Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Barnes lead star tributes at Michael Gudinski’s state memorial
Superstar Ed Sheeran broke down singing a song in honour of Michael Gudinski as icons from Bruce Springsteen to Sting, Kylie Minogue to Elton John delivered tributes at his memorial service.
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Kylie Minogue and Ed Sheeran have paid tribute to Michael Gudinski at the music icon’s state memorial service with an acoustic version of the pop princess’s classic 1987 debut hit The Loco-Motion.
An emotional Minogue told the Rod Laver Arena audience “there will only ever be one Gudinski”.
“The big G took this little scrawny girl from Melbourne to the world and back home again," Minogue said.
“He believed in you when you couldn’t believe in yourself.”
Minogue said Gudinski had wanted her to meet Ed Sheeran.
“We know he would just be beaming right now,” she said.
The superstars played her hit All The Lovers followed by The Loco-Motion.
“Ed was not even a glint in his mother’s eye and yet he managed to learn this song,” Minogue said.
Sheeran hit the stage at Rod Laver Arena in a suit with a St Kilda tie in a nod to Gudinski’s AFL team and a Mushroom records badge on his jacket.
He said “Michael would be buzzed that this was at Rod Laver Arena” and picked his friend’s favourite songs.
First was Castle on the Hill, which he recalled first playing to Gudinski and wife Sue at their Port Douglas house.
Admitting he was “nervous”, Sheeran spoke of meeting Gudinski for the first time in 2011 and called him “a tornado of joy, everywhere he went he lifted the room and f — d off.”
Sheeran played his first hit The A Team and said he was “extremely grateful” to be able to get to Australia and “the opportunity to say goodbye.”
Sheeran then played a song he finished in his Australian quarantine last week that seemed to be about Gudinski - he started crying while singing the lyric “I wish heaven had visiting hours, I would ask them if I could take you home.”
Gudinski’s daughter Kate fought back tears as she paid an emotional tribute to her music legend father while vowing: “I hope I can see you in my dreams and continue to make you proud.”
Kate, and her brother, Matt, who attended the memorial with their mum, Sue, saluted their dad as one of a kind.
“I miss our numerous phone calls we’d share on a daily basis, the feeling of nestling into your arms for a warm hug as you would always greet me with such a warm and gentle embrace, but mostly I just miss you,” Kate said.
“I will love you with all my heart and soul forever. I hope I can see you in my dreams and continue to make you proud. You’ll be forever in my heart.”
Matt, who is likely to take the reins at Gudisnki’s music, touring and publishing empire, the Mushroom Group, said: “Dad was never going to slow down and stop working. He always wanted to go out on top. It was a key thing he said all the time. And he really went out on top. He was in the finest form of his life, the peak of his powers, dare I say, and sadly left us with so so much more to offer.”
Matt added: “He was my father, my brother, my closest life confident, champion, life motivator, and most importantly best friend. We shared an indescribable bond which will remain and live deeply within me forever.
“We plotted, planned, celebrated, laughed, cried, yelled, screamed and loved everything we did together.”
Kate introduced Mark Seymour who performed Throw Your Arms Around Me with Vika and Linda Bull.
The memorial ended with Rabbi Wolf singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah in Hebrew, getting the crowd to join in on the chorus for some communal healing.
Then Jimmy Barnes closed the show with the Easybeats’ Good Times with Kylie, Ed Sheeran, Diesel, Vika and Linda, Paul Kelly, Jon Stevens and Mark Seymour.
Earlier, Bruce Springsteen filmed a heartfelt tribute to Gudinski, which was played to the 7200 guests at Rod Laver Arena, calling him one of the “last breed” of old school promoters.
Springsteen said Gudinski had become a friend and it saddened him to think of an industry without his type of promoter left in it.
“He was a music man. He wasn’t excited about the receipts, he was excited about the show,” Springsteen said.
Molly Meldrum said “Life will never be the same without you as far as I’m concerned.”
Shirley Manson of Garbage said Gudinski was “The greatest record man we have ever known bar none. He was a freak and a wonderful one at that.”
Rocker Jimmy Barnes dedicated a new song, Flesh And Blood, to Gudinski, who he’d worked with for 40 years.
“Michael Gudinski was my mate. He was my brother, my partner in crime,” Barnes said. “We laughed, we fought, we cried together.
“Michael was one of a kind and Australian music would not be what it is today without his support, without his love.
Joined by Michael Barclay, Paul Kelly performed Leaps and Bounds - one of Gudinski’s favourites.
He tweaked the song to end “I remember you Michael, you always liked to take a chance.”
In a video tribute, Billy Joel played Waltzing Matilda.
Joel said: “He was a great guy to hang out with he loved musicians and they loved him right back. He loved Australia maybe more than anyone I’ve ever known. I’m gonna miss that energy.”
Taylor Swift praised Gudinski and wife Sue, calling his death an “unbelievable loss.”
