David McComb
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David Richard McComb, (February 17, 1962–February 2, 1999) was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of a prominent Australian post-punk band, The Triffids.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years in Perth
McComb was born in Perth, Australia. One of his siblings was Robert McComb, later a guitarist in The Triffids. Their parents were doctors. McComb studied journalism at the Western Australian Institute of Technology.
[edit] The Triffids 1978–1989
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[edit] Post-Triffids career 1990–1999
McComb lived in London in 1990-1992 with his girlfriend, and tried unsuccessfully to launch a solo career. In 1991, McComb and Adam Peters contributed to the Leonard Cohen tribute album I'm Your Fan with a cover of "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On", later mentioned favorably by Cohen himself.[1]
When he returned to Australia, McComb settled in Melbourne, where he studied Art History at Melbourne University. He recorded with the Blackeyed Susans, and completed a solo album for Mushroom Records, a solo tour of Europe with his backing band, The Red Ponies.
He also performed in Australia with his last band Costar, who recorded a three-track EP. (This has never been released, but may be released on the W.Minc label when the Triffids reissue program is complete.) Recording for a Costar album was also underway at the time of McComb's death.[2]). McComb made occasional appearances with the Blackeyed Susans in Australia, giving Rob Snarski a break from vocals (as did Kim Salmon).
[edit] Health problems and death
McComb suffered from back pain which worsened over the years. He also struggled with alcoholism, and amphetamine and heroin abuse, which greatly affected his health. He developed cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that, when found in young men, is most commonly induced by alcoholism. In 1996, he underwent a successful heart transplant, but continued his drinking and drug use. In January 1999 he was driving a car which was involved in a collision. He was hospitalised overnight and released with bruising. A few days later he died at home, just before his 37th birthday. In February 2000, after the State Coroner of Victoria finally published his findings, The West Australian newspaper wrote: "Mr Johnstone [the Coroner] said McComb's mental and physical condition had deteriorated after his accident but his death was due to heroin toxicity and mild acute rejection of his 1996 heart transplant."
[edit] Legacy and influence
David McComb was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Association Hall Of Fame, as a composer, on February 21, 2006.
His work with The Triffids is being reissued in remastered and extended form on the Domino label, commencing with Born Sandy Devotional in June 2006.
McComb's work is held in high regard in Europe, to the extent that The Triffids reformed and travelled from Australia to play live performances in Belgium and The Netherlands, in July 2006, with guest vocalists replacing McComb.
A book on McComb and The Triffids, written by former NME journalist Bleddyn Butcher, is in production and slated for release in 2007.
[edit] Discography
[edit] David McComb with The Triffids
Limited edition cassettes
- 1978 Tape One
- 1978 Tape Two
- 1979 Tape Three
- 1979 Tape Four
- 1980 Tape Five
- 1981 Tape Six
- 1983 Dungeon Tape
- 1988 Son Of Dungeon Tape
- 1988 Jack Brabham
Singles and EPs
- 1981 "Stand Up"
- 1982 "Reverie" EP
- 1982 "Spanish Blue/Twisted Brain"
- 1983 "Bad Timing And Other Stories" EP
- 1984 "Beautiful Waste"
- 1985 "Field Of Glass"
- 1985 "You Don't Miss Your Water"
- 1984 "Raining Pleasure"
- 1987 "The Peel Sessions" EP
- "Lawson Square Infirmary"
- "Wide Open Road"
- "Bury Me Deep In Love"
- "Trick Of The Light"
- "Holy Water"
- "Goodbye Little Boy"
- "Falling Over You"
LPs
- 1983 Treeless Plain
- 1986 Born Sandy Devotional
- 1986 Love In Bright Landscapes
- 1986 In The Pines
- 1987 Calenture
- 1989 The Black Swan
- 1990 Stockholm (live recording)
- 1994 Australian Melodrama (compilation)
Complilations, Various Artists (Contributor)
- 1983 Live At The Wireless
- 1984 Beyond The Southern Cross
- 1985 The Perfect Travelling Companion
- 1988 Hit Pix '88
- 1988 Til Things Are Brighter
- No Worries
- High Temperature
- Also Used And Recommended By
- Sonic 3
- Sgt Pepper Knew My Father
- Hometown Farewell Kiss
[edit] David McComb with the Blackeyed Susans
EPs
- 1990 "Some Births Are Worse Than Murders"
- 1991 "...Depends On What You Mean By Love"
LPs
- 1992 Welcome Stranger
- 1993 All Souls Alive
[edit] Solo releases by David McComb
LPs
- 1994 Love Of Will (produced by Nick Mainsbridge)
EPs
- 1989 "I Don't Need You" (with Adam Peters)
- 1991 "The Message"
- 1994 "Setting You Free"
- 1994 "Clear Out My Mind"
Complilations, Various Artists (contributor)
- Til Things Are Brighter: A Tribute To Johnny Cash
- I'm Your Fan: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen
- More Of Her - Four Hours Sleep
- Where Joy Kills Sorrow
