- Eddie McGuire gives touching tribute to much-loved artist
A devastated Eddie McGuire has paid a touching tribute to Footy Show cult hero Chris Doheny after he died in a car crash on Friday.
Chris Doheny’s song, More Than A Game, was used for 735 episodes of the AFL Footy Show from 1994 to 2019.
South Australian police confirmed Doheny, 64, died at the scene when his Holden ute collided with a truck on Thiele Hwy in Kapunda, near the Barossa Valley.
McGuire delivered a tribute to Doheny during Tuesday night’s episode of Nine’s Footy Classified.
‘Vale to Chris Doheny the voice of More Than A Game,’ McGuire said.
‘A great friend of ours at the Footy Show back in the day here at Channel 9.
Tributes continue to flow for Chris Doheny, the unforgettable voice of AFL anthem More Than A Game, after tragic Barossa crash
‘He passed away in a car accident in South Australia over the weekend, 64 years of age.’
McGuire said his thoughts were with the much-loved musician’s family and his friends.
‘He was a musical genius and one of the great anthems of AFL football. It is more than a game. Vale Chris,’ he said.
The driver of the other vehicle and its passenger were uninjured in the crash.
Music writer and friend Greg Phillip said that Doheny had been planning a reunion tour with his band Geisha.
‘Few voices in Australian music carried the blend of charisma, vulnerability and sheer rock ‘n’ roll spirit quite like Chris Doheny,’ he said.
‘His soaring vocals and magnetic stage presence gave Geisha their signature identity – equal parts glamorous and deeply human,’
‘The last time I spoke with Chris, which was only a month ago, he was excitedly talking about the re-release of [the 40th anniversary editions of Geisha’s debut album] and the shows he was planning around it.’
Doheny’s iconic More Than A Game theme soundtracked 735 episodes of The Footy Show until its 2019 axing
Tributes from fans and peers described Doheny as a “fabulous guy” and an “amazing singer” taken too soon
Diamond Dog Records confirmed the re-release will now be postponed because of Doheny’s death.
Tributes have already started to flow on social media from people the singer-songwriter touched during his long musical career.
‘RIP Chris Doheny,’ radio journalist Andrew Johnston posted.
‘More Than A Game was the theme song for footy lovers for so many reasons. The Footy Show was why I wanted to be a journalist. Hearing that chorus always had you pumped up on a Thursday night.’
‘Rest in peace my friend,’ radio legend Chris Huggins said.
‘A fabulous guy who didn’t get enough recognition for his terrific songwriting and singing skills.’
Scott Carne, lead singer of Australian pop and new wave band Kids in the Kitchen, said they had only recently collaborated together.
‘Top bloke and an amazing singer.., fly high my friend,’ he said.
Long-term friend, photographer and former radio host Neill Bartlett said he was ‘gutted’ to hear the news.
‘Chris and I had so much fun back in the days, as you could imagine but I never lost the respect I had for Chris’s immense talent as a singer and songwriter,’ he said.
‘I had the pleasure in later years to interview Chris, well it was more like a chat and laugh with an old mate, on my radio show from America.
‘Again his unbelievable talent always shone. I cannot believe you have left us all, but thank you for leaving us with incredible music, both from Geisha and your solo career.’
