Alsy MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Alan MacDonald is an Australian rock 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 Prof. Bill MacDonald, a professor of child health at University of Western Australia
and Dr Judy Henzell (AM
), was a well-known paediatrician. He was the youngest of the four children, with two older brothers and a sister. As a child he couldn't say 'Alan' properly so called himself 'Alsy'. 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. 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. 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).
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. 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.
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. 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.
MacDonald who had fallen in love with Jill Birt
, the keyboardist for the band, got married (to Jill). They have three children. Jill, who completed her architectural degree at the University of Western Australia
, is a qualified and practising architect.
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 Commission's senior legal advisor.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
of the 1980s band The Triffids
The Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
, where he performed under his nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
'Alsy'.
He was born on 14 August 1961 to Prof. Bill MacDonald, a professor of child health at University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
and Dr Judy Henzell (AM
Australian Honours System
-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
), was a well-known paediatrician. He was the youngest of the four children, with two older brothers and a sister. As a child he couldn't say 'Alan' properly so called himself 'Alsy'. He went to Hollywood Senior High School in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and was close friends with David McComb
David McComb
David Richard McComb was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of the Australian band, The Triffids.-Early years in Perth:...
.
In 1976, partly in response to the emergence of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, MacDonald and McComb formed Dalsy, later known as Blök Music and then The Triffids
The Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
(from the post-apocalyptic John Wyndham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
novel, The Day of the Triffids
The Day of the Triffids
The Day of the Triffids is a post-apocalyptic novel published in 1951 by the English science fiction author John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris, under the pen-name John Wyndham. Although Wyndham had already published other novels using other pen-name combinations drawn from his lengthy real...
). 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. 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
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Stand Up", as a result of winning a song competition run by the Western Australian Institute of Technology. Subsequent releases included the Reverie
Reverie (EP)
Reverie is the official debut recording by The Triffids, released as a 7" EP in November, 1982.-The Triffids:* David McComb - lead vocals, guitar* Robert McComb - guitar, vocals* Will Akers - bass, vocals* Margaret Gillard - piano, organ, vocals...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, "Spanish Blue", and the Bad Timing and Other Stories
Bad Timing and Other Stories
Bad Timing and Other Stories is the second official recording by The Triffids, released as a 7" EP in April, 1983.- Personnel :* David McComb - lead vocals, guitar, organ, piano, synthesiser* Robert McComb - guitar, violin, organ...
EP. They moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in 1982. The band's first 12-inch vinyl album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Treeless Plain
Treeless Plain
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...
, 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).
In August 1984 the band flew to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where they recorded the critically acclaimed album, Born Sandy Devotional
Born Sandy Devotional
Born Sandy Devotional was an album by The Triffids, released in March 1986. The cover photo shows the now West Australian city of Mandurah back in 1961. All the songs on the album were written by David McComb...
, they toured Europe and returned to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1986 to record In The Pines on the McComb's family property in Ravensthorpe
Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
Ravensthorpe is a town 541 km south east of Perth, 40 km inland from the south coast of Western Australia. It is the seat of government of the Shire of Ravensthorpe...
, south east of Perth. The Triffids line-up was finalised with the addition of 'Evil' Graham Lee
Graham Lee (Australian musician)
Graham Lee is an Australian rock musician and record producer, best known as the steel guitar player of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he was nicknamed 'Evil Graham Lee'....
on pedal steel and guitar. Lee having recorded the mini-album, Lawson Square Infirmary
Lawson Square Infirmary
Lawson Square Infirmary was a 12" EP released in 1984. In 2008, all tracks from the EP were included on the compilationBeautiful Waste and Other Songs....
with the band members in 1984.
In 1987 the band signed a three record deal with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, which saw the release of Calenture
Calenture (album)
Calenture is the fourth studio album by The Triffids, released in February 1987 which reached No. 32 on the Australian Album Charts. Calenture also reached No...
and The Black Swan
The Black Swan (The Triffids album)
The Black Swan is an album by The Triffids, released in April 1989 and reached No. 59 on the Australian Album Charts. The album was originally conceived as a double album....
. In 1989 tired from the constant travelling and touring, the band dissolved. MacDonald played with The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans
The Blackeyed Susans are an Australian rock band, formed in Perth in 1989, based in Melbourne since 1992.-Perth 1989-1990:The original line-up consisted of David McComb on vocals and guitar, Alsy MacDonald on drums , Phil Kakulas on bass guitar , Rob Snarski on vocals and guitar, and...
between 1989 and 1990 and upgraded his high school qualifications. He enrolled in law at Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
in 1992.
MacDonald who had fallen in love with Jill Birt
Jill Birt
Jill Birt is an Australian rock musician and architect, best known as the keyboardist of the 1980s band The Triffids.-Early years:Jillian Birt was born in Tambellup, where she attended Tambellup Primary School. She attended Methodist Ladies College in Perth, as a boarder...
, the keyboardist for the band, got married (to Jill). They have three children. Jill, who completed her architectural degree at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, is a qualified and practising architect.
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 Commission's senior legal advisor.