As it struggles to re-emerge from the COVID restrictions, hanging heavy over the music scene is the largely unspoken toll of performers and crew who have died by “misadventure” or suicide.
The Australian government has been accused of offering support to the industry “too little, too late”, unlike others like sport.
The Feed delves deep into the sorrow felt over the death of musician Richard Lane, from legendary late-80s garage band The Stems, who succumbed to the distress of last year’s lockdown.
“The government’s got Richard’s blood on its hands,” says his partner Cathy Gavranich and mother of their 12-year-old daughter Penny.
Their lives took a tragic turn when their music school Penny Lane’s Workshop in Fremantle was left on the financial brink by the lockdown and they couldn’t access financial support.
Richard Lane was a founding member of Perth rock band The Stems. He also taught his daughter Penny how to play instruments. Source: The Feed
“We just paid our way, but we never had a formal wage either of us. So in 12 years, we paid the bills, the teachers, everything and it was never really an issue until COVID. We didn’t have JobKeeper,” she said.
“Richard wasn’t planning on killing himself, he knew alcohol was one of his coping mechanisms, but he would never do that, he didn’t know who he was when he did that.”
The much-loved fixture of Perth’s music scene died last May.
Cathy believes the federal government has blood on its hands Source: The Feed
Their feeling of abandonment is mirrored among roadies and crew, the invisible heroes of the industry who make sure the show goes on.
“I know 15 who have died in lockdown,” said Jenny Moon, a veteran of 35 years in live sound production and the first woman in the industry to run her own rig from a semi-trailer.
Her company is called Moon Mother, and her nature is to mother her crew. She calls 13 March 2020 “the day the music died”.
“Lockdown and fear has triggered some people back into old patterns of drug and alcohol use, and it’s taken some lives. Some people don’t make it. Mental health is the biggest one and suicide.”
Melbourne-based drummer Tom Larkin from New Zealand heavy rock band Shihad has run mental health workshops for the industry for years and sits on the board of Support Act, a music industry helpline.
Live sound production veteran, Jenny Moon (centre-right), knows 15 people who've died in lockdown. Source: The Feed
“The industry is not a healthy place, it’s not a place where people live long necessarily,” says Larkin, adding mental health episodes are five to 10 times more common amongst musicians and crew than the general population.
“I’m not being glib, I lost one of my best friends in this whole thing.
“The Australian government responded in a way that seemed best at the time but in hindsight, we can see that some hasn’t landed in the appropriate fashion.”
Tom Larkin from heavy rock band Shihad is concerned about the mental health of musicians. Source: The Feed
The office of Arts Minister Paul Fletcher did not respond directly to accusations the “government has blood on its hands”.
It said the federal government in the last 12 months announced $200m in direct support for the contemporary music industry, and this March relaxed the eligibility criteria.
Much of that came after it emerged in Senate Estimates last October no funding announced that June had been distributed.
Early during the pandemic, it did give Support Act $10m for mental health counselling and crisis relief, which it topped up with another $10m this year.
Prior to his death, Richard and Cathy ran a music school together. Source: The Feed
Jenny Moon remains scathing of the government’s overall response to the industry’s needs but says Support Act has done a “great job”.
“It’s too little, too late. We are an industry in fear, we are not an industry right now, 40 per cent of production companies will shut their doors between now and Christmas,” she said.
In Fremantle, Cathy Gavranich has restarted music classes at Penny Lane’s.
“It’s a miracle the school is still open, that’s come back through the love that Richard gave out over his lifetime and the community has given its heartfelt support,” she said.
Penny’s friends rallied around to support her through the hard times and they now have their own band that plays at the school.
Cathy and Richard's daughter Penny playing at their music school Penny Lane's Source: The Feed
“Now it’s me and Penny and she’s really stepped up beside me,” said Cathy.
“She’s very strong, I feel like Penny is just saying, ‘I’m going to keep daddy’s music going’, and I’m really proud of her.”
Watch the full episode, Tuesday 10pm on The Feed or catch up later on SBS On Demand.
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, please call police and ambulance on 000.
For further help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
