David McComb Australian rock musician Date of Birth: 17.02.1962 Country: Australia

Biography of David Richard McComb

David Richard McComb, also known as David McComb, was an Australian rock musician. He was born in 1962 in Perth, Australia, the youngest of four sons to Harold McComb and Athel Hockey, both of whom were doctors. The family lived in the affluent neighborhood of Peppermint Grove. David attended Christ Church Grammar School, where he developed a passion for literature and won several literary competitions.

After graduating, David enrolled in the Western Australian Institute of Technology to study English literature and journalism. However, his true passion was music, and at the age of 14, he started writing songs for the young rock band 'The Triffids'. Despite initial skepticism from some older band members about David's lyrics, he continued to compose songs. In 1978, the band recorded their first album on an old cassette recorder.

A few years later, 'The Triffids' achieved success by winning a competition for young rock bands. With the prize money, they recorded their first studio single, 'Stand Up', released in 1981. After two years of hard work, the band released their debut album 'Treeless Plain' in 1983. Although not commercially successful, the album helped them gain popularity through numerous charity concerts.

In 1984, David signed a contract with an Australian television and radio company, which acquired the rights to some of his compositions. As a result, the band was unable to perform these songs at their concerts, much to the disappointment of their fans. David later expressed regret over this decision but was unsuccessful in buying back the rights.

In 1985, after relocating to London, 'The Triffids' released their second album, 'Born Sandy Devotional', which gained critical acclaim and brought them international recognition. However, upon returning to Australia, David struggled to find inspiration for new lyrics, and subsequent albums failed to achieve commercial success. The band eventually disbanded in 1990.

In the years that followed, David worked on new material and recorded a cover version of Leonard Cohen's 'Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On'. He also attempted a solo career with the album 'Love of Will' but faced disappointment once again. Additionally, David battled health problems caused by alcohol and drug abuse.

On February 1, 1999, David McComb passed away due to a heroin overdose. He was buried in Perth's suburb, close to where he was born. In 2001, his composition 'Wide Open Road' was included in the list of '30 Best Australian Songs'. This song was part of the album 'Born Sandy Devotional', which marked a turning point in David's life and career, leading to various struggles and difficulties that he ultimately escaped only through his death.