The Triffids
The Triffids (1985)
Background information
Origin	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre(s)	Rock, alternative, Folk rock
Years active	1976–1989
Label(s)	Hot Records Rough Trade Records Island Records Mushroom Records
Associated acts	Blackeyed Susans Red Ponies Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Website	Official site
Members
David McComb Robert McComb Jill Birt Alsy MacDonald Martyn P. Casey 'Evil' Graham Lee
Former members
see main list

The Triffids were an Australian rock band who achieved some international success in the 1980s. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Western Australia is a state occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Rough Trade Records began as an Independent record label, based in London, England. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Mushroom Records is an Australian Record company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in 1972. The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band with multinational personnel fronted by Nick Cave. David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician Jill Birt is an Australian Rock musician and architect best known as the keyboard player of the 1980s band The Triffids. Allan MacDonald is an Australian Rock musician and lawyer best known as the Drummer of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he was Nicknamed Martyn Paul Casey (born 10 July 1960 is an Australian rock Bass guitarist He is best known as a member of The Triffids and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Graham Lee (born December 11 1953 is an Australian Rock musician and Record producer, best known as the Steel guitar player of the 1980s band For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music. 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". Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. Bury Me Deep In Love is a single released by The Triffids from their album Calenture. Their vocalist and principal songwriter was David McComb (1962-1999). A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician

In June 2008 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) announced that The Triffids' iconic status would be recognised on 1 July 2008 when they are to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA is a Trade group representing the Australian recording industry "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. ^[1][2]

Biography

Early years (1976-1981)

The Triffids began in Perth, Western Australia in the late 1970s, partly in response to the punk rock movement. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. 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. David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician Allan MacDonald is an Australian Rock musician and lawyer best known as the Drummer of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he was Nicknamed The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Originally called Dalsy, they soon became known as Blök Music, Logic (for a day) and then The Triffids, (taking their name from the post-apocalyptic novel The Day of the Triffids). The Day of the Triffids is a post-apocalyptic novel written in 1951 by the English science fiction author John Wyndham. Writing in his diary as a teenager, David McComb traced the band's emergence in Perth:

"On the night of November 27, 1976, a tape was made by Alsy MacDonald, playing a single toy drum, and Dave McComb playing acoustic guitar. The multimedia group 'Dalsy' had come into being. Dalsy went on to make several remarkable tapes (mainly of original material): The Loft Tapes, Rock 'n' Roll Accountancy, Live at Ding Dongs, Bored Kids, Domestic Cosmos, People Are Strange Dalsy Are Stranger, Steve's and the seminal punk work, Pale Horse Have a Fit. … Dalsy did paintings, sculptures and poetry, and wrote a book named "Lunch". They were tinny and quirky, obsessive and manic, versatile and productive. They were also immensely unpopular. . . . The members of Dalsy grew to hate their audience. They still do, and this hate is an integral part of their music. Dalsy split up towards the end of 1977…. They launched into 1978 as Blok Musik, with their famous Blok Musik tape. … In April they played at the Leederville Town Hall Punk Fest, alongside Perth's punk rock contingent but, as usual, no one danced. Leederville is a locality within the Town of Vincent within the Perth metropolitan region of Western Australia. The punk subculture is based around Punk rock. It emerged from the larger Rock music scene in the mid-to-late-1970s in the United Kingdom, the United After that they went home and metamorphosised into Logic. Within a day they changed their minds, and metamorphosised into the Triffids. "^[3]

Between 1978 and 1981 the Triffids recorded (some were even recorded at home) and released six cassette tapes and in 1981 they released their first single, "Stand Up" / "Farmers Never Visit Nightclubs". The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a Magnetic tape sound The production of this single was the prize for the Triffids winning a song competition run by the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University) Student Guild’s radio show on 6NR (now Curtin FM). Curtin University of Technology is a University with its main campus at Bentley, southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Early Recordings (1982-1984)

