Music icon Michael Gudinski farewelled at private funeral

Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Molly Meldrum, Jimmy Barnes and Eddie McGuire were among friends and family to farewell Michael Gudinski at a private funeral.

Michael Gudinski’s status as the Godfather of Australian music has been cemented at a funeral that resembled an ARIA Awards night.

The industry icon was farewelled in Melbourne at a private funeral for family and friends today, with his State Memorial to be held at Rod Laver Arena on March 24.

The private funeral ended with a moving tribute from the Australian live music industry he helped to create.

A guard of honour consisting of 162 roadies accompanied Gudinski’s hearse as it left the funeral venue in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Dressed in the obligatory black t-shirts; the roadies all had MG Crew emblazoned on the back.

It was an acknowledgement of Gudinski’s support of the legions of workers behind the scenes of live concerts and tours.

In 2021 as live touring shut down Gudinski was quick to champion Support Act, the charity which supports the local music industry.

Dannii and Kylie Minogue arrive to farewell their friend. Picture: Alex Coppel

Television presenter and singer David Campbell. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Radio host Andy Lee and girlfriend Rebecca Harding. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Singer Tina Arena. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Jimmy Barnes arrives with wife Jane. Picture: Alex Coppel.

After his passing last week, his family asked for donations to Support Act in lieu of flowers - with Support Act creating an option to directly donate in Gudinski’s name.

All the proceeds of last year’s No.1 album Music From the Home Front were donated to Support Act, as part of Gudinski’s financial support to the charity.

The guard of honour followed a private service where Gudinski’s life and work was celebrated by the who’s who of Australian music, as well as key figures from the business and sporting world - demonstrating Gudinski’s influence across Australian society.

Jon Stevens arrives at the funeral. Picture: Alex Coppel

Roadies form a guard of honour. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Gudinski’s impact on all levels of society was reflected in a guest list that included Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Molly Meldrum, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, Vance Joy, Missy Higgins, Daryl Braithwaite, James Reyne, Archie Roach, David Campbell, Renee Geyer, Diesel, Richard Wilkins, Andy Lee, Jon Stevens, Sam Neill, Vika and Linda Bull, Ross Wilson, Eddie McGuire, Glenn Wheatley and Shane Warne.

Most of the musical artists had close, and often longstanding, links to Gudinski through either Mushroom Records or his other labels, as well as his touring company Frontier.

Members of the band The Rubens. Picture: Alex Coppel

Richard Wilkins with other guests. Picture: Alex Coppel

Eddie McGuire. Picture: Alex Coppel

Cricketing legend Shane Warne. Picture: Alex Coppel

Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour, on left. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Gudinski signed Minogue in 1986 to Mushroom, launching her musical career with the No. 1 hit Locomotion. He signed Dannii Minogue to the label four years later, scoring an international hit with Love and Kisses. The Minogue family have remained incredibly close to the Gudinski family for decades.

Singer-songwriter Richard Clapton at the funeral. Picture: Alex Coppel.

¯Lindsay Fox. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Last week Kylie Minogue told News Corp “Gudinski was like a tidal wave and a kitten hug at the same time. He was a force of nature but at the heart of it all, was his family. His passion and tenacity is well known but those of us close to him knew he was an absolute softie at heart. Generous, loyal, sentimental and always, always entertaining. He truly is a legend and his spirit and legacy will forever be in every Australian musical beat.”

Jimmy Barnes and Diesel. Picture: Alex Coppel

Michael Gudinski’s friend Molly Meldrum. Picture: Twitter/Seven

Gudinski’s long-time business partner, Michael Chugg. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Actor Asher Keddie and her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Comedian Mick Molloy. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Nick Riewoldt after the service. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Red Symons. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Jon Stevens and Eddie Maguire hug after the service. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Dannii Minogue told News Corp: “I can’t count the amount of times we’ve spent together backstage and in the audience at Michael’s music events. You could always feel the wave of love throughout the crowd and backstage.

“That’s what Michael brought to the music world and that will never be forgotten. Everything about the foundation of the Australian music industry leads back to Michael Gudinski.”

While Gudinski’s friend Daniel Andrews was a late scratching after being in hospital, other guests included Labor politician Martin Pakula, business leaders Gerry Ryan, Lindsay Fox and Eloise Pratt as well as Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp and AFL boss Gil McLachlan.

Gudinski’s long-time business partner Michael Chugg was one of many friends who came from Sydney for the event.

The funeral had a reduced capacity due to COVID restrictions.

Details on the public State Memorial, which will take place on the evening of March 24, are expected to be announced later this week.

Singer Archie Roach. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Actor Sam Neill. Picture: Alex Coppel

Brian Mannix. Picture: Alex Coppel

Street posters have surfaced across Australia in the past week, paying tribute to Gudinski, whose legacy includes starting the Mushroom record label and the Frontier touring company, which toured everyone from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen to Ed Sheeran.

In the last year as COVID saw live music shut down, Gudinski launched online show The State of Music as well as the ABC series The Sound, which featured artists across all genres and generations.

Gudinski was believed to be working on a sequel to last year’s Anzac Day concert Music From the Home Front to take place in 2021.

Originally published as Music icon Michael Gudinski farewelled at private funeral