ] in the ] seat of ]<ref name=age>{{cite news|last1=Keenan|first1=Catherine|title=She bangs the drum for politics|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Election-2004/She-bangs-the-drum-for-politics/2004/10/05/1096949102387.html|accessdate=2017-04-17|work=The Age|date=2004-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310141659/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Election-2004/She-bangs-the-drum-for-politics/2004/10/05/1096949102387.html|archive-date=10 March 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite NSW election |year=2003 |district=Coogee |accessdate=26 June 2020}}</ref> at the ], and in the ] at the ].<ref name=age/><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-12246-152.htm |title=Official AEC (House of Reps) Federal seat of Wentworth, 2004 election result |access-date=17 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214220104/http://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-12246-152.htm |archive-date=14 December 2005 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Published writing==
Morrison L Light Touch Report on Music Workshops from the Inner West ACE Accessing Creative Expression Issue #10 Nov. 1994

Morrison L. Australian Women in Rock and Pop Music, Ausmusic. 1995

Morrison L. Billboard of Life ACE Issue #14 Sept 96

Morrison L Beachport Festival by the Sea Music Alive Vol. 1 No. 2 1996

Morrison L. Improvisation in Rock and Pop Music Sounds Australian Vol. 14 No.48 1996

Morrison L. All about the Music Music Alive VOLUME 2 #1 March/ April 98

Morrison L Editor Music Alive Vol. 3 #4 May – Aug 1999

Morrison L Peter and the Pavilion Music Alive Vol. 3 #4 May – Aug 1999

Morrison L. Cunnynghame A. The Face of Australia commissioned by the Danedenong Ranges Music Council Centenary Songs Project 2000/2001 to celebrate Australia’s Centenary of Federation 1901 -2001. Performed Melbourne Concert Hall Monday 28 May 2001

Morrison L It’s a Man’s World Sydney Morning Herald July 3–4, 2004

Morrison L Demolition Girl Rolling Stone May 2005 LLC Germany

Morrison L. Stranded in The Dismissal edited by Sybil Nolan MUP 2005

Morrison L. Drums Cattle and Cane …The Right Way Australian Musician Issue 52 Summer 2007.

Morrison L. An Artist Defense of Copyright Music Forum Vol 17 #3 Winter 2011

Morrison L The Rationale for Copyright Law Music Forum Spring 2011

Morrison L. To my most treasured possession in Women of Letters curated by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire Penguin 2011

Morrison L, Turner C. Performers Copyright in sound recordings after the Australia–US FTA – mere symbolism? Intellectual Property Law Bulletin Vol. 17 No. 10 Lexis Nexus Butterworth’s
Morrison L. Songs of Brisbane The Go Betweens 8 Sept 2018<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morrison |first=Lindy |date=2018-09-07 |title=Go-Betweens' Lindy Morrison: Brisbane in the late 70s was fast and furious |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/08/go-betweens-lindy-morrison-brisbane-in-the-late-70s-was-fast-and-furious |access-date=2024-09-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Morrison L. My unforgettable gig The Go-Betweens 4 Jan 2022<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morrison |first=Lindy |date=2022-01-03 |title=The Go-Betweens' Lindy Morrison: I'll never forget playing Roskilde, when chaos hit the Hoodoo Gurus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/04/the-go-betweens-lindy-morrison-ill-never-forget-playing-roskilde-when-chaos-hit-the-hoodoo-gurus |access-date=2024-09-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Morrison L. My Rock n Roll confession to The Saint Chris Bailey 2 April 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Lindy |date=2022-04-11 |title=My rock 'n' roll confession to The Saint, Chris Bailey |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/my-rock-n-roll-confession-to-the-saint-chris-bailey-20220411-p5acmb.html |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography/video productions==

* ''Australian Women in Rock and Pop Music,'' Ausmusic 1995
* ''Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves'' Video, Ausmusic 1995
* '']'', film, as Chavonne's grandma, 2009

