Robert McComb explained

Robert McComb
Birth Name:Robert Harold McComb
Birth Place:Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre:Rock, alternative rock, folk rock, country
Occupation:Musician, teacher
Instrument:Violins, guitar, keyboards, percussion, vocals
Years Active:1979–1989
Associated Acts:The Triffids, Lawson Square Infirmary, The Red Ponies

Robert Harold McComb is an Australian musician who played guitar, violin,[1] organ, and other instruments with Perth-based rock group The Triffids,[2] from 1979 to 1989.[3] He is the older brother of the band's founder and lead singer-songwriter, David McComb (1962–1999). Both were also members of Lawson Square Infirmary and The Red Ponies.

Subsequently, McComb was a teacher[3] of geography in Melbourne. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids, with McComb and other surviving members, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[3]

Biography

Robert Harold McComb was born in Perth, Western Australia as one of four sons. His parents were both doctors, his father, Dr. Harold Keith McComb (born 1924, Brisbane),[4] being a plastic surgeon[5] [6] and his mother, Dr. Kathleen Athel Hockey (AO) (1923–2011), a medical geneticist.[6] [7] [8] Harold was the only son of A. R. McComb of Montreal, Canada and Athel was the youngest daughter of P. R. Hockey of Toorak, Victoria.[9] In 1947 both completed their medical degrees at University of Melbourne and were engaged in July.[6] In 1955 the McCombs moved to Perth,[4] and raised their family in a historical residence, The Cliffe in McNeil Street, Peppermint Grove.[10] All four boys attended Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont. The eldest son, Peter McComb, is also a doctor – in obstetrics and gynaecology – and an associate professor in Vancouver.[4]

In 1979 McComb joined his youngest brother, David Richard McComb in the rock band The Triffids, initially as a guitarist, replacing founder Phil Kakulas.[11] [12] [13] Aside from guitar, McComb also provided violin, keyboards, percussion and backing vocals for The Triffids from 1979 to their disbandment in 1989.[11] [14] From 1990-1991, McComb toured internationally and recorded as a guest guitarist/violinist for Tall Tales and True. In June 1993, three former members of The Triffids: McComb, David and Graham Lee; as well as Charlie Owen and Chris Wilson guested on Acuff's Rose's debut studio album, Never Comin' Down.[15] On 2 February 1999 David McComb died.[11] From 2006, The Triffids, with McComb, have reformed for various performances with different guest lead vocalists. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids, with McComb and other surviving members, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[16]

Outside his music career, McComb has been a secondary school teacher of geography in Melbourne and has written advice for Victorian Certificate of Education students.[3] [17] In October 2009, McComb was a guest panellist on Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV pop music quiz show, Spicks and Specks.[18]

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. News: The Day of the Triffids . . . Zuel . Bernard . 26 June 2006 . 9 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Artist: The Triffids . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 9 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202125519/http://www.abc.net.au/longway/artist_index/triffids.htm . 2 February 2009 . dead . dmy-all .
  3. Web site: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090305052500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/93989/20090305-1625/www.ariahalloffame.com.au/document/thetriffids-final.pdf . ARIA Hall of Fame - The Triffids . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 5 March 2009 . 9 July 2012 .
  4. Web site: Emeritus Consultants Biographies – Harold Keith McComb . . 2006 . 21 July 2012 .
  5. Web site: McComb Foundation history . 20 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120209112415/http://www.mccomb.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=27 . 9 February 2012 . dead .
  6. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20090709080119/http://www.queens.unimelb.edu.au/PDFs/QCInAeternumDec05.pdf . Western Australian Medicos Establish Scholarship at Queen's . Heinz . Karin Coventry . In Aeternum . . PDF . December 2005 . 9 July 2009 . 21 July 2012 .
  7. Web site: The History and Development of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia . Sutherland . Grant R . Human Genetics Society of Australasia . PDF . 9 December 2009 . 21 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120318105814/https://www.hgsa.org.au/website/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hgsa-history.pdf . 18 March 2012 . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Obituary: Dr Athel Hockey, (McComb), AO. [1923-2011] . Newsletters April 2011 . . April 2011 . 20 July 2012 .
  9. News: Lady Kitty Writes About People . The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) . 15 July 1947 . 20 July 2012 . 10 . .
  10. http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/T%20-%20A-D/The%20Cliffe%20(I-AD).PDF Heritage Council of Western Australia – Heritage listing – 'The Cliffe'
  11. McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for 'The Triffids'. Archived from the original on 17 April 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  12. Web site: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/triffids/triffids.htm. The Triffids. Nimmervoll. Ed. Ed Nimmervoll. Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd . 26 July 2012. 11 February 2014.
  13. Spencer et al, (2007), 'Triffids, The' entry.
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120926111648/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/triffids.html . The Triffids . Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) . Holmgren . Magnus . Skjefte . Morten . Warnqvist . Stefan . Simonetti . Vince . 26 September 2012 . 1 March 2014 .
  15. McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for 'Acuff's Rose'. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  16. Web site: Winners by Year: 2008 . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 21 July 2012.
  17. Web site: VCE Geography sample SACs for Unit 3 . McComb . Robert . Interaction . Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria . December 2001 . 29 . 4 . 21 July 2012 .
  18. Web site: Episode Thirty Seven . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 7 October 2009 . 21 July 2012 .
  19. Web site: Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry. catalogue. National Library of Australia. 20 July 2012.