Brisbane-based The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in 1978. The band’s lineup was convoluted—the only constant members were founders Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, and the band saw the coming and going of a staggering eighteen other people.

Despite the band’s inability to keep a consistent lineup, they managed to release multiple iconic Australian albums and tracks. New Musical Express described their first album, Send me a Lullaby (1981), as “the least fussy, least pompous, most natural and moving music I’ve yet heard from their part of the planet”.

It was not until 1983’s Before Hollywood that they managed to get a foothold in the industry; “Cattle and Cane” quickly became their most notable song. With this, they performed live on TV shows and saw airtime on triple J, one of Australia’s most popular radio channels.

Their next few albums, Spring Hill Fair (1984) and Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (1986) were acclaimed for the improvements regarding sound “boldness” and confidence. Tallulah (1987) had the hit song “Bye Bye Pride”, again proving their competence in the Australian indie rock scene during the late 1980s.

Tallulah was followed up by 16 Lovers Lane (1988) a year later. Their most commercially successful album, it featured “Streets of Your Town” and “Was There Anything I Could Do?”

However, after releasing six albums, the band was disbanded until 2000. They released The Friends of Rachel Worth (2000) and Bright Yellow Bright Orange (2003), but it wasn’t until the release of Oceans Apart that they re-established themselves. The album received the ARIA award for “Best Adult Contemporary Album”.

On 6 May 2006, Grant McLennan died of a heart attack. Founding partner Robert Forster announced The Go-Betweens were no longer. The band saw its heyday and disbanded with each member continuing solo careers.