1982 saw the release of the Reverie four track EP. Reverie is the official debut recording by The Triffids, released as a 7" EP in November 1982. An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify Around this time, due to the small population/market in Perth, the band started the long journey driving from Perth to Sydney, then Melbourne (and back again) to play shows and do some recording and to live for large periods of time, often in quite squalid conditions. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 For a mere $150 a night the Triffids’ services as a support band were procured by the likes of The Reels, The Sunnyboys, The Church, Hunters and Collectors and the Uncanny X-men. The Reels was an Australian Rock music group which performed and recorded between 1978 and 1991 Sydney band The Sunnyboys remain one of the most highly regarded and best-loved bands of the Australian ' Post-punk ' era Hunters & Collectors were an Australian Rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1981 led by principal songwriter Mark Seymour. The Uncanny X-Men were a Melbourne band popular in the 1980s featuring lead singer Brian Mannix.

The Triffids signed to White Label in Melbourne and released a single "Spanish Blue" / "Twisted Brain" and the Bad Timing and Other Stories EP. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Spanish Blue is the second single released by The Triffids in 1982 Bad Timing and Other Stories is the second official recording by The Triffids, released as a 7" EP in April 1983. The Triffids then signed on with Hot Records, which during its existence between 1982 and 1986 brought the Australian independent scene some much needed cohesion. They were one of the bands leading Hot’s drive into the overseas market, which is a part of what eventually led to the label’s demise.

Their debut album Treeless Plain was released in November, 1983,^[4] an album completely out of tune with everything else going on in the Australian alternative music scene at the time. Treeless Plain is the debut album by The Triffids, released in November 1983. All of the songs for Treeless Plain were recorded over twelve midnight-to-dawn sessions at Emerald City Studios, Sydney in August and September 1983. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4

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). David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The violin is a bowed String instrument with four strings usually tuned in Perfect fifths It is the smallest and highest-pitched member Jill Birt is an Australian Rock musician and architect best known as the keyboard player of the 1980s band The Triffids. A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells Martyn Paul Casey (born 10 July 1960 is an Australian rock Bass guitarist He is best known as a member of The Triffids and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the Graham Lee (born December 11 1953 is an Australian Rock musician and Record producer, best known as the Steel guitar player of the 1980s band The pedal steel guitar is a type of Electric guitar that uses a metal slide to stop the strings rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Former Triffid Akers served time in jail after various drug-related convictions.

Their next single, "Beautiful Waste" / "Property is Condemned" and the Raining Pleasure 12” EP were released in 1984. "Beautiful Waste" is a single released by The Triffids in February 1984 Raining Pleasure by The Triffids was released as a 12" EP in 1984 and reached #95 on the Australian Charts By this time the Triffids had spent so much time traveling the 3000 miles between the west and east coasts of Australia (David McComb estimated that they made this trip between 12 and 16 times) that they decided to travel that little bit further and headed to Europe.

UK & Europe (1984-1989)

1985 Cover of NME magazine

In late August, 1984 the band flew to London with a small amount of savings and five return plane tickets scheduled to expire by Christmas. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. They gave themselves three months to make inroads in the UK. Appearing as a support act at their London debut at the LSE, they blew headliners The Monochrome Set off the stage. They succeeded to the point where they graced the first cover of 1985 of the influential UK magazine NME, which it predicted would be 'The Year Of the Triffids'. The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a Popular music Magazine in the United Kingdom which has been

On November 6, 1984 the Triffids recorded the Field Of Glass 12” EP mostly live at BBC Studio 5 in London and then returned for a brief tour of Australia. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Field Of Glass by The Triffids was released as a 12" EP in 1985. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Apparently the "Field Of Glass" track was not released on CD because the master tape could not be found, although it was eventually discovered under David McComb’s bed.

During a brief return home the band acquired their final permanent band member, pedal-steel player ‘Evil’ Graham Lee, who had performed on the mini-album, Lawson Square Infirmary, a Triffids side project that was recorded in 1984, just prior to the band's first trip to England. Graham Lee (born December 11 1953 is an Australian Rock musician and Record producer, best known as the Steel guitar player of the 1980s band Lawson Square Infirmary was a 12" EP released in 1984. It was a result of a one-off recording collaboration featuring members of The Triffids and Lee recalls

""I taught primary school, traveled and ended up in Sydney, where I met the Triffids and first sat behind a pedal steel (in that order actually). . . . I met Dave [McComb] through James Patterson, who played in a band in Sydney called JFK and the Cuban Crisis. My initial impressions of Dave were: slightly eccentric, driven, something of a perfectionist, very intelligent. "

Together they recorded the 7” EP You Don’t Miss Your Water, the A-side a countrified version of a William Bell song "You Don't Miss Your Water", and were sent back to London. An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify " You Don't Miss Your Water " is a soul song and the debut single written and recorded by singer William Bell.

