Revered First Nations Artist Dennis Conlon Of Mop & The Dropouts Passes Away

Revered First Nations artist Uncle Dennis 'Mop' Conlon has passed away.

The singer-songwriter, known for his influential work with Mop & The Dropouts, had been undergoing chemotherapy in recent months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Conlon’s uncle, fellow muso and bandmate Hedley Johnson, has paid tribute to the iconic figure.

“Mop is an icon and is loved and respected in both black and white communities in the Australian music industry,” Johnson said.

“Through his music he has become a leader and fighter for indigenous rights for us all, I am very proud of his many achievements and proud the be a Dropout forever, I loved him dearly and will miss him.

“Mop and the Dropouts....His music will live on forever.”

With Mop & The Dropouts, Dennis also played alongside Uncle Ronald "Crow" Conlon, Uncle Lance O'Chin and more.

Described as the "King of Murri Country", Conlon grew up in Cherbourg playing music under the name Dennis Conlon & The Magpies (who later became Mop & The Dropouts) before moving to Brisbane.

Mop penned both Racial Discrimination and Brisbane Blacks, the latter a 1982 anthem that documents the protests from First Nations people around the 12th Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

The protests gained international attention and saw a large number of those involved, who were marching for Aboriginal rights, arrested.

Speaking with Double J last year, Mop reflected on the song and its creation, noting, "I was thinking, 'They’re only going to show this video on TV once [so] I’ll write a song.'

"The song belongs to everybody, doesn’t matter where we are. It's all for us. All of us.

"They even picked it up in New Zealand, and I got a call from Los Angeles. I’m thinking, 'Geez, must have a good message in it then.’”

Back in March, Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley performed Brisbane Blacks at the 2022 Queensland Music Awards as a tribute to Mop & The Dropouts, with Conlon awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Murri Country 98.9FM's Triple A has also paid tribute, describing him as a "pioneer in the music industry".

"Uncle Mop wrote many songs but one song that became an anthem, Brisbane Blacks which he wrote so Aboriginal rights wouldn't become yesterday's news. Triple A pays respect and send our condolences to Uncle Mop's family and our communities during this time.

"The family have given permission for the use of image and voice, however the family is requesting privacy at this time. We continue to pay tribute to the legacy of Mop and the Dropouts by continuing to share their music and stories on Triple A. Rest Easy Uncle."