Roger McLachlan, the original bassist for Little River Band, passed away on April 16, 2025, at the age of 71 after battling pancreatic cancer. His passing was confirmed by Michael Oliphant, who leads 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 family and started playing the ukulele at an early age. He moved to Australia to participate in a 1974 touring production of the musical Godspell.
McLachlan’s association with Little River Band began by chance when he learned from an agent that they needed a bass player. In a previous interview with Riveting Riffs magazine, McLachlan shared how he was impressed by the musicians during auditions. He recalled playing “It’s a Long Way There” with them, leading to an immediate connection.
The group initially traveled in a small van under their original name “Mississippi.” This changed with the release of “It’s a Long Way There,” the third single from their 1975 debut album, which became a Top 30 hit in the United States.
McLachlan recounted how the band got its name while driving to Geelong, Australia. Glenn Shorrock, the co-founding singer, saw a sign for Little River and suggested naming the band Little River Band, a nod to their original name, which McLachlan called “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 work is featured on hits like “It’s a Long Way There,” “Curiosity (Killed The Cat),” “Emma,” and “Everyday of My Life.” McLachlan left the band after “After Hours,” which reached Australia’s Top 5.
Though he left, McLachlan was not completely detached from the band. In the late 1990s, he rejoined a lineup led by guitarist Stephen Housden but left after about a year due to the demands of touring in the United States.
In his career outside Little River Band, McLachlan joined Melbourne’s band Stars, and their debut album “Paradise” reached number 14 on the Australian charts. He also formed a jazz fusion band, Pyramid, which performed at Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival in 1983.
McLachlan was a sought-after session musician. In 1986, he played fretless bass on John Farnham’s “Whispering Jack,” which topped Australian charts and included the 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.” McLachlan worked on various projects, including movie scores, television shows, and radio jingles.
McLachlan’s collection of instruments was extensive, with 42 basses and guitars. He endorsed Warwick basses since 1988, favoring a 1989 Warwick JD 5-string NT Thumb bass. His musical influences included Paul McCartney, Roger Glover, and Jack Bruce.
Despite his long career, McLachlan released his solo debut album “Roger This Roger That” in 2012, at age 57, featuring both instrumental and vocal tracks. In 2019, he re-released it with a live performance.
That same year, McLachlan joined a reformed Stars lineup, releasing a live DVD and two new albums. He was inducted into New Zealand’s Southland Musicians Club Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
Throughout his music career, McLachlan was known for his passion and was active until his passing, engaging in performances, teaching, mentoring, and working as a producer and engineer.
McLachlan is survived by his wife Desley and their family. His passing has left a notable gap in the music communities of Australia and New Zealand, where he was respected for his musical contributions.
