Jill Birt
Encyclopedia
Jill Birt is an Australian rock musician and architect, best known as the keyboardist
of the 1980s band The Triffids
.
, where she attended Tambellup Primary School. She attended Methodist Ladies College
in Perth, as a boarder. She then went on to study fine art and formed an all-girl punk band, What Are Little Boys Made Of.
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
. Bird's vocals were highlighted on the band's single "Goodbye Little Boy
", which reached No. 81 on the Australian Singles Charts in April 1989.
In August 1989 tired from the constant travelling and touring, the band dissolved.
, got married and they have three children Connor(oldest), Oscar(middle) and Ebony(youngest). They currently reside in East Fremantle
.
Birt commenced studies in architecture at UWA
in 1993 and is now a qualified architect, whilst her husband Alsy MacDonald is a lawyer for the Equal Opportunity Commission in Perth.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
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...
.
Early years
Jillian Birt was born in TambellupTambellup, Western Australia
The townsite of Tambellup is located in Western Australia's Great Southern Agricultural region, 317 km south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway where it crosses the Gordon River...
, where she attended Tambellup Primary School. She attended Methodist Ladies College
Methodist Ladies' College, Perth
The Methodist Ladies' College, Perth , is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for girls, located in Claremont, a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
in Perth, as a boarder. She then went on to study fine art and formed an all-girl punk band, What Are Little Boys Made Of.
The Triffids 1983–1989
In mid 1983, Birt replaced The Triffids' original keyboardist, Margaret Gillard.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....
. Bird's vocals were highlighted on the band's single "Goodbye Little Boy
Goodbye Little Boy
"Goodbye Little Boy" was the first single released by The Triffids from their album The Black Swan. It was produced by Stephen Street and co-written by David McComb and Adam Peters. The B-Side "Go Home Eddie" was written by David McComb and produced by Stephen Street...
", which reached No. 81 on the Australian Singles Charts in April 1989.
In August 1989 tired from the constant travelling and touring, the band dissolved.
Post-Triffids
Birt who had fallen in love with the band's drummer, Alsy MacDonaldAlsy MacDonald
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'....
, got married and they have three children Connor(oldest), Oscar(middle) and Ebony(youngest). They currently reside in East Fremantle
East Fremantle, Western Australia
The Town of East Fremantle is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located immediately northeast of the port city of Fremantle and about southwest of Perth's central business district...
.
"I remember one night at the Burswood Casino, it must have been in about 1990," recalled Steve Gordon, a WA music notable. "The Western Australia Music Industry had this big event at the showroom and someone announced the winner of the most outstanding WA contribution to the national and international music scene. It was The Triffids.
"There was a young woman who was working at the show serving drinks. All of a sudden, she put down her tray, walked up on stage in her Burswood uniform and collected the prize. It was Jill Birt, the keyboardist. While the rest of the music industry was sitting around in black ties and tuxes, the only person from the band who was there to accept the award was serving them drinks. It was very telling."
Birt commenced studies in architecture at UWA
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...
in 1993 and is now a qualified architect, whilst her husband Alsy MacDonald is a lawyer for the Equal Opportunity Commission in Perth.