Guy McDonough
Encyclopedia
Guy Gillis McDonough was an Australian rock
musician best known for rhythm guitar
and singer-songwriter
with the iconic band Australian Crawl
. He provided rhythm guitar and lead vocals on two of their well-known songs, "Oh No Not You Again
" and "Errol
". McDonough's solo 1985 release, My Place, was produced by his brother, Bill McDonough.
on Mornington Peninsula
south east of central Melbourne, Victoria. McDonough attended The Peninsula School
and formed Spiff Rouch in 1976 with Bill McDonough (drums) and other locals James Reyne
(vocals, guitars, keyboards), Brad Robinson
(guitars, keyboards), Paul Williams (bass guitar), Robert Walker, Mark Hudson (guitars) and Simon Binks
.
By early 1978 Spiff Rouch had separated into two groups: The Flatheads and Clutch Cargo. The Flatheads had Guy and Bill McDonough, and Walker, who were joined by Sean Higgins (synthesisers) and Nigel Spencer (bass guitars, synthesisers). Clutch Cargo was renamed Australian Crawl and David Reyne (drums) soon left to be replaced by Bill McDonough. Guy McDonough had co-written "Downhearted
", with Higgins and Bill McDonough, for the Crawl's third single from debut 1980 album The Boys Light Up
.
in 1981, which became a #1 album on the National charts. McDonough wrote or co-wrote five of its eleven tracks including two singles "Errol
" and "Oh No Not You Again
". He sang lead on "Oh No Not You Again" and shared lead vocals with James Reyne on "Errol". "Errol" reached #18 on the Australian Singles Chart and was voted their third most popular song by listeners of Triple M
in 2007.
1982 saw the release of Sons of Beaches
with McDonough again writing or co-writing five of its tracks. This album also reached #1 but the singles had less success. After its release, Bill McDonough left the Crawl. He was briefly replaced by Graham Bidstrup on drums for the 1983 EP
release Semantics
. This four-track EP contained no tracks written by McDonough but did feature the #1 Australian Singles Chart success "Reckless (Don't Be So)
". A live album, Phalanx
released later that same year saw drummer, John Watson replacing Bidstrup. The Crawl's biggest overseas break came when Duran Duran
took the band as support on an international tour.
In 1984 Australian Crawl was forced off the road when Guy McDonough was admitted to hospital in Melbourne, he died soon after of septicaemia. Guy McDonough died on 26 June 1984, aged 28.
) and Michael Bright (guitar
). Bill McDonough then assembled the tapes and Wheatley Records issued Guy McDonough's posthumous album, My Place, in April, 1985. The singles were "My Place" / "Things Don't Seem" and "What's in it For Me" / "Hook, Line and Sinker". Seven of the tracks from My Place were later remastered and released in 1996 as part of the Australian Crawl compilation Lost & Found
. Compilers and producers of Lost & Found were Bill McDonough and Peter Blyton.
for full list or for a quick link to albums and singles use infobox below. Studio albums with McDonough:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician best known for rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
with the iconic band Australian Crawl
Australian Crawl
Australian Crawl were an Australian rock band founded by James Reyne , Brad Robinson , Paul Williams , Simon Binks and David Reyne in 1978. David Reyne soon left and was replaced by Bill McDonough...
. He provided rhythm guitar and lead vocals on two of their well-known songs, "Oh No Not You Again
Oh No Not You Again
"Oh No, Not You Again" is the third single by Australian rock band Australian Crawl from their 1981 studio album Sirocco. The song was written and sung by Guy McDonough, the band's rhythm guitarist, and was about "two young lovers who lived on the coast"....
" and "Errol
Errol (song)
"Errol" is the second single by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl taken from their 1981 album Sirocco. The song was written by James Reyne and Guy McDonough, and is a lyrical biography about Australian-born actor Errol Flynn....
". McDonough's solo 1985 release, My Place, was produced by his brother, Bill McDonough.
Early years
McDonough's parents were William Morris McDonough and Juneva McDonough. Together with his elder brother Bill McDonough, he grew up in Mount ElizaMount Eliza, Victoria
Mount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
on Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
south east of central Melbourne, Victoria. McDonough attended The Peninsula School
The Peninsula School
The Peninsula School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia.Founded in 1961, the school is set on the large hilly green fields overlooking Port Phillip Bay in the Mornington Peninsula and is a member of the Associated...
and formed Spiff Rouch in 1976 with Bill McDonough (drums) and other locals James Reyne
James Reyne
James Reyne is an Australian rock musician and singer/songwriter both as a member of the iconic 1980s band Australian Crawl and solo work.. He is a successful singer/ songwriter and prolific artist...
(vocals, guitars, keyboards), Brad Robinson
Brad Robinson (Australian musician)
Bradford Leigh "Brad" Robinson ) was a rock musician best known as lead and rhythm guitarist with the 1980s band Australian Crawl. Robinson had a later career as a manager for musicians and sports personalities.-Early years:...
(guitars, keyboards), Paul Williams (bass guitar), Robert Walker, Mark Hudson (guitars) and Simon Binks
Simon Binks
Simon John Binks is an Australian rock musician who was a guitarist and singer-songwriter for Australian Crawl from founding in 1978 to disbanding in 1986.-Early career:...
