A crowd of over 7,000 inside Rod Laver Arena for the Michael Gudinski State Memorial was boosted by more than 50,000 watching online via YouTube. The Wednesday event was three hours that those taking part and watching will long remember.
Senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin Nation Aunty Joy Murphy was the first person onstage with an introduction remembering time she spent with Michael Gudinski and a Welcome to Country.
Then it was over to longtime Michael Gudinski collaborator and radio and TV host Lee Simon (below) who hosted the State Memorial.
Mahalia Barnes performed the Australian national anthem Advance Australia Fair.
The Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau then paid tribute to Michael, recalling some of their recent meetings.
Lee Simon then read a message from Premier Dan Andrews and then welcomed a handful of cabinet members and four former Victorian premiers.
The first of many clip packages included a Skyhooks tribute plus footage of many early Mushroom bands from Madder Lake to Sports to Split Enz and many, many more.
The first performance tribute was on video from Sting. “I miss you brother,” he said at the end of his song.
After Lee Simon highlighted just a few of many of Gudinski’s achievements in the 1980s, Jimmy Barnes performed the first of three songs – Flesh and Blood.
Little Light then followed with Diesel, Mahalia and Jimmy’s granddaughter joining him on stage. The final song was Cold Chisel’s When the War is Over.
Video tributes were then shown featuring Billy Joel, Dougy from The Temper Trap, Taylor Swift, Bliss N Eso and Elton John.
Carrie Bickmore was then onstage remembering how Michael helped launch her foundation Beanies 4 Brain Cancer and how he also contributed to many other charity groups, and staged the Sound Relief concerts.
Melbourne singer Mia Wray then performed her new single Never Gonna Be the Same.
Video messages followed from Kate Ceberano, Amy Shark, Gordi, Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, Jack River and Deborah Conway.
Paul Kelly then detailed some of the work Michael did with First Nation artists like Archie Roach and others.
Messages from Archie Roach, Troy Cassar-Daley, Christine Anu and Dan Sultan.
Paul Kelly and Michael Barclay then performed Leaps and Bounds.
Peter Garrett delivered a video tribute from the stage at a Midnight Oil gig.
Lee Simon returned with highlights from beyond 2000.
Bruce Springsteen then remembered Michael.
Video tributes from Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill, Molly Meldrum, Shirley Manson, Daryl Braithwaite and Bryan Adams.
After Lee Simon detailed some of the Frontier Touring highlights, Ed Sheeran appeared on stage in suit and tie, sharing some Michael Gudinski memories and performing Castle on the Hill, The A Team and Visiting Hours.
More video tributes from Sam Smith, Ian Moss, DMA’s Tommy O’Dell, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. Homme told a story about spending a night with Michael at private dinner gatherings – “He was like a credit card – he was accepted everywhere.”
Lee introduced Michael’s children – first Matt Gudinski who thanked Ed and all the artists plus the State Government for the State Memorial. He said that the Mushroom Group is working on some exciting plans about the impending 50th birthday of Mushroom next year.
Kylie Minogue was next: “I have wrestled so much about what to say tonight,” she admitted.
Kylie brought Ed Sheeran onstage All The Lovers and then The Loco-Motion.
Video tributes from Rod Stewart, (“It’s a wonder we didn’t end up in jail,” he said about what happened on a Frontier Tour), Vance Joy, Sam Margin from The Rubens, The Eagles’ Joe Walsh.
Lee Simon then returned, talking about Michael and the Mushroom Group’s prolific music TV output in 2020.
Lee introduced Michael’s daughter Kate who remembered a family day just before Michael’s passing and traveling with him to the recent Mallacoota Sounds Better Together concert.
Mark Seymour with Vika and Linda Bull then performed Throw Your Arms Around Me.
Video tributes followed from Shawn Mendes, Dannii Minogue and Dave Grohl.
Rabbi Menachem Wolf then took the stage and spoke about Michael’s soul and how he lives on here on earth. He asked the audience to singalong with Hallelujah in Hebrew.
Lee Simon returned to close the show, revealing so many more messages couldn’t be included in the show. He said look for them to appear on Mushroom Group social media.
The State Memorial ended with standing ovation and Good Times from Jimmy Barnes and friends including Kylie and Ed plus guest vocals from Jon Stevens.
See also: ARIA announces the ‘Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist’ Award