==References==
{{refbegin}}
;General
* {{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |authorlink=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=] |title=Whammo Homepage |url=http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |accessdate=8 April 2010 |year=1999 |publisher=] |location=] |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010033414/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |archivedate=10 October 2004 }} Note: Archived copy has limited functionality.
*{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-eMZkz3jMlAC&q=the+go-betweens+david+nichols | last = David | first = Nichols | title = The Go-Betweens | publisher = Verse Chorus Press | location = ] | year = 2003 | isbn = 1-891241-16-8}} Note: version has limited functionality.
*{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4375/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title = The Go-Betweens - Biography | last = Ribas | first = Michael | work = ] | publisher = ] | accessdate = 9 April 2010 }}

;Specific
{{refend}}

{{reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=

<ref name="McF">McFarlane {{cite web|url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=845 |title='The Go-Betweens' entry |accessdate=2014-05-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829235157/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=845 |archivedate=29 August 2004 }}. Retrieved 8 April 2010.</ref>

<ref name="ARDb">{{cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/gobetweens.html |work=] |title=The Go-Betweens |publisher=Magnus Holmgren |editor=Magnus Holmgren |accessdate=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921232024/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/gobetweens.html |archivedate=21 September 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

<ref name="Raggett">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r213956/review|pure_url=yes}} | title = Very Quick on the Eye - Review | last = Raggett | first = Ned | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation | accessdate = 9 April 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="Dalton">{{cite news | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/me-and-my-shadow/story-e6freqgx-1111113951296 | title = Me and my shadow | page = 1 | newspaper = ] | publisher = ] (]) | date = 14 July 2007 | accessdate = 9 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120302172916/http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/me-and-my-shadow/story-e6freqgx-1111113951296 | archive-date = 2 March 2012 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Kingsmill">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1407504.htm | title = J Files: The Go-Betweens | last = Kingsmill | first = Richard | authorlink = Richard Kingsmill | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | work = ] | date = 31 August 2000 | accessdate = 14 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100919214556/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1407504.htm | archive-date = 19 September 2010 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Lullaby">{{cite AV media notes | title = Send Me a Lullaby | others = The Go-Betweens | year = 1982 | url = http://www.go-betweens.org.uk/discography/1982sendmealullaby/1982sendmealullaby.htm | first = Dave | last = Hill | publisher = ] | id = ING005 | location = Melbourne, Australia | accessdate = 20 August 2015 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210640/http://www.go-betweens.org.uk/discography/1982sendmealullaby/1982sendmealullaby.htm | archivedate = 4 March 2016 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="APRA Cattle">{{cite web | title = "Cattle and Cane" at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Cattle%20and%20Cane | publisher = ] (APRA) | accessdate = 27 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090830071417/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Cattle%20and%20Cane | archive-date = 30 August 2009 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="AllMLullaby">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r39033/review|pure_url=yes}} | title = Send Me a Lullaby - Review | last = Raggett | first = Ned | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation | accessdate = 9 April 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="NicholsTuff">Nichols, (2003), pp. 93, 114–115.</ref>

<ref name="Beriyant">{{cite news | url = http://www.bigtakeover.com/news/unfinished-business-rip-grant-mclennan | title = Unfinished Business: R.I.P. Grant McLennan | newspaper = The Big Takeover | publisher = Big Takeover Magazine (Jack Rabid) | last = Beriyant | first = Matthew | date = 7 May 2006 | accessdate = 14 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708001413/http://www.bigtakeover.com/news/unfinished-business-rip-grant-mclennan | archive-date = 8 July 2011 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="APRA DooWop">{{cite web | title = "Doo Wop in 'A' (Bam Boom)" at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Doo%20Wop%20in%20A%20Bam%20Boom | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | accessdate = 15 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120910205421/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Doo%20Wop%20in%20A%20Bam%20Boom | archive-date = 10 September 2012 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="SBSGreat">{{cite web|url=http://www.realscreen.com/articles/news/20081008/Great%20Australian%20Albums%20at%20MIPCOMPress%20Release%20-%208%20Oct.pdf |title=SBS takes Great Australian Albums to MIPCOM 08 |format=] (PDF) |publisher=] (SBS) |date=8 October 2008 |accessdate=15 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826050949/http://realscreen.com/articles/news/20081008/great%20australian%20albums%20at%20mipcompress%20release%20-%208%20oct.pdf/ |archivedate=26 August 2012 }}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* (talking about her role / experiences / observations in the civil disobedience movement and in protecting the rights of Aboriginal people at about 23 minutes into the program material, and several times later)
<!--Audio of Morrison recorded in a phone interview with radio station ] reflecting on her time in the band 'The Go-Betweens' shortly after the death of band member Grant McLennan and some information about the band in general, can be heard at (subscription required).--><!-- Not sure we can use this without some sort of direct link or transcript. -->

