Australian musician Chris Doheny, voice of AFL Footy Show anthem, dies in Barossa crash

Australian musician Chris Doheny, longtime frontman of the pop-rock band Geisha and the voice behind the AFL Footy Show anthem More Than A Game, has died in a car crash in South Australia. The 64-year-old was killed at the scene when his Holden ute collided with a truck on Thiele Highway near Kapunda, about 60 miles north of Adelaide, police officials said. The driver of the other vehicle and a passenger were not injured. The crash occurred in the Barossa Valley region late Friday, according to authorities.

Doheny’s 1990s hit More Than A Game served as the theme song for the AFL Footy Show for 735 episodes until the program was axed in 2019, making the track a fixture of footy culture for generations of fans. The loss was confirmed by Diamond Dog Records, which described his passing as a profound blow to the Australian music community. The label asked for privacy as Doheny’s family and friends mourned the loss.

Doheny’s friend and music writer Greg Phillip recalled a performer whose voice and stage presence blended charisma, vulnerability and a rock ’n’ roll edge. “Few voices in Australian music carried that blend of charisma and humanity quite like Chris,” Phillip said. He noted that Doheny had been planning a Geisha reunion tour and was excited about re-releasing the band’s material to mark milestone anniversaries. Phillip added that Doheny was looking forward to the 40th anniversary editions of Geisha’s debut album and the shows surrounding them, a plan now postponed in the wake of the tragedy.

Diamond Dog Records stated that the re-release, originally planned around the anniversary, would be postponed out of respect for Doheny’s family. The label’s message emphasized privacy and support for those who knew the singer as a friend and colleague.

Tributes began to pour in from across Australia’s music and broadcasting communities. Radio journalist Andrew Johnston remembered the theme as a symbol of footy nights, writing that More Than A Game “always pumped you up on a Thursday night.” Other peers described Doheny as a “fabulous guy” and an “amazing singer” whose contributions extended beyond his hit songs to influence a generation of artists.

Music journalist Greg Phillip highlighted Doheny’s ability to convey both grandiosity and vulnerability in live performance, saying the Geisha frontman’s identity fused glamour with a sense of being deeply human. Hailing from the country’s pop and rock circles, Doheny’s work helped shape a distinct Australian sound that married theatrical flair with accessible storytelling.

Scott Carne, the lead singer of Kids in the Kitchen, said in a social post that Doheny was a top bloke and an amazing singer, noting their recent collaboration and praising his generosity as a performer. Photographer and longtime friend Neill Bartlett remembered Doheny as someone who brought joy to his work and circles while never losing sight of his talent.

The AFL Footy Show, which featured More Than A Game as its signature tune for nearly a decade, remains a marker of Doheny’s enduring reach in Australian popular culture. In the wake of the tragedy, fans recalled the way the chorus could stir excitement and anticipation among viewers preparing for game nights and post-match discussions.

South Australian police said the fatal crash occurred when Doheny’s Holden ute collided with a truck on Thiele Highway near Kapunda, a rural town between the Barossa Valley and the Mid North. Investigators have not released information about the exact cause of the crash, and no charges have been announced. It was not immediately known whether weather, road conditions or other factors contributed to the collision.

Doheny’s death comes at a moment when many artists in Australia’s pop-rock scene are planning resurgences or reissues that honor legacies built across decades. His friends and colleagues fought to frame his career in the broader arc of Australian music—one that has repeatedly drawn from the energy of live performance, the sense of storytelling in songs, and a willingness to embrace both spectacle and vulnerability on stage.

As tributes continue to circulate online and through media outlets, there is a sense among Doheny’s circle that his era of Geisha—replete with bold arrangements and memorable melodies—will endure through reissues, archival releases and future performances that honor his contribution. The exact arrangements for any posthumous projects, if pursued, will likely take shape in the coming weeks as Geisha’s label and management determine the best way to honor his memory while supporting his family.

The Australian music community has faced losses in recent years from various corners of the industry, but Doheny’s passing is being remembered as the loss of a performer whose voice bridged the gap between the concert stage and the living rooms of football fans. In the days ahead, authorities and his colleagues will likely provide additional updates on the circumstances of the crash and any planned tributes or memorial events.

Dozens of fans and friends have already shared memories of Doheny’s warmth, his generous nature, and the way his performances could command a room with a blend of theatricality and honesty. For many listeners, More Than A Game is inseparable from the ritual of watching a Thursday night game, making his passing a moment that resonates beyond the music industry and into Australia’s broader cultural memory.