Roger McLachlan, the original bassist for Little River Band, passed away on April 16 at the age of 71 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was confirmed by Michael Oliphant, the frontman of McLachlan’s later band, Late for Breakfast.
“Roger didn’t wish his struggle to be widely known and so chose to keep it just between family and a handful of friends,” Oliphant said. “Roger was a wonderful friend, collaborator, musical powerhouse, absolute monster bass player and all-round naughty boy. Life will never be the same.”
Born in 1954 in New Zealand, McLachlan grew up in a musical household and began playing the ukulele at a young age. He originally moved to Australia to join a 1974 touring production of the musical Godspell.
McLachlan’s association with Little River Band was serendipitous when an agent mentioned their need for a bass player. In an interview with Riveting Riffs magazine, McLachlan described arriving for auditions and being instantly impressed by the musicians. During their play of “It’s a Long Way There,” he joined in, leading to an immediate and natural connection.
The band initially traveled in a small van under the name “Mississippi.” This changed by the time they released “It’s a Long Way There,” which was the third single from their 1975 self-titled debut album and became a breakthrough Top 30 hit in the United States.
McLachlan recounted how the band got its name while driving to Geelong, Australia, passing a place called Little River. Glenn Shorrock, co-founding singer and songwriter, saw the Little River sign and suggested “Little River Band,” a play on words referring to “the smallest river in the world.”
As a founding member, McLachlan played on the band’s first two albums: “Little River Band” (1975) and “After Hours” (1976). His bass lines are featured on tracks like “It’s a Long Way There,” “Curiosity (Killed The Cat),” “Emma,” and “Everyday of My Life.” McLachlan left the group following the “After Hours” album, which was a Top 5 hit in Australia.
His connection with the band was not entirely severed, as he rejoined a Little River Band lineup in the late 1990s led by guitarist Stephen Housden. He stayed for about a year before leaving due to the pressures of touring in the United States.
In his varied career outside of Little River Band, McLachlan joined the Melbourne band Stars, whose debut album “Paradise” reached number 14 on the Australian charts. He also formed a jazz fusion band, Pyramid, which played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1983.
McLachlan’s expertise as a session musician was in high demand. In 1986, he played fretless bass on John Farnham’s album “Whispering Jack,” which topped the Australian charts. The album included Farnham’s 1986 single “You’re the Voice,” a Top 10 hit in the UK, Germany, and Australia.
His session work included collaborations with Merril Bainbridge on her 1994 album “The Garden,” which featured the Top 5 U.S. hit “Mouth.” Throughout his career, McLachlan contributed to numerous sessions, including movie scores, television shows, and radio jingles.
McLachlan had an extensive gear collection with 42 basses and guitars. Since 1988, he endorsed Warwick basses, with his preferred instrument being a 1989 Warwick JD 5-string NT Thumb bass. Among his musical influences were Paul McCartney, Roger Glover, and Jack Bruce.
Despite his extensive career, McLachlan’s solo debut album “Roger This Roger That” was not released until 2012, when he was 57. The album featured both instrumental and vocal tracks, showcasing his diverse musical influences. In 2019, he re-released the album with a live performance.
In the same year, McLachlan joined a reformed lineup of Stars, releasing a live DVD and two new albums. His contributions to music were acknowledged in 2009 with his induction into New Zealand’s Southland Musicians Club Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Over his 55-year career in music, McLachlan maintained his passion for playing and was recognized for his role in maintaining the groove. He remained active in music until his passing, performing, teaching, mentoring, and working as a producer and engineer.
McLachlan is survived by his wife Desley and his family. His death leaves a significant gap in the music communities of Australia and New Zealand, where his talent and contributions were highly esteemed.