{{The Go-Betweens}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Lindy}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 08:17, 17 January 2025

Lindy Morrison
Birth nameBelinda Morrison
Born (1951-11-02) 2 November 1951 (age 73)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1978–present
Labels
Musical artist

Belinda "Lindy" Morrison OAM (born 2 November 1951) is an Australian musician, activist and social worker originally from Brisbane, Queensland. After starting her career working for a new Queensland branch of the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1972, and starting to play drums at about the same time, she became the drummer for female-led punk band Zero in 1978 and then joined Robert Forster and Grant McLennan to became the third member of the Go-Betweens in 1980.

She recorded and toured with the band until their first breakup in 1989, drumming on all of their first six albums and singing on the first three, while also working on a number of side projects, including Tuff Monks (with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey), and with Nikki Sudden.

After the Go-Betweens, Morrison continued to work as a drummer but also started to take positions within the music industry, including as an artist representative on the board of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia, a role she held for nearly three decades. Her careers in music and social work converged in 1998 when she joined Support Act, a benevolent association for Australian musicians, as their National Welfare Coordinator. Morrison has also worked as a lecturer at Sydney Institute of TAFE, and has been involved with various community music projects, including as musical director for the Junction House Band (for musicians with a mild intellectual disability) and with Bondi Wave (for high school children).

In 2003 and 2004 she tried to enter politics with the Australian Democrats, unsuccessfully standing for seats in the eastern suburbs of Sydney in state and federal elections.

Morrison completed a Masters in Legal Studies at the University of New South Wales in 2010 and has subsequently expanded her writing (much of which has been on her and other women’s experiences in the music industry) to include subjects related to copyright law. In 2013, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services as a performer and advocate. In 2014 she received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Having turned 70 in 2021, Morrison continues to work as a drummer, and recently said: “I certainly will never retire from playing music, that goes without saying. I keep getting interesting gigs with all sorts of different people.”

Morrison’s most notable recent collaborations have been with Alex The Astronaut, more than 40 years Morrison’s junior, and Rob Snarski, best known for his work with The Blackeyed Susans. After touring for 18 months, in May 2023, Morrison and Snarski released a mini album called "Someone said that Someone Said" as SnarskiCircusLindyBand. The band also consists of Shane O'Mara, Dan Kelly and Graham Lee.

Musicianship and performance style

Writing about her in the NME in 1983, Barney Hoskyns said "Lindy Morrison's drumming remains great in the way that Levon Helm or Charlie Watts are great; precise, quirky, inventive.”

Morrison is the subject of the book My Rock 'N' Roll Friend, written by the singer Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl and published in 2021. The two first met in 1983 at the Lyceum in London, at a time when female instrumentalists were rare; Thorn’s book details the inspiration she took from Morrison, and attempts to redress her perception that Morrison hasn’t received the acclaim she deserved for her work with The Go-Betweens.

Thorn’s writing also captures something about the rhythmic eccentricities of The Go-Betweens: “Robert and Grant often unwittingly write songs in weird time signatures, and when they bring these songs to Lindy, she decides to try to reflect or capture honestly the oddities of their structures. She thinks the boys don’t really know how to count their bars, and they have no real sense of timing or rhythm, so it’s left to Lindy to literally drum it into them. She is determined not to ‘play through’ the quirky patterns, and not to straighten them out. She thinks that would be too nice, too boring.”

Thorn describes Morrison as a transgressive performer, indiscreet and immodest with her legs wide apart, adding: “When she starts hitting the drums, all at once she’s making more noise than anyone else in the room. It’s not ladylike, this noise she’s making. And she’s in charge, whatever the guitarist or the lead singer may think.”

