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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Robert (No. 1 of Robert, Lindy, Grant), 1981

Jenny Watson

oil on canvas board (support: 30.5cm x 22.7cm. frame: 32.5cm x 24.5cm)
Robert (No. 1 of Robert, Lindy, Grant), 1981

Robert Forster wrote The Go-Betweens' first recorded songs, 'Lee Remick' and 'Karen', of which they pressed about 500 copies, distributing them themselves. After The Go-Betweens parted in late 1989, Forster and McLennan both launched vibrant solo careers. In 1990, Forster made Danger in the Past, produced by Mick Harvey. Calling From a Country Phone (1993), I Had a New York Girlfriend (1994) and Warm Nights (1996) followed. After one of his solo appearances at the Garage in London, NME wrote that Forster's brilliant songs overflowed with 'the bottleneck charm and the subtly nagging melodies that most mortals barely achieve once, let alone all the bloody time.' Forster continued to play with McLennan quite often, and they 'officially' re-formed The Go-Betweens in 2000. Each wrote five songs for the album The Friends of Rachel Worth (2000).

Collection: National Portrait Gallery Purchased 2002
© Jenny Watson

Related information

Robert, Lindy, Grant
Robert, Lindy, Grant
Robert, Lindy, Grant
Robert, Lindy, Grant

Face the music

Magazine article by Christine Clark, 2005

Drawn from the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Face the Music explores the remarkable talents and achievements of Australian musicians, composers, conductors and celebrities associated with the music industry.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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