Guy McDonough

Guy Gillis McDonough (17 October 1955 – 26 June 1984) 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.

Biography

Early years Guy McDonough's parents were William Morris (1929–1966) and June-Eva McDonough (–2013). Together with his elder brother Bill McDonough, he grew up in Mount Eliza on Mornington Peninsula south east of central Melbourne. McDonough attended The Peninsula School and formed Spiff Rouch 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.

Australian Crawl

Guy McDonough joined Australian Crawl in October 1980, supplying rhythm guitar, vocals, and songwriting. McDonough wrote or co-wrote five of its eleven tracks including two singles "Errol" and "Oh No Not You Again".

1982 saw the release of Sons of Beaches with McDonough again writing or co-writing five of its tracks.

Death In the early months of 1984, McDonough decided to detox in an attempt to break away from alcohol and heroin addiction. McDonough booked into rehab with family support but then decided to not finish his program and returned home to follow a naturopathic procedure provided by a 'qualified' friend. Unfortunately this was an error of judgment as this treatment exacerbated his health situation rather than improve it, leading him to contract viral pneumonia and to be admitted to hospital in Melbourne, forcing Australian Crawl off the road. McDonough was in the Intensive Care Unit for many weeks, and improved enough to return home; but due to extreme physical deterioration from months in hospital and a weakened immune system, he contracted a secondary infection and was placed back into the Intensive Care Unit. Despite intense medical intervention, on 26 June 1984, he died at the age of 28.

Solo release/legacy Prior to his death, Guy McDonough recorded a series of demos with his brother, Bill McDonough (drums), Sean Higgins (keyboards) and Nigel Spencer (bass) (all former bandmates in The Flatheads), Bill McDonough then assembled the tapes and Wheatley Records issued Guy McDonough's posthumous album, My Place, in April 1985. Compilers and producers of Lost & Found were Bill McDonough and Peter Blyton.

Released: April 1985 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Wheatley Records (WRLP 1010)

Singles + List of singles, with Australian chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions Album AUS 1985 "My Place" 76 My Place "What's in It for Me?" –