Alsy MacDonald

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Alsy MacDonald
Birth nameAlan Roger MacDonald
Also known asAlsy MacDonald
Born (1961-08-14) 14 August 1961 (age 62)
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Musician, drummer, singer
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1976–1989

Alan MacDonald (born 14 August 1961) is an Australian musician and lawyer, best known as the drummer of the 1980s band the Triffids, where he performed under his nickname 'Alsy'.

He was born on 14 August 1961 to Bill MacDonald, a professor of child health at University of Western Australia, and Judy Henzell (AM), a well-known paediatrician. [1] He was the youngest of the four children, with two older brothers and a sister. [2] As a child he could not say 'Alan' properly so called himself 'Alsy'. [2] He went to Hollywood Senior High School in Perth, Western Australia and was close friends with David McComb.

In 1976, partly in response to the emergence of punk rock, MacDonald and McComb formed Dalsy, later known as Blök Music and then The Triffids (from the post-apocalyptic John Wyndham novel, The Day of the Triffids ). McComb and MacDonald wrote and performed songs with Phil Kakulas (later in Blackeyed Susans), Andrew McGowan, Julian Douglas-Smith, and later Byron Sinclair, Will Akers and Margaret Gillard. [3] By Christmas 1978, they had released several home-recorded cassette tapes and been through many line-up changes.

In 1981, The Triffids released their first, 7-inch vinyl single, "Stand Up", as a result of winning a song competition run by the Western Australian Institute of Technology. [4] Subsequent releases included the Reverie EP, "Spanish Blue", and the Bad Timing and Other Stories EP. They moved to Sydney, in 1982. The band's first 12-inch vinyl album, Treeless Plain , was released in 1983. The band's line-up stabilised to David McComb (vocals, guitar), his brother Robert McComb (guitar, violin), Jill Birt (keyboards), Alsy MacDonald (drums), Martyn P. Casey (bass). [4]

In August 1984, the band flew to London, where they recorded the critically acclaimed album, Born Sandy Devotional , they toured Europe and returned to Western Australia in 1986 to record In The Pines on the McComb's family property in Ravensthorpe, south east of Perth. [4] The Triffids line-up was finalised with the addition of 'Evil' Graham Lee on pedal steel and guitar. Lee having recorded the mini-album, Lawson Square Infirmary with the band members in 1984. [4]

In 1987, the band signed a three-record deal with Island Records, which saw the release of Calenture and The Black Swan . In 1989 tired from the constant travelling and touring, the band dissolved. [4] MacDonald played with The Blackeyed Susans between 1989 and 1990 and upgraded his high school qualifications. He enrolled in law at Murdoch University in 1992. [2]

MacDonald married Jill Birt, the keyboardist for the band. They have three children. Jill is a practising architect who graduated from the University of Western Australia.

After graduating with his law degree in 1995, MacDonald applied for a short-term contract at the Equal Opportunity Commission in Perth and is currently the commission's senior legal advisor. [5]

Related Research Articles

The Triffids were an Australian alternative rock and pop band, formed in Perth in Western Australia in May 1978 with David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved some success in Australia, but greater success in the UK and Scandinavia in the 1980s before disbanding in 1989. Their best-known songs include "Wide Open Road" and "Bury Me Deep in Love". SBS television featured their 1986 album, Born Sandy Devotional, on the Great Australian Albums series in 2007, and in 2010 it ranked 5th in the book The 100 Best Australian Albums by Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David McComb</span> Australian musician

David Richard McComb 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. 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.

For the American band with a similar name, see Blackeyed Susan.

<i>Born Sandy Devotional</i> 1986 studio album by The Triffids

Born Sandy Devotional is an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. The songs were written by David McComb.

<i>In the Pines</i> (album) 1986 studio album by The Triffids

In The Pines is an album by The Triffids, released in August 1986, which reached No. 69 on the Australian Album Charts.

<i>Calenture</i> (album) 1987 studio album by The Triffids

Calenture is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group The Triffids, it was released in November 1987 and saw them explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness—the title refers to a fever suffered by sailors during long hot voyages. It reached No. 32 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. In November 1987, it reached No. 24 on the Swedish Albums Chart, in May 1988 it peaked at No. 25 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album spawned three singles, "Bury Me Deep in Love" (1987), "Trick of the Light" and "Holy Water". The latter track was recorded with American producer Craig Leon.

<i>Love in Bright Landscapes</i> 1986 compilation album by The Triffids

Love In Bright Landscapes is an anthology by Australian folk rock group, The Triffids, which was released in 1986. The original LP had ten tracks compiled from their album, EP and single releases in the period from 1983 to 1985, during which time the group were resident in Perth, Sydney and London. Three additional tracks from the same sources were included on the later CD version of the album.

<i>The Black Swan</i> (The Triffids album) 1989 studio album by The Triffids

The Black Swan is the fifth and final studio album by The Triffids, released in April 1989 and peaking at No. 59 on the Australian Album Charts. The album was originally conceived as a double album.