As the title of his 2016 memoir ("Grant & I: Inside And Outside The Go-Betweens") suggests, Robert Forster’s writing about the band mostly focuses on the relationship between him and McLennan, but it also indicates that he understands Morrison’s importance to the band:

“Her drum kit sounded fantastic and she rode every queer-timed riff and rolled on every chorus we put to her. Before Hollywood is a master class in creative rock drumming; hers is the distinguishing instrument.”

Speaking about Cattle And Cane, the lead single for "Before Hollywood", McLennan said of Morrison's drum part: “It had a great rhythm which I don't think any drummer in the world could've played except her. That rhythm never ceases to amaze me.”

Life

Early life and education

Though born in Sydney, Morrison “grew up in Queensland, the daughter of an eccentric doctor father and a conservative stay-at-home mother”. Her great uncle is the renowned writer Ion Idriess who is the brother of her father’s mother.


]]She attended Somerville House, an independent school for girls in South Brisbane, and then the University of Queensland, where she completed a Bachelor of Social Work in 1972. Her final-year tutor, responsible for arranging placements for social work students, was Roisin Hirschfeld, a member of the steering committee of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS).

Initial career in social work

The Aboriginal Legal Service (subsequently known as ATSILS, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service) began operating out of the Uniting Church hall on Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, in the winter of 1972, and Hirschfeld approached Morrison about joining the service late in 1972. Morrison became the organisation's first social worker and second full-time employee.

In her role as Aboriginal Field Officer for the ALS, she worked alongside the radical Aboriginal activist Denis Walker. Walker had founded a local chapter of the Australian Black Panthers and "refused to accept the legitimacy of 'White man's Law". The job of field officer involved her going out late at night on "pig-patrol" which she described as:

"... trying to stop the Police from picking up Aboriginal people coming out of the hotels, because they'd take them in a put them in gaol for drunkenness and the next morning I'd have to go to court, ask for bail, take them across to the legal service and the lawyers would then have to work towards stopping them being locked up or fined. So pig-patrol was the first way to stop them doing that so we'd go out on a pig-patrol every night at 10 o'clock."

Theatre and activism

During her time with the ALS, Morrison lived in central Brisbane, sharing a house with indigenous Australians, musicians and the actors Geoffrey Rush and Bille Brown. It was during this period that she would meet the people and become involved in the activities that set the tone of her life, and started playing drums. After "burn out" and leaving the service of the ALS, a two-year sojourn in England followed. On her return to Queensland, she moved into acting, believing that "the only salvation lay in art".

She was part of the Popular Theatre Troupe which protested against Joh Bjelke-Petersen's National Party government, performing their sharply satirical political street theatre around the state during a time when life in Queensland was felt to be strongly constrained by the government, select business groups, and political interests.

Musical career

Shrew – Zero

Morrison's first band, Shrew, performed in 1976 and 77. They were an all-girl acoustic band with members playing clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar. Their repertoire consisted mainly of covers of 1940s pop songs.

In 1978, Morrison joined the band Zero. At the time, members included Irena Luckus, Nicki Nought and Deborah Thomas. The band started by performing Patti Smith and other punk covers before moving on to write their own material. Morrison said she left in 1981 because "They wanted drum-machines and synthesisers." On Morrison's departure Zero became Xero.

The Go-Betweens

The Go-Betweens were formed in 1977 in Brisbane, Queensland, by Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who initially played bass guitar. The group had a succession of drummers and travelled to the United Kingdom in late 1979. They returned to Brisbane in 1980, at which point Morrison joined on drums and backing vocals. Their first single with Morrison, "Your Turn My Turn", appeared in September 1981 and was followed by "Hammer the Hammer" in March 1982. They recorded 10 tracks as demos in Brisbane during 1981, which had a limited release as Very Quick on the Eye by Man Made Records in 1982. The tracks showed that Morrison's "drum abilities, always a deeply underrated part of the band's appeal, fit hand in glove with the arrangements". By this time, Forster and Morrison were lovers and Morrison was living in Spring Hill, an inner-city Brisbane suburb.

