Lindy Morrison

Lindy Morrison
Birth nameBelinda Morrison
Born (1951-11-02) 2 November 1951 (age 72)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1978–present
Labels

Belinda "Lindy" Morrison OAM (born 2 November 1951[1]) is an Australian musician, activist and social worker originally from Brisbane, Queensland. After starting her career working for a new Queensland branch of the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1972, and starting to play drums at about the same time,[2] she became the drummer for female-led punk band Zero in 1978 and then joined Robert Forster and Grant McLennan to became the third member of the Go-Betweens in 1980.

She recorded and toured with the band until their first breakup in 1989, drumming on all of their first six albums and singing on the first three, while also working on a number of side projects, including Tuff Monks (with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey), and with Nikki Sudden.

After the Go-Betweens, Morrison continued to work as a drummer but also started to take positions within the music industry, including as an artist representative on the board of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia,[3] a role she held for nearly three decades. Her careers in music and social work converged in 1998 when she joined Support Act, a benevolent association for Australian musicians, as their National Welfare Coordinator.[4] Morrison has also worked as a lecturer at Sydney Institute of TAFE, and has been involved with various community music projects, including as musical director for the Junction House Band (for musicians with a mild intellectual disability) and with Bondi Wave[5] (for high school children).

In 2003 and 2004 she tried to enter politics with the Australian Democrats, unsuccessfully standing for seats in the eastern suburbs of Sydney in state and federal elections.[6][7][8]

Morrison completed a Masters in Legal Studies at the University of New South Wales in 2010[9] and has subsequently expanded her writing (much of which has been on her and other women’s experiences in the music industry) to include subjects related to copyright law. In 2013, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services as a performer and advocate. In 2014 she received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Having turned 70 in 2021, Morrison continues to work as a drummer, and recently said: “I certainly will never retire from playing music, that goes without saying. I keep getting interesting gigs with all sorts of different people.”[10]

Morrison’s most notable recent collaborations have been with Alex The Astronaut, more than 40 years Morrison’s junior, and Rob Snarski, best known for his work with The Blackeyed Susans. After touring for 18 months, in May 2023, Morrison and Snarski released a mini album called "Someone said that Someone Said" as SnarskiCircusLindyBand. The band also consists of Shane O'Mara, Dan Kelly and Graham Lee.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ George-Warren, Holly, ed. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Third ed.). New York: Fireside. p. 378. ISBN 0743201205.
  2. ^ "Tunesday – How to Become a Drummer with Lindy Morrison from the Go-Betweens". frankie magazine. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Kristy Gostelow welcomed as inaugural PPCA Board Observership Program participant | PPCA". www.ppca.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Lindy Morrison". Support Act. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Still lots to learn even if you began rocking in the cradle". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 June 2004.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference age was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cowle, June (2 May 2010). "Brunch - Lindy Morrison". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Three inspiring stories from amazing Aussies about retirement". Apia. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  11. ^ "SnarskiCircusLindyBand - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Someone Said That Someone Said, by SnarskiCircusLindyBand". Rob Snarski | SnarskiCircusLindyBand. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ^ Varvaris, Mary. "VIDEO PREMIERE: SnarskiCircusLindyBand - 'Since I Slept With You Everybody Wants To Sleep With Me'". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2023.