Thursday, July 07, 2005

The Triffids

Day Of 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

2 Comments:

Blogger Michael said...

hey dickvandyke, thanks for the nice comments, i'm glad you liked the track.

I grew up in Perth and fondly remember The Triffids early gigs there before they moved on to Europe in search of greater things.

I love your blog too - everyone should check out
last night an mp3 saved my wife

Sat July 09, 01:49:00 pm  
Blogger ISLAND MONKEY said...

You got some good music taste. I remember seeing the Triffids at Manchester's International Club in the mid eighties. They were superb - one of many fine bands to come out of Australia which never really got the attention they deserve...

Mon Nov 07, 09:06:00 am  

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