The band's first official album, Send Me a Lullaby, produced by the Go-Betweens and Tony Cohen, appeared in February on Missing Link Records in Australia. Morrison provided the album title, in preference to Two Wimps and a Witch, from the Zelda Fitzgerald novel Save Me the Waltz. Forster and McLennan wrote all the tracks, alternating lead vocal duties according to who provided the lyrics. A mistaken interpretation of the original album credits has seen Morrison credited with lead vocals on "People Know" when in reality she only ever sang backing vocals for the Go-Betweens. The only guest musician on the album was James Freud (of the Models) who played saxophone on "People Know". In 2002, UK label Circus released a 2CD version of Send Me a Lullaby which included "After the Fireworks". This was recorded as a collaboration with The Birthday Party's Nick Cave on vocals, Mick Harvey on piano and Rowland S. Howard on guitar. It had been released as a single under the band name, Tuff Monks in 1982 on Au Go Go Records.

The Go-Betweens returned to UK and recorded their second album, Before Hollywood (May 1983), with John Brand producing. It established them as cult favourites while "Cattle and Cane" was released as a single and was " the band's absolute highlight of its earliest years". In 2001, "Cattle and Cane" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

The next album release was Spring Hill Fair (September 1984) which saw Robert Vickers replace McLennan on bass, and McLennan moving to guitar. Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express followed in March 1986, with the same line up. Amanda Brown joined the band later in 1986. Within a few months, Brown and McLennan were lovers—many of McLennan's new lyrics were about this relationship. Tallulah (June 1987), produced by The Go-Betweens for True Tone and Beggars Banquet contained their "most winsome and hummable songs, 'Right Here' and 'Bye Bye Pride'"; while Brown's contributions "added extra lustre". LO-MAX Records released a 2CD version of Tallulah in 2004; one of the bonus tracks, "Doo Wop in 'A' (Bam Boom)" was co-written by Morrison, Brown, McLennan and Forster. In November 1987, the Go-Betweens returned to Australia and John Willsteed (who had previously played with Morrison in Zero) replaced Robert Vickers on bass.

The alternative radio hit "Streets of Your Town" (July 1988) was the lead single for the band's sixth album, 16 Lovers Lane (August 1988). It became the band's biggest chart hit in both the UK and Australia, peaking in the Top 100. The follow-up single "Was There Anything I Could Do?" failed to chart in either Australia or the UK, but peaked at number 16 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks charts in the United States. This minimal commercial success was hardly the hoped-for breakthrough for the band, and after recording six albums, Forster and McLennan disbanded the Go-Betweens in December 1989. Morrison and Forster had separated as a couple earlier and both Forster and McLennan pursued solo careers. In 2008, 16 Lovers Lane was highlighted on Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) TV's The Great Australian Albums series as a classic example of 1980s rock music.

Post Go-Betweens

In 1991, the same year in which Morrison's daughter was born and two years after the Go-Betweens split, Morrison and Amanda Brown reunited to form Cleopatra Wong, with Brown acting as vocalist. They went on to record two EPs (Egg, 1992, and Cleopatra’s Lament, 1993) releasing both of these on rooArt.

Morrison’s career then moved more towards positions within the music industry, and community music projects, as detailed below. From November 2007 to 2011, however, she was a member of The Rainy Season, a five-piece band fronted by Jed Brown, and including Peter Jones (ex Cosmic Psychos), Clyde Bramley, and, once again, Amanda Brown.

In 2018 Morrison co-produced and played drums on The Charm's debut EP "Invisible" and also began to play with Alexandra Lynn (aka Alex the Astronaut); in 2020 Morrison appeared in Alex The Astronaut's music video for the single "Caught In The Middle" as both a drummer and tennis player and also performed on a live cover of ELO's Mr Blue Sky that was recorded for Triple J's Like A Version, broadcast on ABC TV and released on a compilation album.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Morrison recorded and toured with British band The Girl With The Replaceable Head. In 2023, she toured with Rob Snarski, lead singer of the Blackeyed Susans and formerly Chad’s Tree, to promote his fifth solo album. In May 2023, Morrison and Snarski released a mini album called Somebody said that Somebody said under the band name of SnarskiCircusLindyBand with Shane O'Mara, Graham Lee and Dan Kelly. With the same line up and again with Shane O'Mara as producer and recorded (as was the first) in his Yikesville studio, in May 2024 they released their second mini album called I Know I Know and toured to promote this recording.