They toured Europe, featured again on the cover of NME, and were feted by the European press. The Triffids played in tiny clubs and stadiums (supporting the likes of Echo & the Bunnymen). Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Post-punk group formed in Liverpool in 1978 A grassroots following soon appeared and they virtually toured every European country, finding specific pockets of popularity in the oddest of locations: Holland, Greece, Scandinavia, Ireland and Belgium. Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The band toured as part of the Summer Eurofestival circuit, performing at Glastonbury, Pinkpop, Waterpop, Seinojoke, Roskhilde (40,000), T&W Belgium (35,000) and den Haague's Parkpop (pushing 100,000). Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a Dry point on the Somerset Levels, south of Bristol.

Unable to raise a major record deal and with a lack of finances, Born Sandy Devotional was recorded in London in August 1985 with Gil Norton producing (fresh from working with Echo & The Bunnymen). Born Sandy Devotional was an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. Gil Norton is a British Record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo and the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Post-punk group formed in Liverpool in 1978 The band released two versions of the "Wide Open Road" single ( a 7” version and a 12” version). The album reached # 27 on the UK charts and the single peaked at #26 on the UK charts while only reaching #64 in Australia.

Their critical success in the UK boosted their standing back in Australia where they recorded In The Pines in early 1986, still awaiting the release of Born Sandy Devotional, which eventuated in March, 1986. In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986 and reached No ^[5] In The Pines was recorded on the McComb's family property in Ravensthorpe, south east of Perth, in a shearing shed on basic eight-track equipment. Ravensthorpe is a town 541 km of Perth, 40 km inland from the south coast of Western Australia. Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. In the Pines took The Triffids deeper into folk and country music, with a lo-fi sensibility reminiscent of Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes. "Lo-fi" redirects here For the music genre see Lo-fi music Lo-fidelity redirects here Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major The Basement Tapes is a Studio album by Bob Dylan and The Band, released in 1975 by Columbia Records. The band also backed Bill Drummond on his 1986 solo album The Man. William Ernest Drummond (born April 29, 1953, Butterworth South Africa) is a Scottish musician music industry figure writer and artist The Man is an album recorded and released by Scottish musician and music industry figure Bill Drummond in 1986

In 1986 the Triffids were on the bill of the Australian Made tour. Australia Made was the largest touring festival of Australian music talent that had ever been attempted to that point. Jimmy Barnes and INXS headlined and the rest of the line-up featured Mental as Anything, Divinyls, Models, The Saints, I'm Talking and The Triffids. Jimmy Barnes is a popular Australian rock singer He was born James Dixon Swan on April 28, 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland INXS (pronounced "in excess" are an Australian rock and New Wave group Mental As Anything is an Australian New Wave / Rock music band who since the late '70s have released numerous albums & singles and have produced Divinyls are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and Guitarist Models are an Alternative rock group from Melbourne, Australia, which formed in August 1978 and which went into hiatus in 1988 The Saints are an Australian Rock band, formed in Brisbane in 1974 I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian Funk - pop Rock band, noted for launching vocalist Kate Ceberano. The shows began in Launceston, Tasmania on 26 December and concluded in Sydney on Australia Day, 26 January 1987. Launceston ( (short first vowel /ˈlɔːnsəstən/ is often incorrectly heard in other parts of Australia is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) A concert film of this event was made by Richard Lowenstein and released later that year. Richard Lowenstein (born March 1, 1959 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian Film director. ^[6] Apparently Michael Hutchence had insisted on the Triffids being part of the bill.

