Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski leaves an incredible legacy in the Australian and international music arena. However, he also loved dabbling in TV and movies and found success in projects as diverse as award winners and commercial hits like the movie Chopper and the TV mini-series Molly.
Gudinski was careful with the projects he chose. As he once told Mediaweek: “I got offered a lot of money to do a Mushroom story drama, but I think it could be disruptive to a company that has given so much to creative artists and creative Australia.”
Now under the leadership of his son Matt Gudinski (pictured above), Mushroom Group this week revealed a new film division.
It announced the launch of Long Play Music Films, a film distribution and production company focused on exhibiting music documentaries, biopics and concert films.
Looking after the division will be long-time Mushroom Group executive Warren Costello.
“I’m really pleased to see Long Play Music Films spring to life with our first theatrical release. What started out as a fun side project is now a reality as Long Play aspires to help tell unique and wonderful music stories from around the globe,” said Costello.
“We aim to offer screenings of new release music documentaries in cinema comfort and with enhanced sound so that audiences can experience these films as they were meant to be seen and heard.”
Long Play Music Films will launch not with an original production, but a distribution deal for director Emer Reynolds’ film, Phil Lynott: Songs For While I’m Away.
With Covid still impacting cinema openings, the movie will have its Australian Premiere at the Irish Film Festival, which will take place online from September 3-12.
The movie publicity notes Thin Lizzy were the quintessential rock band, and the group’s classic line-up of Phil Lynott, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson in full flight was absolutely electric – and in Phil Lynott, they had one of the greatest frontmen of all time.
Told extensively through the words of Lynott himself and focusing on some of his iconic songs, the film gets to the heart of his story, as a father, a husband, a friend, a son and as a rock legend.
Lynott led Thin Lizzy and wrote their signature tunes The Boys Are Back In Town, Jailbreak and Chinatown.
People sharing insights in the movie include fellow Irishman Adam Clayton of U2, Metallica’s James Hetfield, Suzi Quatro, Midge Ure and Huey Lewis together with personal insights from the women closest to him.
The new film was recently presented with the prestigious Doc’n Roll Film Festival ‘Best Doc’ award with the festival bestowing its top honours on Dublin-based director Emer Reynolds’ “mesmeric portrait” of Phil Lynott, the charismatic poet, songwriter and wild man.
It’s been 50 years since Thin Lizzy released their debut self-titled LP, but also some 35 years since Phil Lynott passed away at just 36 years of age.
Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy toured Australia and New Zealand in 1978 and 1980, and his rogue Irish personality made the band a favourite in this part of the world. The documentary also features some amazing footage of their Sydney Opera House gig – the band had a morning soundcheck which extended into a half-hour jam session for those arriving early for the concert and later the band performed for a crowd some estimated to be 100,000+ on the steps of the venue. A moment not lost on Double J who recently included it in the five most unforgettable moments at the Sydney Opera House (noting however that it was Scott Gorham and Gary Moore who played that show).
See also: Matt Gudinski announced as new CEO of Mushroom Group