Music industry career

After she left the Go-Betweens, Morrison’s main focus switched to working within the music industry, drawing on her background in social work as well as her experience as a performing and recording musician, but her work also included educational and organisational roles.

Morrison was the Vice President Australian Women’s Contemporary Music Association 1988-1994.

Morrison became a board member of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia in 1994 and served as a representative for registered Australian recording artists (making contributions to changes in policy to benefit recording artists) until 2021.

She joined Support Act Ltd, a benevolent society for Australian musicians, in 1998, as their National Welfare Coordinator. This role expanded greatly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and after spending much of her time with Support Act as their only social worker, she came to lead a team of seven social workers and four admin assistants by the time she stepped down.

In 2007, Morrison was appointed as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Music Council of Australia, for her services as a board member, and because she "gave great assistance to community music initiatives and guidance in issues around performers' rights".

Morrison is the author of a short workbook entitled "Australian women in rock and pop music" and made an hour-long video to accompany it. Intended as student material, the work is housed in the Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, and in the National Library of Australia. Interviewees for the video include Kylie Minogue, Tina Arena and Wendy Matthews. More recently, she has also written numerous articles for Australian newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald and Guardian Australia as well as articles on legal matters relating to the music industry.

She was Musical Director of Trace Elements at the Mt Isa Theatrical Society (with Delma Barton and William Barton (musician)) (1995) and Musical Director for Beachport Festival by the Sea (1996), Blacktown Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival Stunt Streets (1998), Dandenong Ranges Music Council Yarra Ranges Youth Music Festival (1998), Rocky Fringe River Rhythms Musical Director (2000) and Whittlesea Artist in Residence (1999-2000). Morrison was the Artist in Residence at South Sydney Youth Service (1998–2001) and was employed by TAFE as the head tutor for the music course run by SSYS. She also taught contracts and copyright and music business modules at TAFE.

Morrison's work in community music includes directing a group of intellectually disabled musicians for 24 years known as The Junction House Band, including for their performance at the first Australian event for the Wataboshi Festival, which had previously been held in a number of a different Asian cities and was visiting Australia for the first time. A documentary on the band called Junction House Blues was produced in 2007.

On 26 January 2013, Morrison was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services as a performer and advocate and the next year she received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. In 2019 she was nominated for the Australian Women in Music Awards in the Humanitarian category. In 2023, she was awarded the Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Queensland Music Awards.

Politics

Morrison stood for election (unsuccessfully) as a candidate for the Australian Democrats in the New South Wales seat of Coogee at the 2003 state elections, and in the Division of Wentworth at the 2004 federal elections.

Published writing

Morrison L Light Touch Report on Music Workshops from the Inner West ACE Accessing Creative Expression Issue #10 Nov. 1994

Morrison L. Australian Women in Rock and Pop Music, Ausmusic. 1995

Morrison L. Billboard of Life ACE Issue #14 Sept 96

Morrison L Beachport Festival by the Sea Music Alive Vol. 1 No. 2 1996

Morrison L. Improvisation in Rock and Pop Music Sounds Australian Vol. 14 No.48 1996

Morrison L. All about the Music Music Alive VOLUME 2 #1 March/ April 98

Morrison L Editor Music Alive Vol. 3 #4 May – Aug 1999

Morrison L Peter and the Pavilion Music Alive Vol. 3 #4 May – Aug 1999

Morrison L. Cunnynghame A. The Face of Australia commissioned by the Danedenong Ranges Music Council Centenary Songs Project 2000/2001 to celebrate Australia’s Centenary of Federation 1901 -2001. Performed Melbourne Concert Hall Monday 28 May 2001

Morrison L It’s a Man’s World Sydney Morning Herald July 3–4, 2004

Morrison L Demolition Girl Rolling Stone May 2005 LLC Germany

Morrison L. Stranded in The Dismissal edited by Sybil Nolan MUP 2005

Morrison L. Drums Cattle and Cane …The Right Way Australian Musician Issue 52 Summer 2007.

