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The short versionDon was born in 1959 in Auckland, studied English and Music at Auckland University, and played French Horn and percussion in the Auckland Symphonia from 1979-82. He was a member of the percussion ensemble From Scratch from 1979-86, and was drummer and singer with Auckland agit-punk band Blam Blam Blam from 1980-82. After a year in New York as a drummer with avant-garde dance company Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, he returned to New Zealand and together with Harry Sinclair he formed the innovative music/theatre/film act The Front Lawn in 1985. They performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 1988 and 1989, as well as in Europe, the USA, Australia and New Zealand until disbanding in 1990. 1n 1990 he wrote the score for Jane Campion’s award-winning film “An Angel At My Table”. Don was singer and main songwriter in The Mutton Birds from 1991 to 2002, releasing 4 NZ top ten albums (two platinum) and two top five singles, including one No. 1 single "The Heater". His song “Anchor Me” won the APRA Silver scroll in 1993. The group signed to Virgin Records UK in 1995, and were based in London from then until 1999, touring all over the world. The band’s third album, "Envy Of Angels" (1997), made the U.K. Sunday Times ten best records of the year list. Since returning to New Zealand in 1999 Don has collaborated on theatre productions with writer directors Fiona Samuel, Warwick Broadhead and Ian Hughes, and scored Toa Fraser's 2006 feature film "No 2", (which won the Audience prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and netted McGlashan his second APRA Silver Scroll – for “Bathe In The River”, a song from the film sung by Hollie Smith). He also scored the features “Show Of Hands” (2008), “Dean Spanley” (2008) and “Matariki” (to be released in 2010), as well as two TV serieses. During this time, he released his debut solo album “Warm Hand” (May 2006, Arch Hill Recordings), and the follow up, “Marvellous Year” (March 2008, Arch Hill Recordings) with his new band The Seven Sisters – Maree Thom on Bass, John Segovia on pedal steel guitar, Dominic Blaazer on keyboards and mandolin, and Chris O'Connor on drums. Don opened for Crowded House on their 2008 US, European and Australian tours, and was a guest musician with the band. He also collaborated and contributed to the 2009 Neil Finn project “Seven Worlds Collide”. He’s currently working on the score to the TV series “This Is Not My Life”, and rehearsing with The Seven Sisters and his new side project with Sean Donnelly, Sandy Mill and Victoria Kelly: The Bell Birds. DiscographyAlbumWarm Hand - released 15 May 06Don McGlashan Arch Hill Records 
Flock - released 25 Apr 02 The Mutton Birds 
Salty - released 25 Apr 94 The Mutton Birds Cat No.8394882 /4 
Recorded in the disused Television New Zealand Building, Shortland Street, Auckland with gear from Revolver Studios - November 1993. Recorded by Mark Ingram. Assistant Engineer Sam Gibson. Mixed by Tchad Blake at 301 Studios, Sydney - March 1994. Assistant Engineer Peter Thomas (except for The Heater-Mixed by Tchad Blake at Sunset Sound Factory, L.A., a few months earlier) Backing vocals "Anchor Me" Jane Dodd from the Abel Tasmans Mastered by Steven Smart at 301 Studios, Sydney. There are slight differences between the NZ, Australian & Canadian versions. Cover art: Jenny Dolezel, Gideon Keith, Ross Burge. Photography by John Reynolds The Mutton Birds - released 14 Aug 92 The Mutton Birds Cat No.4353002/4 
Recorded on 16 track at Link Recording, Auckland by Keith Ballantyne except for: *Recorded in practice room by the band, overdubs at Link Recording +Recorded in practice room by Malcolm Wellsford, overdubs at Link Recording Mixed at Link Recording by Nick Morgan except for: =Mixed by Graeme Myhre and ^Mixed by Keith Ballantyne and David Long (arranged by David Long) Cover art: Kerry Brown, Don McGlashan, Chad Taylor. Photography by Kerry Brown SingleNature - released 03 Aug 92The Mutton Birds Cat No.BAGSC1002 - (8770024)
Mixed by Nick Morgan. Backing vocals "Nature" Jan Hellreigel. Produced by The Mutton Birds Dominion Road - released 04 May 92 The Mutton Birds Cat No.FLSC400 - (8013824)
Mixed by Nick Morgan Produced by The Mutton Birds Giant Friend The Mutton Birds Cat No.8770054
2.Recorded live at The Gluepot, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand. 3rd October 1992 Front of house mix by Paul Crowther. Both tracks recorded by Nick Morgan, produced by Nick Morgan and The Mutton Birds |