Roger McLachlan
{{Short description|New Zealand bass guitarist (1954–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Roger McLachlan
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1954|1|15}}
| birth_place = Riverton, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2025|4|16|1954|1|15}}
| death_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| origin =
| genre = Rock music
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Bass guitar
| years_active = 1965–2025
| label =
| past_member_of = Little River Band, Stars
| website = {{URL|http://www.rogermclachlan.com}}
}}
Roger McLachlan (15 January 1954 – 16 April 2025) was a New Zealand bass guitarist based in Australia. He was an early bass player for Little River Band.
Early life
McLachlan was born on 15 January 1954 in the small town of Riverton, near Invercargill, New Zealand.{{cite web|last1=Montague|first1=Joe|title=New Zealand's Roger McLachlan Releases: Roger This Roger That|url=http://www.rivetingriffs.com/Roger%20McLachlan.html|website=.rivetingriffs.com|accessdate=27 May 2018}} He moved to Australia in 1974 to join the touring band for the stage musical Godspell.{{cite web|url=https://kiwimusiciansinoz.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/finding-roger-mclachlan/|title=Finding Roger McLachlan …|date=2 April 2018|website=wordpress.com|accessdate=27 May 2018}}
Little River Band
In 1975, McLachlan was invited to join the supergroup Little River Band, replacing the short-tenured Dave Orams.{{cite web|url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=1021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040615185835/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=1021|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2004|title=Whammo Homepage|date=15 June 2004|accessdate=27 May 2018}} He appeared on the first two albums Little River Band and After Hours, and toured extensively, making 311 appearances with the band.{{cite web|url=http://graehamgoble.com/shows-lrb|title=Graeham Goble - Little River Band (LRB) founding member & main songwriter|website=graehamgoble.com|accessdate=27 May 2018}} He was replaced by George McArdle in 1976.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/560144/The-bottom-line|title=The bottom line|website=Stuff|date=31 January 2009|accessdate=27 May 2018}} By 1998, all original members of Little River Band had left. Guitarist Stephen Housden gained ownership of the band name, and asked McLachlan to re-join. He remained with the band for a year, until the pressure of touring in the United States led him to depart again.{{cite web|url=http://www.lrb.net/html/1998tourbio.shtml|title=www.lrb.net - 1998 tour biography|website=www.lrb.net|accessdate=27 May 2018}}
Subsequent career
McLachlan joined country-rock outfit Stars in 1976, remaining with them into 1977.
He was a member of the jazz-rock-experimental band Pyramid with David Jones, David Hirschfelder and Bob Venier, releasing albums in 1980 and 1983, and touring Europe in 1983.{{Cite web |last=Trimaximalist |date=2018-02-06 |title=Pyramid - |url=https://jazzrocksoul.com/artists/pyramid/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Jazz Rock Soul |language=en-US}}
As a session musician, he played the bass parts on the international John Farnham hit "You're the Voice" and also recorded fretless bass for "Touch Of Paradise" from the same album.{{Cite web |last=AustralianMusician |date=2019-10-26 |title=REVIEW: ROGER MCLACHLAN - PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE |url=https://australianmusician.com.au/news/review-roger-mclachlan-past-present-future/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Australian Musician Magazine |language=en-AU}}
In the 1990s he joined Geoff Achison's on-going band The Souldiggers, recording several albums and continuing to tour Australia.{{Cite web |title=Bio {{!}} |url=https://www.rogermclachlan.com/bio |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Roger This Roger That |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.geoffachison.com/geoffachisonbiography |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Geoff Achison |language=en-AU}}
In 2012 McLachlan recorded a solo album: Roger This Roger That. He re-released the album with a live performance at Melbourne venue The Fyrefly in 2019.
He was part of the Stars re-formed lineup of 2019. They have released a live DVD, and two new albums: Boundary Rider and One More Circle Round the Sun.{{Cite web|url=https://www.starsofficial.com/about|title = STARS - About}}
Death
McLachlan died on 16 April 2025 from pancreatic cancer.{{Cite web |last=Cashmere |first=Paul |date=2025-04-17 |title=Little River Band Co-Founder Roger McLachlan Dies At Age 71 |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/little-river-band-co-founder-roger-mclachlan-dies-at-age-71-20250417 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Noise11.com |language=en-US}} He was 71.
References
{{reflist}}
External Links
- {{IMDb name| 10134674}}
- {{discogs artist|Roger McLachlan}}
{{Little River Band}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLachlan, Roger}}
Category:People from Riverton, New Zealand
Category:New Zealand bass guitarists
Category:New Zealand male bass guitarists
Category:New Zealand rock musicians
Category:Little River Band members
Category:New Zealand expatriates in Australia
Category:New Zealand guitarists
Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Australia
Category:Deaths from cancer in Victoria (state)
{{NewZealand-musician-stub}}