R.I.P. Brent McLachlan

A eulogy for one of my favourite drummers — from one of my favourite bands.

Brent McLachlan, drummer for Bailter Space and before that The Gordons, and between then The Skeptics, has died. A tragic loss. A wonderful musician.

I never knew him, only his work. And I loved it deeply. I was in awe of watching him play. I loved all of the band he was associated with, but for me it was about Bailter Space. I arrived at them in the early/mid 90s, seeing them several times in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay for a time.

They were, briefly, almost my everything.

And, yes, it was about every band member, and the sound they made together. But my eyes were glued on Brent and his kit. He was hypnotic to watch. They all were. But in a weak moment, I’ll admit to being a drummer, or trying to be one. So that was my absolute focus.

He was metronomic, and so committed to the task. Never letting flashy fills get in the way, but filling songs with heart, and groove, and focus — delivering music.

He was by so many accounts a great guy, warm, and a music lover of course. He was also a producer and engineer, he gave generously of his time, and expertise, supporting live bands as a tech and recording so many people in the studio too.

There was a producer’s ear, and an engineer’s spatial awareness in his own playing.

I feel he was likely an enormous influence on players like Tom Larkin from Shihad — similar in the sense of how he would sit at the back and really drive the band. That is one of the roles of the drummer in any group, the prime role really. But Brent was one of the very best I ever saw and heard in this regard.

I remember, back in the 90s, thinking, every time I watched them, that I was watching one of the very best bands in the world.

We didn’t always think that about so many of the great Kiwi bands. They were just good New Zealand bands. Bailter Space felt like something else altogether. An entire force that could take on the world. And of course they had, based in America for much of their run, but with frequent returns home always.

I last got to see them just over ten years ago and needn’t have worried — they sounded fantastic still:

Brent was a big part of that. As always.

This Facebook post sums up some of the loss so many will be feeling.

For many years this Bailter Space setlist was right above my desk. These almost abstract song titles working in so many ways for me, not just a reminder of an incredible gig, and many other great shows by this band, and all of the key songs I loved — but also a chance to experiment with language around these ideas. Borrowing titles, taking words and using them with my knowledge and focus on the songs they’d be used for — influence is never easy to fully articulate. I thought about Bailter Space a lot when I wrote, and sometimes still do. I listen to them a lot when writing.

And, my god, this track Argonaut — I hear the whole careers of HDU and Jakob and Dimmer in this. And many other bands must have taken something from this, or could still hope to.

When I finished writing my novelette this year, the biggest piece of work I’ve done so far in my hobby of writing, I sat and listened to this instrumental song twice. I just about cried. It was the perfect way to unpack from the task. It has always moved me. Seeing Brent play this — it could have just been a loop, but he played it with hands, with heart, with muscle, and mind — was always an incredible treat.

Last night I heard this sad news about the death of a musician — his cancer back. I never knew him, never met him, but know many people that did. It will have hit them so much harder. His friends. His family. But I heard this news, while out for a walk.

I put this song back on — and listened to it through twice. And nearly cried. For someone I never had the pleasure to even say hello to. Music is beautiful. And so are the people that make it. We must remember those things. Always.

R.I.P. Brent McLachlan