.
By early 1978 Spiff Rouch had separated into two groups: The Flatheads and Clutch Cargo. The Flatheads had Guy and Bill McDonough, and Walker, who were joined by Sean Higgins (synthesisers) and Nigel Spencer (bass guitars, synthesisers). Clutch Cargo was renamed Australian Crawl and David Reyne (drums) soon left to be replaced by Bill McDonough. Guy McDonough had co-written "Downhearted
Downhearted
"Downhearted" is the third single released by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl from their debut album The Boys Light Up. The song was written by Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough and Bill McDonough...
", with Higgins and Bill McDonough, for the Crawl's third single from debut 1980 album The Boys Light Up
The Boys Light Up
The Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and contains the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People"...
.
Australian Crawl
Guy McDonough joined Australian Crawl in October 1980, supplying rhythm guitar, vocals, and songwriting. The Crawl released their second album SiroccoSirocco (album)
Sirocco is the second album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was released in July 1981 and on 3 August, it topped the Australian charts where it remained for six weeks, the band's first of two albums to hit #1...
in 1981, which became a #1 album on the National charts. McDonough wrote or co-wrote five of its eleven tracks including two singles "Errol
Errol (song)
"Errol" is the second single by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl taken from their 1981 album Sirocco. The song was written by James Reyne and Guy McDonough, and is a lyrical biography about Australian-born actor Errol Flynn....
" and "Oh No Not You Again
Oh No Not You Again
"Oh No, Not You Again" is the third single by Australian rock band Australian Crawl from their 1981 studio album Sirocco. The song was written and sung by Guy McDonough, the band's rhythm guitarist, and was about "two young lovers who lived on the coast"....
". He sang lead on "Oh No Not You Again" and shared lead vocals with James Reyne on "Errol". "Errol" reached #18 on the Australian Singles Chart and was voted their third most popular song by listeners of Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
in 2007.
1982 saw the release of Sons of Beaches
Sons of Beaches
Sons of Beaches is the third album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl and their second #1 in the Australian albums charts...
with McDonough again writing or co-writing five of its tracks. This album also reached #1 but the singles had less success. After its release, Bill McDonough left the Crawl. He was briefly replaced by Graham Bidstrup on drums for the 1983 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
release Semantics
Semantics (album)
Semantics was a 1983 EP by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The album marked a change in the line-up of the band as Bill McDonough was replaced first by Graham Bidstrup to record the EP...
. This four-track EP contained no tracks written by McDonough but did feature the #1 Australian Singles Chart success "Reckless (Don't Be So)
Reckless (Australian Crawl song)
"Reckless" was a 1983 song from the EP Semantics by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The song showed a change in the line up of the band as drummer Bill McDonough was temporarily replaced by Graham Bidstrup...
". A live album, Phalanx
Phalanx (album)
Phalanx is the first live album released by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. It was recorded live at concerts at Bombay Rock Gold Coast, Queensland and at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in October, 1983, during the 'Semantics' tour. The album was initially released on vinyl in...
released later that same year saw drummer, John Watson replacing Bidstrup. The Crawl's biggest overseas break came when Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
took the band as support on an international tour.
In 1984 Australian Crawl was forced off the road when Guy McDonough was admitted to hospital in Melbourne, he died soon after of septicaemia. Guy McDonough died on 26 June 1984, aged 28.
Solo release/legacy
Prior to his death, Guy McDonough recorded a series of demos with his brother, Bill McDonough (drums), Higgins (keyboards) and Spencer (bass) (all former bandmates in The Flatheads), Mick Hauser (saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
) and Michael Bright (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
). Bill McDonough then assembled the tapes and Wheatley Records issued Guy McDonough's posthumous album, My Place, in April, 1985. The singles were "My Place" / "Things Don't Seem" and "What's in it For Me" / "Hook, Line and Sinker". Seven of the tracks from My Place were later remastered and released in 1996 as part of the Australian Crawl compilation Lost & Found
Lost & Found (Australian Crawl album)
Lost & Found is a compilation album of recording studio sessions credited to members of Australian Crawl and other artists; it includes tracks originally recorded with Guy McDonough and released on his 1985 posthumous solo album My Place. Guy McDonough had been Australian Crawl's guitarist,...
. Compilers and producers of Lost & Found were Bill McDonough and Peter Blyton.
Discography
- Spiff Rouch (1976–1978)
- no known recorded output
- The Flatheads (1978–1980)
- no known recorded output
- Australian Crawl (1980–1984)
for full list or for a quick link to albums and singles use infobox below. Studio albums with McDonough:
-
- SiroccoSirocco (album)Sirocco is the second album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was released in July 1981 and on 3 August, it topped the Australian charts where it remained for six weeks, the band's first of two albums to hit #1...
(1981) - Sons of BeachesSons of BeachesSons of Beaches is the third album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl and their second #1 in the Australian albums charts...
(1982) - SemanticsSemantics (album)Semantics was a 1983 EP by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The album marked a change in the line-up of the band as Bill McDonough was replaced first by Graham Bidstrup to record the EP...
(1983 EP, 1984 LP)
- Sirocco
- Solo
- My Place (1985)