<i>Treeless Plain</i> 1983 studio album by The Triffids

Treeless Plain is the debut album by The Triffids, released in November, 1983. The album was recorded at Emerald City Studios, Sydney, Australia in twelve midnight to dawn sessions, during August through to September 1983. It was the band's first release after signing with Hot Records.

<i>Stockholm</i> (The Triffids album) 1990 live album by The Triffids

Stockholm is a live recording by Australian rock group, The Triffids, released in July 1990 and is the final official recording by the band. All tracks were recorded live in Stockholm in 1989 for Swedish National Radio, The Bommen Show. The album was produced by Lars Aldman, engineered by Michael Bergek, and mixed at Planet Sound Studios, Perth on 15, 16 and 17 September 1989 by James Hewgill and David McComb.

<i>Lawson Square Infirmary</i> 1984 EP by The Triffids and James Paterson

Lawson Square Infirmary was a 12" extended play released in November 1984 by the Triffids and James Paterson under the collaborative project of the same name. In 2008 all six tracks from the EP were included on the compilation Beautiful Waste and Other Songs.

<i>Raining Pleasure</i> (EP) 1984 EP by The Triffids

Raining Pleasure is a record released in 1984 by the Australian folk rock group The Triffids as a 12" vinyl EP. It reached No. 95 on the Australian Charts. Its seven tracks were co-produced by the group with Nick Mainsbridge who also supplied trumpet.

<i>Peel Sessions</i> (The Triffids album) 1987 EP by The Triffids

Peel Sessions was recorded by Australian folk rock group The Triffids for The John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1. The three tracks were first transmitted on 14 May 1985. The 12" EP of the recordings was not released until 1987. The EP was issued in a "Special Metallic Finish Limited Edition" sleeve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trick of the Light (The Triffids song)</span> 1988 single by The Triffids

"Trick of the Light" is a single released in January 1988 by Australian group The Triffids from their album Calenture. The single appeared in 7", 10", 12" and CD single versions. It was produced by Gil Norton and written by David McComb. The B-Side "Love the Fever" was co-written by David McComb and Adam Peters and was produced by Peters. It was recorded in August 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bury Me Deep in Love</span> 1987 single by The Triffids

Bury Me Deep in Love is a single released by Australian rock group The Triffids from their album Calenture. It appeared in October 1987 and reached No. 48 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. It was produced by Gil Norton and written by David McComb, the group's lead singer and guitarist. The B-sides "Baby Can I Walk You Home" and "Region Unknown" were produced by Victor Van Vugt and The Triffids. The single was released as 7", 12" & CD single versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Little Boy</span> 1989 single by The Triffids

"Goodbye Little Boy" was the first single released in March 1989 by Australian group The Triffids ahead of their album The Black Swan. Lead vocals are provided by Jill Birt, their keyboardist, instead of David McComb, the group's usual lead singer. Birt is also featured on the single's front cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falling Over You</span> 1989 single by The Triffids

"Falling Over You" was the second single, released in September 1989, by Australian rock group The Triffids from their album The Black Swan. It was produced by Stephen Street and co-written by David McComb and Adam Peters. The tracks were recorded between September and October 1988 at The Justice Room, Cathanger, Somerset and mixed at Fallout Shelter, London, November 1988. "You Minus Me" was written and produced by McComb. The single appeared as a 7", 12" and cassette single version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Waste</span> 1984 single by The Triffids

"Beautiful Waste" is a single released by Australian rock group, The Triffids in February 1984. Not included on any of the band's studio albums nor extended plays, it was first compiled on Australian Melodrama (1994). Its B-side, "Property Is Condemned", was included on the 1984 EP Raining Pleasure. A film clip was made for "Beautiful Waste". Its name was adapted for a 2008 posthumous compilation of mid-1980s non-album tracks, Beautiful Waste and Other Songs.

Jillian Margaret Birt is an Australian rock musician and architect. Birt was the keyboardist and vocalist of the alternative rock and pop band, The Triffids from 1983 to 1989. In 2008, The Triffids were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame.

The Triffids were an Australian rock band from Perth, Western Australia. They have released five studio albums, one live album, ten singles, six extended plays, nine cassette tapes, four compilation albums and a video album. The Triffids formed in 1978 by mainstay David McComb, his school friend Alsy MacDonald together with Phil Kakulas. Their first release was a cassette tape, Triffids 1st recorded in May, by September they had added Byron Sinclair and released, Triffids 2nd with four more cassette tapes released by 1981. Considerable line-up changes had occurred resulting in McComb and MacDonald with Will Akers, Margaret Gillard, Robert McComb and Mark Peters. "Stand Up", their first single, was released in July 1981 from Triffids 6th. Their first extended play, Reverie appeared in November 1982.

References

  1. ↑ "Alan "Alsy" MacDonald | Australian Music Database".
  2. 1 2 3 "Triffids drummer finds new rhythm for life". Murdoch University. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  3. ↑ Holmgren, Magnus; Skjefte, Morten; Warnqvist, Stefan; Simonetti, Vince. "The Triffids". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 July 2002. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "ARIA Hall of Fame: The Triffids" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "Equal Opportunity Commission - staff profile". Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
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