Remembering
Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski had a brash, in your face, larger than life presence. But beneath that sometimes gruff exterior was an extremely caring and compassionate man who cared deeply for not only the artists he worked with but a much larger circle of people. Gudinski was there for the stars and people in his life that he respected and admired. His relationship with Kylie Minogue was just one example. When signing Minogue to his Mushroom Records label was initially mooted there was opposition from Gudinski and other key label staffers who thought that their uber-cool rock’nroll label was not the home for a soap opera actor singing pop music. However it didn’t take long for Gudinski to warm to Minogue and what she did and he became one of her most fervent supporters and extremely close to the singer. When Minogue was diagnosed with cancer it was a very emotional, clearly distressed Gudinski who announced the news to the media outside the company’s office in Melbourne. Minogue became the most successful artist Gudinski was involved with both in Australia and internationally. After that rocky start he became as close to Minogue as he was to any artist he was associated with. Minogue loved Gudinski – and the feeling was mutual. Gudinski helped with hospital bills and funeral expenses for those in his orbit who needed assistance. He didn’t
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make a big deal about it. He wasn’t doing it for kudos – he was doing it because he cared about people. When Gudinski’s unexpected death was announced the family requested that instead of flowers people make a donation to Support Act, the organisation that assistants musicians and road crew in times of need. Those people knew Gudinski was there for them and at his funeral in Melbourne almost 100 roadies and technical crew formed a guard of honour for him. Gudinski loved people and music – in that order. And he loved interacting with local and international artists. Often I suspected he toured international artists not just because they were possibly a good economic proposition but because Gudinski the music fan wanted to hang out with them. Many years ago I asked Michael Gudinski – who had by that stage already promoted tours by hundreds and hundreds of international artists – which artist he’d most like to bring to Australia that he hadn’t at the time snared. He didn’t hesitate for more than a tenth of a second – which was actually a long time in his world – before answering.