Morrison L. An Artist Defense of Copyright Music Forum Vol 17 #3 Winter 2011

Morrison L The Rationale for Copyright Law Music Forum Spring 2011

Morrison L. To my most treasured possession in Women of Letters curated by Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire Penguin 2011

Morrison L, Turner C. Performers Copyright in sound recordings after the Australia–US FTA – mere symbolism? Intellectual Property Law Bulletin Vol. 17 No. 10 Lexis Nexus Butterworth’s

Morrison L. Songs of Brisbane The Go Betweens 8 Sept 2018

Morrison L. My unforgettable gig The Go-Betweens 4 Jan 2022

Morrison L. My Rock n Roll confession to The Saint Chris Bailey 2 April 2022

Filmography/video productions

  • Australian Women in Rock and Pop Music, Ausmusic 1995
  • Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves Video, Ausmusic 1995
  • Home of Strangers, film, as Chavonne's grandma, 2009

References

General
Specific
  1. George-Warren, Holly, ed. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Third ed.). New York: Fireside. p. 378. ISBN 0743201205.
  2. "Tunesday – How to Become a Drummer with Lindy Morrison from the Go-Betweens". frankie magazine. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Kristy Gostelow welcomed as inaugural PPCA Board Observership Program participant | PPCA". www.ppca.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. "Lindy Morrison". Support Act. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. "Still lots to learn even if you began rocking in the cradle". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 June 2004.
  6. ^ Keenan, Catherine (6 October 2004). "She bangs the drum for politics". The Age. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "2003 Coogee". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Official AEC (House of Reps) Federal seat of Wentworth, 2004 election result". Archived from the original on 14 December 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2005.
  9. Cowle, June (2 May 2010). "Brunch - Lindy Morrison". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  10. "Three inspiring stories from amazing Aussies about retirement". Apia. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. "SnarskiCircusLindyBand - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. "Someone Said That Someone Said, by SnarskiCircusLindyBand". Rob Snarski | SnarskiCircusLindyBand. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. Varvaris, Mary. "VIDEO PREMIERE: SnarskiCircusLindyBand - 'Since I Slept With You Everybody Wants To Sleep With Me'". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  14. Barney Hoskyns (15 September 1983). "Ridiculous and Wonderful". NME.
  15. Arnold, Gina (7 September 2021). "Exile on Man Street: On Tracey Thorn's "My Rock 'n' Roll Friend"". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  16. Heathcote, Charlotte (1 April 2021). "Mirror Book Club reviews Reverend Richard Coles, Mel Giedroyc and Tracey Thorn". Daily Mirror (Review of My Rock 'n' Roll Friend by Tracey Thorn, Canongate.).
  17. ^ Thorn, Tracey (2021). My Rock 'n' Roll Friend. Canongate. ISBN 9781786898227.
  18. Forster, Robert (2017). Grant & I: Inside And Outside The Go-Betweens (Paperback edition; previously published as an ebook. ed.). Penguin Random House. ISBN 9780143786405.
  19. ^ Kingsmill, Richard (31 August 2000). "J Files: The Go-Betweens". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  20. Eley, Beverley (1995). Ion Idriess. Sydney ; New York: Imprint. ISBN 978-1-875892-08-2.
  21. "Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p32
  22. ^ "Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p36
  23. "Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p35
  24. ^ "Goss a political biography" by Jamie Walker, Uni of QLD press 1995 p37
  25. "ATSILS - Celebrating 50 years". ATSILS. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  26. In an interview recorded for the ABC Radio National program "Pig City" Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine and available at speechification.com (at 27:30 into the program material)
  27. In an interview recorded for the ABC Radio National program "Pig City" Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine Available at speechification.com (at 34:55 into the program material)
  28. "The Go-Betweens" By David Nichols, Allen and Unwin 1997 p65
  29. "Films « Bush Telegraph". archive.is. 19 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  30. "No! No! to Joh" by Pete Thomas published by Building Workers industrial Union (Queensland Branch) dated February 1979.
  31. Clinton Walker (1984). The Next Thing. Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-949924-81-4.
