Brent McLachlan

BRENT McLACHLAN

August 6, 1961 - December 11, 2025

Brent McLachlan was born August 6, 1961, in Darfield, New Zealand. He grew up on a farm and there was no place to buy sweets nearby, so he and his mother and sisters began his lifelong tradition of making delicious goodies like Pavlova, cakes, cookies and slices.

Brent went to high school at Ashburton High School in Ashburton, New Zealand, where he started playing drums with pals and got into music. Many people would be interested to know that Brent was inspired by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, and there were subtle nods to Bonham in Brent's signature drumming style. Brent was described by one writer in a tribute post, from Sounds Good! on Substack, "He was metronomic, and so committed to the task. Never letting flashy fills get in the way, but filling songs with heart, and groove, and focus — delivering music."

In 1980, just after high school, Brent, John Halvorsen and Alister Parker met above a fish and chips shop where Brent lived in Christchurch, New Zealand. They formed the Gordons to play a gig that was already booked for a mere week later. They actually got to know each other at their first rehearsal. Within months the Gordons produced Future Shock, their first EP, which was closely followed by The Gordons, their first album, the same year. The Gordons disbanded in 1985.

The band Bailter Space was formed in 1987. Brent produced the first Bailter Space album, Tanker, then joined as drummer for the band after Tanker. He had been working as a foreman at a wool company in Christchurch but had an opportunity to tour with the band. He asked his boss, "Should I keep this job, or should I tour the world with my band?" And the boss said, "You should tour the world with your band!"

It changed Brent's life. He often talked about that pivotal moment.

Wikipedia has a quote which sums up the shoe-gaze noise rock extraordinaire of Bailter Space, "… a huge mess of sound that's simultaneously beautiful, jagged, atonal, and supremely melodic." They released over 17 albums on several labels including Flying Nun and Matador Records.

Brent was further described by Sounds Good!, "He was by so many accounts a great guy, warm, and a music lover of course. He was also a producer and sound engineer, he gave generously of his time, and expertise, supporting live bands as a tech and recording so many people in the studio. There was a producer’s ear, and an engineer’s spatial awareness all his own.”

Before Brent moved to New York City he had studios in Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand where he played in, and/or recorded several NZ bands. Among them were Skeptics, The Clean, Straight Jacket Fits, David Kilgour, The Headless Chickens, Snapper and Head Like a Hole. He recorded and sound engineered "tons of NZ bands" according to Alister Parker.

The band moved to New York City during the 1993 Robot World sessions. They had a successful run producing 5 records with Matador Records. Over the next decade they toured Europe and the US extensively in their band van. Brent often drove because he was the best driver of the three. He packed the van to perfection, and was the roadie, the producer and sound engineer on the records, the finance manager, the drummer -- and the glue that held it all together. Alister Parker was his partner and he and Brent were, to quote Alister, "thick as thieves."

Brent got a job at Rogue Music store in New York City in 1994, an iconic music store specializing in used and vintage gear. He worked there for 30 years. He was dearly loved by all the clients and music community. His free sound advice, warm demeanor, and humor made him a joy to work with and buy high end audio gear from. He would spend hours teaching people how to connect and use their equipment on his own time.

In 2006, Brent met his future wife, Elizabeth Bowman, of Gig Lizzy Studio, who was selling a few pieces of audio gear at Rogue Music. Brent was the buyer for the store. Coincidentally, her studio was just one floor down on the ninth floor of the famed 251 West 30th Street music building where Rogue Music was. For ten years Brent and Lizzy worked on different floors yet never met until that day at the store when she hoped he would give her a good price. Hearing him say he needed to get an amp over to his Brooklyn recording studio, she hoped that a free ride in her Ford wagon to Brooklyn would influence him. Later that night, Brent took Lizzy to dinner. They fell for each other and were married three months later. Lizzy got a fair price for her audio gear, and they both found the love of their life!

Two years after they were married, Brent and Lizzy combined audio gear from both of their recording studios and got a new space in a basement across the street beneath the new Rogue Music Store. The studio was aptly named 30 Below Recording Studio. They operated the studio for 17 years recording and engineering a wide variety of musicians from all over the world. Brent's mirth kept clients coming back for years, it kept the studio alive and brought multitudes of people real joy at the store. People just wanted to be in his world.

Brent’s intelligence showed itself every day and his emotional intelligence fixed and healed people. He was always making life better for someone. He made us all better people just knowing him.

After a long and valiant battle with cancer, through which Brent kept his humor, and was still making a lasting positive impact on the lives of countless medical professionals, Brent passed away on December 11, 2025. He was at home, and Lizzy was right there with love and support.

Brent was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Kidd, and his sister Crissy Ball. He leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth Bowman, his daughter, Leila Cotter, his sisters Marie Begbie, Linda McGovern, and Jenny Newman, and his brothers, Dave Wells, Colin Lane, and Tony Muir.

A celebration of his life will be announced in the near future.

Please consider leaving a memory, photo, or tribute here.