Vale: Mushroom Group’s Warren Costello

Warren Costello, who co-founded Liberation Records with Michael Gudinski, has passed away.

The news of Costello’s passing was confirmed by Mushroom Group, who said the much-loved music executive is forever “etched into the DNA of Mushroom.” He stepped down last September to spend time with his family.

“The Mushroom family are deeply saddened by the passing of Warren Costello after a long battle with illness.

“Waz first joined our label division in 1990 and ever since he has been an essential fabric of life at Mushroom. He was a true music man, a beloved friend to our artists and integral to the success of our business over the past three decades. Warren was renowned for his positive energy, integrity and family values, all of which are now etched into the DNA of Mushroom forever.

“We send our endless love to Warren’s family and friends.”

Costello first joined Mushroom in 1990 and stayed on until the 1999 sale of Mushroom Records.

In March 2000, he founded Mushroom Group’s new label Liberation with Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski, and assumed the role of managing director as the group’s label interests continues to expand.

In 2017, he then co-founded the Bloodlines label with Gudinski, and as recently as last September he was said to be heading up Mushroom’s latest venture, a film distribution and production company known as Long Play Music Films.

Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski, who took over in the wake of his father’s untimely death earlier this year, quoted his father when farewelling Costello after he stepped down last year.

“We’re incredibly sad to see Waz leave, but as Dad always said ‘family and health comes first, and no one ever truly leaves Mushroom,’” he said at the time.

He also paid tribute to Costello’s unique legacy.

“Waz’s unwavering loyalty, passion, and commitment to the great Mushroom culture over the past 40 years has been integral to Mushroom becoming the company it is today. I would also like to acknowledge that our two families are very close and that he and his wife Leith have always been confidantes of my Mother & Father so this special relationship is a cherished one. Mushroom being the family business that it is, Warren’s youngest brother Paul and all three daughters Caitlin, Alex and Hannah will always be part of the Mushroom family.”