David McComb

David Richard McComb (17 February 1962 – 2 February 1999) was an Australian musician. He was the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the Australian bands, The Triffids (1976–89) and The Blackeyed Susans (1989–93). He also had a solo career including leading David McComb and The Red Ponies. Over his career McComb had bouts of alcoholism, and amphetamine and heroin abuse. He developed cardiomyopathy and in 1996 underwent a heart transplant. David McComb died on 2 February 1999 “due to heroin toxicity and mild acute rejection of his 1996 heart transplant”, according to the coroner.[1] In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named “Wide Open Road” by The Triffids – written by McComb – as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with McComb’s contribution acknowledged by a tribute performance.

David McComb was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 17 February 1962, the youngest of four boys. His parents were both doctors, his father, Dr Harold McComb, a prominent plastic surgeon[2][3] and his mother, Dr Athel Hockey (AO), a renowned geneticist.[3][4] The family resided in a historical residence, The Cliffe in McNeil Street, Peppermint Grove.[5] All the boys attended Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont, Western Australia, with David winning prizes in English Literature and Divinity. McComb studied journalism and literature at the Western Australian Institute of Technology.[6] His older brother, Robert McComb, later joined The Triffids as a guitarist.