  32. ^ McFarlane "'The Go-Betweens' entry". Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 10 May 2014.. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  33. ^ Magnus Holmgren (ed.). "The Go-Betweens". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  34. Raggett, Ned. "Very Quick on the Eye - Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  35. "Me and my shadow". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers (News Corporation). 14 July 2007. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  36. Hill, Dave (1982). Send Me a Lullaby (Media notes). The Go-Betweens. Melbourne, Australia: Missing Link. ING005. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  37. Raggett, Ned. "Send Me a Lullaby - Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  38. Send Me a Lullaby - The Go-Betweens | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 18 February 2023
  39. Nichols, (2003), 'Tuff Monks' entries pp. 93, 114–115.
  40. ""Cattle and Cane" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  41. Beriyant, Matthew (7 May 2006). "Unfinished Business: R.I.P. Grant McLennan". The Big Takeover. Big Takeover Magazine (Jack Rabid). Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  42. ""Doo Wop in 'A' (Bam Boom)" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  43. "SBS takes Great Australian Albums to MIPCOM 08". Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). 8 October 2008. Archived from the original (Portable Document Format (PDF)) on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  44. Cleopatra Wong - Egg, 1992, retrieved 17 February 2023
  45. "Cleopatra Wong". Discogs. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  46. "Sexism, love songs and protests: Alex The Astronaut and Lindy Morrison In Conversation". Double J. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  47. "Alex The Astronaut writes songs to help her (and us) make sense of life's Big Stuff". triple j. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  48. "News: Lindy Morrison (The Go-Betweens) joins The Girl With The Replaceable Head in the UK for series of gigs in May". Backseat Mafia. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  49. Channels, NSW Government Digital (15 February 2023). "Rob Snarski (Blackeyed Susans) & Lindy Morrison (Go-Betweens)". NSW Government. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  50. "VIDEO PREMIERE: SnarskiCircusLindyBand - 'Since I Slept with You Everybody Wants to Sleep with Me'".
  51. "Rob, Lindy and band on stage". 3 May 2023.
  52. "I Know I Know. SnarskiCircusLindyBand | Loud Mouth - The Music Trust Ezine". 9 September 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  53. ^ Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Website "About Us" Archived 19 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  54. "High Voltage Rock 'n Roll" by Christie Eliezer Omnibus Press 2007 first edition p129
  55. Support Act Limited Contacts Page Archived 24 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  56. "Lindy Morrison announces retirement from Support Act". The Music Network. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  57. "Music Council of Australia, About the Council". Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  58. NLofA Archived 25 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 1-875856-73-0 (video) 1875856765 (workbook)
  59. "Community Grants Program publication 'Next Step', November 2000, p9". Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  60. "The Age, 6 October 2004". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  61. Farouque, Farah (4 January 2007). "Storyline Australia: Junction House Blues". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  62. "Junction House blues" . Academy Library, University of NSW@ADFA Local id: 346809 Shelf: av DVD ML3534 .J86 2007 and University of Canberra – University of Canberra Library Shelf: BRN375844
  63. ACE magazine, Issue 27 April 2003 p17 Archived 1 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  64. lindymorrison1 (30 July 2024). Junction House Blues. Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  65. "Australian Honours Search Facility". Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  66. "Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music Lead 2023 Queensland Music Awards". Billboard.
  67. ""In Our Art There Lies a Truth": Lindy Morrison's Incredible QMA Acceptance".
  68. "Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  69. Morrison, Lindy (7 September 2018). "Go-Betweens' Lindy Morrison: Brisbane in the late 70s was fast and furious". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  70. Morrison, Lindy (3 January 2022). "The Go-Betweens' Lindy Morrison: I'll never forget playing Roskilde, when chaos hit the Hoodoo Gurus". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  71. Morrison, Lindy (11 April 2022). "My rock 'n' roll confession to The Saint, Chris Bailey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

External links

The Go-Betweens
Studio albums
Compilations
EPs
Singles
Related articles
Categories:
Lindy Morrison: Difference between revisions Add topic