Australian Bridge Named After Go-Betweens
- Posted on Oct 5th 2009 7:04AM by Stephen Dowling
- Comment (1)
It's not often a band finds its name transferring into the world of architecture. Only the most famous of pop's figures -- Beatle John Lennon, for instance -- usually find their moniker on solid concrete and steel.A round of applause, then, to the good burghers of Brisbane, Australia, who named the city's latest bridge over the Brisbane River the Go-Between Bridge, in honour of indie band the Go-Betweens, who hailed from the Queensland city -- and a band who were more an enduring cult than a roaring international success.
The name was one of 11 put forward in an online poll asking the public to name the four-lane crossing.
The Go-Betweens, formed around the songwriting duo of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, released well-regarded six album during the 1980s which contained such a raft of classic songs that more than one rock critic has wondered why they were never household names. They were also a formative influence on the likes of Belle and Sebastian.
After Forster and McLennan put the band on ice for respective solo careers during the 1990s, the Go-Betweens reconvened in 2000 for three more albums -- a reformation tragically ended when McLennan died of a heart attack in 2006.
The city's newspaper the Courier-Mail, however, has poured some cold water on the naming, asking its readers whether the name is suitable. A resounding 81% of the more than 3,000 respondents said no. Clearly not '16 Lovers Lane' fans, it would seem.





Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Nadia Jadeat 10-06-2009
Well, the 81% had their chance when the voting was open, and now they're whinging. I think it's tops!