Vagabond Holes: David McComb And the Triffids

by Chris Coughran (Editor), Niall Lucy (Editor)

In an homage to David McComb’s haunting music and lyrics that inspired a generation 30 years ago, this collection of stories, poems, and artwork celebrates the man and his postpunk band, the Triffids. Due to sold-out tribute concerts across Australia and the remastering of the complete Triffids oeuvre, a new generation is discovering McComb’s work; fans old and new can delve deeper into his life and music in this intensely personal biography. Many of the featured photographs and images are previously unpublished. Works by both local and international contributors are collected in honor of the 10-year anniversary of David McComb's death, and include: Jonathan Alley, Jill Birt, Martyn Casey, David Cavanagh, Nick Cave, Claire Colebrook, Laurie Duggan, John Dyer, Robert Forster, Richard Gunning, Megan Heyward, Thomas Hoareau, Tracee Hutchison, Phil Kakulas, Steve Kilbey, John Kinsella, Graham Lee, Judith Lucy, Alsy MacDonald, Andrew McGowan, Robert McComb, Gavin Martin, Steve Miller, Denise Nestor, David Nichols, Rob Snarski, and Jon Stratton.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Chris Coughran is an honorary research fellow with the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne. His writing has appeared in numerous collections and scholarly journals.

Reviews

[Kathleen]

I don't think you could classify this as biography so I would have to say that Vagabond Holes is the best not-quite-biography I have read thus far. My main problem with many biographies and autobiographies is the dominance of the narrative voice. As this is a collection of poetry, artwork, photographs, essays and recounts from a variety of contributors, not one voice dominates.

Judith Lucy leaves you laughing at her geek girl crush on McComb, Bledynn Butcher and Jill Birt's photos transport you to the 80s and 90s, copies of gig promos make you wistful for the era of pub rock and Nick Cave's rant about a drunken London picnic provides you with as much insight into McComb's singing abilities as it does into Cave's (unique) mind. There is a host of other contributions that are equally descriptive and total to create an unfinished picture of the Triffids' main man.

Does this book aim to paint a complete picture? No and thank god for that. If its aim is to offer an incomplete canvas of a musician who aspires to mystery above the concrete and self-evident in his songwriting, then yes, this aim is achieved. Whilst I read this book from cover to cover, there is no need to read in chronological order if you simply want to learn a little more about one of WA's finest.

Would you enjoy it if you had never heard of the Triffids or hated their music? Probably not. If, however, you are a fan, would reading Vagabond Holes encourage you to listen to the Triffids' back catalogue on repeat for weeks on end? I think yes.

[Michael]

This book is worth it for the recollections of Robert Forster alone. Although I prefer the remembrances rather than the analytical pieces this was still a great read. Will now have to fork out for all the reissued albums to replace my original copies.

[Lawrence]

Patchy (as with most collections of essays), but this'll do nicely until there's a proper McComb/Triffids book published

[Patrick Whitman]

Excellent.

[Fred Bianco]

For fans of the Australian band Triffids. A tribute to the late singer/songwriter David McComb, by friends, fellow musicians, academics, writers, poets, journalists. Includes lots of photos and art. It seemed to be a labor of love, and was for the most part very well executed.

[Brimmer]

Wonderful book. Highly recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in McComb and/or The Triffids.