Computer printout of a pre-publication excerpt from David Nichols’ 1997 book, The Go-Betweens, that he emailed to me May 1996.
Even though I was vaguely connected to David Nichols as far back as the late eighties, via our both being contributors to the Australian zine Zeeeeen!, it wasn’t until the mid-nineties that we struck up a correspondence.
It’s possible he got in touch via a post I made to the Go-Betweens mailing list ([email protected]) about having interviewed both Robert and Grant. Our connection was definitely facilitated via the internet, as we both exchanged email. He was in the middle of writing a book on the band, and was gathering source material. His band The Cannanes was touring the U.S.: Would I be interested in meeting up before their Boston-area date?
And that’s how I spent well over an hour gabbing about the Go-Betweens with David Nichols, in a basement coffee shop across the street from The Middle East. Before we parted, I gave him copies of my interviews, in case anything on there ended up being helpful. (Nothing from those made it into the book, but I did get a very nice shout-out in the acknowledgements.)
A couple of months later, an email landed in my inbox:
JM, I have lost your postal address if I ever had it. I have a copy of the Botany street sessions for you. And more. Robert forster singing with 1979 punk/wave outit Zero (John Willsteed & Lindy M's band pre-Gobs). Am trying to send a chapter of book by attachment. It may not work, in fact the very file name has turned exclamation marks into percentage signs, which doesn't bode well. PLEASE KEEP THIS CHAPTER ENTIRELY TO YOURSELF AND DON'T SHOW IT TO ANYONE I trust you. David Nichols.
Thankfully, the email attachment did indeed work, and I immediately set to work on printing the entire chapter out on my home laser printer.
I’d pulled this artifact out to share given that I finished Tracey Thorn’s new book on her friendship with Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison this past weekend. How fitting that this 25-year-old chapter from David’s book begins with Lindy’s lament over the band’s obscurity and lack of success.
This a theme that likewise runs through Tracey’s book, along with so much more about Lindy’s immeasurable contributions to what made the Go-Betweens great, not to mention her colorful life beyond the band. Honestly, it makes me want to re-read David’s book! Good thing I got myself a proper copy when it was published the year after I received that emailed surprise. And I absolutely never showed it to anyone. Until now.