1987 saw the release of 3 tracks recorded for John Peel on May 5, 1985, The Peel Sessions. John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004 known professionally as John Peel, was an English Disc jockey, radio

The Triffids eventually landed a major record contract signing a three record deal with Island Records in the UK. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Between April and August 1987 the band worked again with producer Gil Norton, in London, to record Calenture, their Island Records debut. Calenture is an album by The Triffids, released in February 1987 and reached No The album saw the band explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness. The album title referred to the type of insanity which used to be suffered by seamen crossing the oceans. The nomadic Triffids travelling back and forth from Australia to England to record a 'difficult' album, obviously related to the disoriented seamen. ^[7]

As a result of their success the band graduated to the festival circuit where they played alongside Iggy Pop, The Ramones, The Fall, Anthrax and Echo & the Bunnymen. A music festival is a Festival oriented towards Music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as Musical genre, Nationality or locality James Newell Osterberg Jr (born April 21, 1947) better known by his Stage name Iggy Pop, is an American rock singer Songwriter The Ramones were an American rock band often regarded as the first Punk rock group The Fall are an English Post-punk band formed in Prestwich, Greater Manchester in 1976 Anthrax is a New York City -based heavy metal band that released its first full-length album in 1984 Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Post-punk group formed in Liverpool in 1978 By 1988 their fame was such that NME invited the group to contribute to The Beatles tribute album Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father alongside Billy Bragg and Wet Wet Wet. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 A tribute album is a recorded collection of Cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the British rock band The Beatles. Stephen William Bragg (born December 20, 1957 in Essex, England) better known as Billy Bragg, is an English musician who Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop band that formed in the 1980s They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world

The Triffids wanted to record the next album in Australia, but after the Calenture experience Island Records wanted to keep the band nearby. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. The Black Swan album was recorded between September and October 1988 in Somerset, UK and produced and engineered by Stephen Street. Stephen Brian Street is a music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s The Sundays and Blur (often regarded as the It was well received, but the success was not overwhelming, which disappointed the band members. That, together with being tired from the constant travelling and touring, led to the band being dissolved. The group even made it to America in 1989 for a pair of New York dates before taking a much needed vacation – one which turned permanent. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous

We didn’t know they were final performances. Dave wanted to do a solo album and we were due to get back together after that. Much to his chagrin his solo album took longer than expected and he kept writing songs that sounded like Triffids songs. Domesticity snuck up on most of us, poor health snuck up on Dave, a planned ’94 reunion tour was put on hold, and the Triffids faded into the mist. - Graham Lee

The band's last Australian shows were towards the end of 1989, with the final show at the Australian National University in August, 1989. The Australian National University, commonly abbreviated to ANU, is a public Research university situated in Canberra, Australia. ^[8] 1990 saw the release of the live Stockholm album, which completed the Triffids’ contractual obligations with Island.

Breakup and aftermath

Following the breakup of the band, Alsy MacDonald, Jill Birt and Robert McComb took "proper jobs" as a lawyer (currently with the Equal Opportunity Commission), architect and teacher respectively, with MacDonald and Birt marrying (Robert McComb currently teaches at Melbourne High School). Allan MacDonald is an Australian Rock musician and lawyer best known as the Drummer of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he was Nicknamed Jill Birt is an Australian Rock musician and architect best known as the keyboard player of the 1980s band The Triffids. David McComb and Lee continued to be involved with the Blackeyed Susans, a group David McComb formed as a side band during an earlier Triffids summer tour of Australia. The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Martyn Casey briefly joined the Blackeyed Susans and then became a permanent member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band with multinational personnel fronted by Nick Cave.

In 1990 David McComb moved back to London 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) releasing just one solo album, Love of Will, in 1994. Mushroom Records is an Australian Record company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in 1972. He also worked with many other musicians on various projects, including assembling a band, the Red Ponies, to tour Europe. Another project, costar, was formed when David moved to Melbourne, but due to his ill health they only played sporadically around Melbourne, although recordings had begun and a single was ready for a limited release.

