The Triffids

The Triffids were formed in Perth in 1980 by singer/songwriter David McComb, his guitarist/violinist brother Robert and drummer Alsy MacDonald. Initially influenced by the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Kraftwerk, Television and early Talking Heads, McComb's songs drew heavily on the stark desolation of his rural upbringing, incorporating elements of country and blues to paint haunting portraits of isolation and longing.

Shortly after the addition of Martyn Casey and keyboardist Jill Birt, the band recorded its 1983 debut Treeless Plain for the Hot label, followed a year later by the EP Raining Pleasure.

Heralding the arrival of steel guitarist "Evil" Graham Lee, 1986's Born Sandy Devotional was the Triffids' creative breakthrough and this is the album which the posted track comes from. After recording the low-budget follow-up In the Pines in a wool-shearing shed in the Australian outback, the group signed to Island to issue their 1987 major label hilight Calenture. 1989's The Black Swan was well received, but the success wasn't overwhelming, which disappointed the the band to the point where they soon after dissolved.

Martyn Casey went on to become a Black Eyed Susan and a Bad Seed with Nick Cave amongst other things.

David McComb went on to work with the Black Eyed Susans before mounting a solo career with 1994's Love of Will. McComb died only three days after a car accident on February 2, 1999.


The Triffids - Wide Open Road