Australia, insurance, car, home, live, holidays

The Rubens busking in Bourke Street mall on Friday.Credit:Simon Schluter

Singer Sam Margin summed up in his own succinct way:a “f---ing legend”.

The Rubens’ Friday afternoon pop-up gigs at Bourke Street and Evans Walker Bridge were part of an ongoing series of concerts backed by Melbourne City Council and Gudinski’s Mushroom Group and to re-invigorate the city after pandemic induced shutdowns of 2020.

A heart-shaped floral wreath displayed in the Bourke Street thoroughfare was a subtle token for the man who backed the Rubens from the start of their mainstream careers.

“It’s for our boy Michael Gudinski who passed away this last week. He put these[pop-up] shows on and he changed your city,” a visibly emotional Margin told the small group that gathered to hear acoustic versions ofThank You, Lay It Down,Masterpiece andHoops.

Gudinski predicted the Rubens’ early singleMy Gun would be a hit. As well as being nominated in 2012’s ARIA AwardsMy Gun also finished inside the top 10 of 2012’s Triple J Hottest 100. Three years later the group took out top spot in the annual countdown withHoops.

Featuring brothers Zaac,Sam and Elliott Margin,Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis,the Rubens latest album0202 debuted on top of the ARIA album chart in February.

Soon after joining forces with Gudinski 10 years ago,the Rubens were recording their debut album in New York. It was a meteoric rise.

According to Sam Margin,Gudinski loved the Rubens swaggering alt-rock style but also their lyrics.

Gudinski’s contribution to Australian music over almost 50 years extended well beyond his best-known acts.Credit:Louise Kennerley

“He always had favourites on each album,” Margin toldThe Age. “I remember him calling me about[the song]Million Man shouting a bunch of lyrics down the phone at me.”

Those excited,sporadic phone calls were the greatest encouragement,Margin said.

“I’d get this big pick me up whenever my phone rang and the screen said ‘MG’,” he said. “We’d have an amazing little chat and then be pumped up for whatever was after it”.

Friday’s afternoon busking session was a poignant,pared-back tribute to Gudinski after a bruising week for the industry.

“It was a pretty shitty week ... and I think just being able to come to Melbourne for the first time in over a year,it’s cathartic,” said Margin.

Dozens of artists paid tribute to Gudinski this week,includingKylie Minogue and Bruce Springstein.

Margin said his lasting memory of Gudinski was as someone who was authentic to his core.

“One thing he’d always say to me was,‘it’s all about family’,” he said.

“He meant that in a traditional sense but he also meant that in a way that often gets used in this industry but not with the weight that Michael did – he cared about every artist on his roster – that was really like family,”

“It wasn’t just something he said,it was something he completely embodied.”

With Martin Boulton

Start your day informed

Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights. Sign up here.

License this article