Following the Red Ponies tour David McComb suffered substance abuse-related health problems, which ultimately resulted in him undergoing a heart transplant in 1996. Heart transplantation or cardiac transplantation, is a surgical transplant procedure performed on patients with end-stage Heart failure or severe Coronary Following a car accident in Melbourne, David McComb was admitted to St Vincents hospital. Only 3 days later he died at home, on February 2, 1999, just a few days short of his 37th birthday. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

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. The West Australian (often simply called The West) is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth Western Australia, and is owned by Heroin ( INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from Morphine, a derivative "

2006 onwards

The Triffids back catalogue began being reissued in 2006. Graham Lee has taken on the role of guardian of David McComb's musical legacy. Graham Lee (born December 11 1953 is an Australian Rock musician and Record producer, best known as the Steel guitar player of the 1980s band The Domino label in the UK is handling the reissues in Europe, while Liberation Music deals with Australia and New Zealand. Liberation Music is a boutique independent Australasian Record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island An extended version of fan favourite Born Sandy Devotional came first, with staggered release dates in Europe, Australasia and North America between June and July, 2006. Born Sandy Devotional was an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. A joint release of In The Pines and Calenture followed in February 2007. In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986 and reached No Calenture is an album by The Triffids, released in February 1987 and reached No In The Pines was given a full remix by Bruce Callaway, the original engineer, who had been looking after the master tapes for 20 years. In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986 and reached No The album was also extended with a number of tracks that were recorded during the sessions for In The Pines but held over for inclusion on Calenture because, in David McComb's words, “we have to keep something good for later. Calenture is an album by The Triffids, released in February 1987 and reached No ” (In The Pines was essentially a low-budget ‘holiday’ album, recorded while the band was still looking for a deal with one of the major labels. In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986 and reached No ) Calenture was extended with b-sides from the same period, and with a second disc of demo recordings for the album.

Later stages of the re-issue programme will also 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. ^[9]

David McComb was posthumously inducted into the WAM (West Australian Music Industry Association Inc) Hall Of Fame as a composer on 21 February 2006. A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died usually in honor of an action associated with their death The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry put on by the Western Australian Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

In June 2006 (in conjunction with the re-issue of Born Sandy Devotional) the band reformed to play three live performances, two concerts in Hasselt, Belgium and one in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with guest vocalists (including Mark Snarski (The Jackson Code) and Belgian, Harald Vanherf (The Hoodoo Club / Wicona Airbag)) replacing David McComb. Born Sandy Devotional was an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. ||-||-||} Hasselt is a Belgian City and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands A huge collection of band memorabilia was also displayed, along with the airing of a Triffids concert film and question-and-answer sessions with the band members.

According to Lee the experience was, "more than I could have hoped for – a true celebration of the music, and an intensity from band and audience that I’ve rarely felt. "^[10]

The five remaining members of The Triffids gave a series of performances on January 17 - 20, 2008, as part of the 2008 Sydney Festival celebrating the music and the memory of David McComb. Sydney Festival is Australia 's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1976 David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician ^[11] The band were joined on stage by a number of Australian musicians including Mark and Rob Snarski (Blackeyed Susans), Toby Martin (Youth Group), Steve Kilbey (The Church), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), Chris Abrahams and Melanie Oxley. The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Youth group can be Youth Group, an Australian band Youth club See also List of Steven John Kilbey (born 13 September 1954, Welwyn Garden City, England) is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church For the Australian Cricket umpire with the same name see Mick Harvey (umpire Michael John Harvey Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band with multinational personnel fronted by Nick Cave. ^[12][13]

In May 2008 Liberation Music continued with the reissuing of The Triffids' back catalalogue, with the release of The Black Swan, which includes five songs which had previously been left off the album at the time of it's inital release together with an encore. The album originally being envisaged by David McComb as a double album. David Richard McComb, ( February 17, 1962 &ndash February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician The re-released album also includes a bonus disc of demos and unreleased material. Also released is Treeless Plain has been re-mixed by the original sound engineer, Nick Mansbridge. Treeless Plain is the debut album by The Triffids, released in November 1983. The last of the re-releases is a collection of songs from various EPs, Raining Pleasure, Lawson Square Infirmary and Field of Glass, under the title Beautiful Waste and Other Songs (Mini-Masterpieces 1983-1985). Raining Pleasure by The Triffids was released as a 12" EP in 1984 and reached #95 on the Australian Charts Lawson Square Infirmary was a 12" EP released in 1984. It was a result of a one-off recording collaboration featuring members of The Triffids and Field Of Glass by The Triffids was released as a 12" EP in 1985. The compilation album also includes the title song, "Beautiful Waste", together with "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" and "Native Bride". "Beautiful Waste" is a single released by The Triffids in February 1984 ^[14]