“They cared about me as a person and this was a friendship,” Swift said, saying she had spent birthdays with them and stayed at their Macedon home.
“I will never forget the wonderful times in my life that came about because of Michael and because he believed in me,” Swift said.
Elton John noted: “What a legend he was. Musicians from all over the world wanted to come to Australia to work with him. People like him don’t come along very often.”
Elton finished by stating “Shine on, you crazy man.”
Sting performed The Empty Chair via video, adding “I miss you brother.”
STAR-STUDDED GUESTS FILL ARENA
Musicians including members of bands as diverse as Something For Kate to the Chantoozies entered the arena, displaying just how wide his influence stretched.
Molly Meldrum, Red Symons, Wilbur Wilde, Sheppard, Brian Mannix, Brian Canham, Dave Graney, Jo Beth Taylor, Angela Bishop and Zan Rowe were among the many guests.
While Victorian Premier Dan Andrews was unable to make the event while he recovers from a fall, he sent a message stating Gudinski was “a wonderful Victorian and an even better friend. Music was his life’s purpose.”
While Gudinski was known as The Godfather of Australian music, he was the actual godfather of Mahalia Barnes.
Barnes was the first singer of the night, performing Advance Australia Fair - tweaking the lyric to “one and free”.
The state memorial kicked off at precisely 7.07pm – a reference to Gudinski’s favourite Penfolds 707 cabernet.
Those attending were able to buy Gudinski and Mushroom Records merchandise, with all proceeds going to music industry charity Support Act.
GUDINSKI ‘A PILLAR OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY’
Melbourne music lovers have flocked to pay respect to Michael Gudinski at his state memorial.
Kate Anderson, of Windsor, saw Skyhooks at Festival Hall in the 70s, joined the Split Enz fan club in 1980 and regularly attended the filming of Countdown as well as many local and international concerts, many she managed to sneak into while underage.
“If it hadn’t been for Michael Gudinski’s passion, drive and persistence I wouldn’t have had those opportunities which in many ways have shaped my life. Music is there to enjoy and celebrate, it connects us with memories and people.
“While I never met Michael personally, I am here to pay my respects to a person who undeniably shaped the Australian music industry and his significant contribution to our contemporary culture.”
Eliza Day came to pay respect to the man who launched the career of her idol Kylie Minogue.
“As a music lover, a Minogue fan, a concert goer and a Melburnian, to be able to celebrate Michael Gudinski and give thanks for all the wonderful memories that he helped create is an honour and a privilege. There’s nowhere else I’d want to be tonight than in a room full of people who understand and appreciate everything this legend gave to all of us.”
Matt Merlino was one of thousands who left an online memorial tribute for Gudinski and wanted to attend the public event.
“We all have Michael to thank for creating magical musical memories in our lives, whether through acts he supports or live events he made happen, he united us all through his passion for music.”
Owen Lambourn, of Northcote, said Gudinski was the pillar of the Australian music and live entertainment industry.
“Without his passion and dedication Australian music lovers wouldn’t have been treated to some of the amazing local talent we get the privilege to enjoy or the luxury of seeing some of the world’s biggest names on our doorstop. I want to say thank you for sharing the love of music that all of us tonight equally share.”
ARIA AWARD RENAMED FOR GUDINSKI
Michael Gudinski will have an ARIA award renamed in his memory.
The ARIA Award for Best Breakthrough Artist will now be known as The Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA Award.
Gudinski, who passed away on March 2, was passionate about New Australian artists – championing Mia Wray, D’Arcy Spiller, the Rubens, Gordi, Violent Soho, DMAs, Merci, Mercy and the Teskey Brothers in recent years.
Gudinski’s family signed off on the new, permanent ARIA award in his honour this week.
Jimmy Barnes, who called Gudinski his “brother”, hailed the move – the first recipient of the new award will be at this year’s ARIA awards at the end of 2021.
“That’s a really nice gesture, all Michael ever did was fight for New Australian music,” Barnes told News Corp.
The Breakthrough Artist award was first presented in 1987, with Gudinski-associated winners of the award including Frente, George, Deni Hines, the Badloves and Youth Group.
Denis Handlin, Chairman of ARIA, said Gudinski changed the face of the Australian music industry and put local music on the map overseas.
“It is unequivocal that Michael’s passion was breaking Australian artists and putting them on a world stage and he had a proud history of success in doing so. Following personally discussing this with Michael’s family, this is the most appropriate honour for ARIA to bestow as it recognises Michael’s profound impact on Australian artists, and the memories and legacy he created.”
Sheeran, with his wife and daughter, spent 14 days in quarantine in New South Wales to pay his respects to Gudinski, after being unable to attend his private funeral on March 10.
cameron.adams@news.com.au
Originally published as Ed Sheeran, Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Barnes lead star tributes at Michael Gudinski’s state memorial
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