The Triffids
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| The Triffids | ||
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 The Triffids (1985)
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Perth, Australia |
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| Genre(s) | Rock, alternative, Folk rock | |
| Years active | 1979–1989 | |
| Website | Official site | |
| Members | ||
| David McComb (Deceased) Robert McComb Jill Birt Alsy MacDonald Martyn P. Casey 'Evil' Graham Lee |
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The Triffids were an Australian rock band who achieved some international success in the 1980s. Formed in Perth in the late 1970s and disbanded in 1989, their best known songs are "Wide Open Road" and "Bury Me Deep In Love". Their vocalist and principal songwriter was David McComb (1962-1999).
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[edit] History
[edit] 1976–1989
The Triffids began in Perth, Western Australia in the late 1970s, partly in response to the punk rock movement. In 1976, David McComb and Allan 'Alsy' MacDonald wrote and performed songs with Phil Kakulas (currently in Blackeyed Susans), Andrew McGowan, Julian Douglas-Smith, and later Byron Sinclair, Will Akers and Margaret Gillard. Originally called Dalsy, they soon became known as Blök Music and then The Triffids. By Christmas 1978 they had released three home-recorded cassette tapes, been through several line-up changes.
They made their way to Sydney, then Melbourne in the early 1980s and released six cassettes. Singles such as "Stand Up", "Spanish Blue" and "Reverie" and an album, Treeless Plain, were released in Australia.
Their line-up stabilised to David McComb (vocals, guitar), his brother Robert McComb (guitar,violin), Jill Birt (keyboards), Alsy MacDonald (drums), Martyn P. Casey (bass) and 'Evil' Graham Lee (pedal steel, guitar). Former Triffid Akers served time in jail after various drug-related convictions. They toured Europe and were featured twice on the front cover of the influential UK magazine NME, and feted by the European press. They graduated to the festival circuit where they played alongside Iggy Pop, The Ramones, The Fall, Anthrax and Echo & the Bunnymen. They also recorded some albums that are regarded as cult classics, including Born Sandy Devotional, In The Pines, Calenture and The Black Swan.
[edit] Breakup and aftermath
The Triffids disbanded in 1989. Casey joined Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, David McComb and Lee joined the Blackeyed Susans, and David McComb moved back to London in 1990 with the aim of pursuing his solo career. In 1992, after no success, he returned to Australia to make some solo recordings for Mushroom Records (featuring both Casey and Lee). He suffered severe health problems directly related to his alcoholism and drug use, which ultimately resulted in him undergoing a heart transplant in 1996. He died on February 2, 1999.
In February 2000, after the State Coroner of Victoria finally published his findings, The West Australian newspaper wrote: "[Coroner] Johnstone said McComb's mental and physical condition had deteriorated after his (car) accident but his death was due to heroin toxicity and mild acute rejection of his 1996 heart transplant."
[edit] Legacy: 2006 onwards
The Triffids back catalogue is being reissued in 2006. Graham Lee has taken on the role of guardian of David McComb's musical legacy. The Domino label in the UK is handling the reissues in Europe, while Liberation Records will deal with Australia and New Zealand. Fan favourite Born Sandy Devotional is due first, with release dates currently set for 19 June (Europe), 1 July (Australia, New Zealand) and 25 July (North America). The re-issue programme will include rarities, extended liner notes, remastering, a DVD and a live album. There is, currently, a selection of free downloads available on the official site, overseen by Lee [1].
David McComb was inducted into the WAMi (West Australian Music Industry Association Inc) Hall Of Fame as a composer on 21 February 2006.
In June 2006 the band reformed to play live performances in Belgium and The Netherlands with guest vocalists replacing David McComb.
[edit] Trivia
- The band's name was taken from the post-apocalyptic novel The Day of the Triffids.
- "Bury Me Deep In Love" was used for the wedding of Harold and Madge in the internationally successful Australian TV series Neighbours.
- A song about gnomes from their earliest period went on to be the basis for "My Baby Thinks She's a Train" from The Triffids' first album, Treeless Plain.
- "Wide Open Road" has been covered by Weddings Parties Anything and Mick Thomas has covered "American Sailors".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- (1983) Treeless Plain
- (1984) Raining Pleasure (mini album)
- (1984) Lawson Square Infirmary (mini album)
- (1986) Born Sandy Devotional
- (1986) In the Pines
- (1987) Calenture
- (1989) The Black Swan
[edit] Live album
- (1990) Stockholm
[edit] Singles and EPs
- (1981) "Stand Up"
- (1982) "Reverie" EP
- (1982) "Spanish Blue"
- (1983) "Bad Timing and Other Stories"
- (1984) "Beautiful Waste"
- (1985) "Field of Glass"
- (1985) "You Don't Miss Your Water"
- (1986) "Wide Open Road"
- (1987) "Peel Sessions" EP
- (1987) "Bury Me Deep in Love"
- (1988) "Trick of the Light"
- (1988) "Holy Water"
- (1989) "Goodbye Little Boy"
- (1989) "Falling Over You"