ARIA announced in June 2008 that The Triffids would be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on July 1, 2008. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA is a Trade group representing the Australian recording industry Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. On the announcement Graham Lee commented that David McComb would find the accolade ironic, given that the band were hardly superstars in their home country, but would have appreciated the belated recognition. ^[15]

Legacy

One of the most critically acclaimed bands from Greece, Raining Pleasure have been inspired their name, from the "Raining Pleasure" song by The Triffids. Raining Pleasure is an Indie / Rock band originating from Patras, Greece often credited with spearheading the newest wave of greek bands with ^[16]

Cover versions

• "Wide Open Road" has been covered by Weddings Parties Anything, The Church and Perth folk-rock bands Carus and the True Believer's, Not Enough Rope and Shanks Pony, as well as by fellow Perth outfit The Panics for Triple J's 'Like a Version' in 2007. Weddings Parties Anything, often known as WPA and Weddoes were an Australian Folk rock band formed in 1984 in Melbourne and continuing until Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. Not Enough Rope were a five piece folk-rock band that came from Perth starting in 1994 before their break-up in 2001 The Panics are an Indie rock band originally from Perth, Western Australia, and currently based in Melbourne Victoria Triple J is a nationally-networked government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) mainly aimed Like a Version is a segment on the Australian radio station Triple J.
• "American Sailors" has been covered by Mick Thomas, and also The Blackeyed Susans
• "Bury Me Deep in Love" has been covered by Kylie Minogue and Jimmy Little
• "Beautiful Waste" was covered by Youth Group for Triple J's 'Like a Version' in May, 2008. Michael James Thomas is an Australian singer-songwriter Mick Thomas grew up in Geelong Australia. The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band formed in Perth in 1989 Bury Me Deep In Love is a single released by The Triffids from their album Calenture. Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE, born 28 May 1968 is an Australian pop Singer - Songwriter and occasional Actress. Jimmy Little OAM (born James Oswald Little on 1 March 1937 is an Australian Aboriginal musician singer songwriter and guitarist whose career has spanned "Beautiful Waste" is a single released by The Triffids in February 1984 Youth group can be Youth Group, an Australian band Youth club See also List of Triple J is a nationally-networked government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) mainly aimed Like a Version is a segment on the Australian radio station Triple J.

In the media

• "Bury Me Deep in Love" was used for the wedding of Harold and Madge in the internationally successful Australian TV series Neighbours. Bury Me Deep In Love is a single released by The Triffids from their album Calenture. The following is a complete list of all regular characters that appear or have appeared on the Network Ten Soap opera Neighbours. Neighbours is a long-running multiple Logie Award -winning Australian Soap opera, which first aired in March 1985 ^[17]

Members

• Will Akers - bass (1980-1982)
• Jill Birt - keyboards, vocals (1983-1989)
• Martin Casey - bass (1982-1989)
• Simon Cromack - percussion (1982-1983)
• Margret Gillard - keyboards (1979-1982)
• Phil Kakulas - guitar, vocals (1978-1979)
• Graham Lee - guitar, pedal steel, lap-steel, vocals (1985-1989)
• Alsy MacDonald - drums, percussion, vocals (1978-1980, 1982-1989)
• David McComb - vocals, guitar, piano, bass (1978-1989)
• Robert McComb - violins, guitar, keyboards, percussion, vocals (1979-1989)
• Mark Peters - drums (1980-1981)
• Byron Sinclair - bass (1978-1979, 1982)
• Jill Yates - keyboards (1982)

Discography

Main article: The Triffids discography

References

External links

• Official site
• ABC - Long Way To The Top - The Triffids
• Something Old, Something New website - Triffids profile
• Domino Records - Triffids profile
• Howlspace website - Triffids profile
• Domino re-release program
• Inner City Sound website - Triffids profile
• Nostalgia Central website - Triffids profile
• David McComb Obituary (1962-1999)
• Triffids discography at MusicBrainz