# David McCormack

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{{Short description|Australian musician (born 1968)}}
{{for|the American basketball player|David McCormack (basketball)}}
{{distinguish|Dave McCormick}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background        = person
| name              = David McCormack
| image             = David McCormack 2024.jpg
| caption           = McCormack at [SacAnime](/source/SacAnime) in 2024
| birth_name        = David Liam McCormack
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|10|25}}
| birth_place       = [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane), Queensland, Australia
| genre             = {{hlist|[Art rock](/source/Art_rock)|[indie rock](/source/indie_rock)|[pop](/source/pop_music)|[country](/source/country_music)}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|voice actor}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|keyboards|drums|sitar|synth|bass|trumpet|piano|harmonica}}
| years_active      = 1986–present (as musician, singer, and songwriter)<br> 2018–present (as voice actor)
| label             = {{hlist|Das Kong|[ABC Music](/source/ABC_Music)|[rooArt](/source/rooArt)|[BMG](/source/Bertelsmann_Music_Group)|Laughing Outlaw}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[Custard](/source/Custard_(Australian_band))|David McCormack & the Polaroids}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|Who's Gerald?|COW|Calf|Computor|Frank 'n' Stein|Miami|Adults Today|The Titanics|The Millionaires}}
}}
'''David Liam McCormack''' (born 25 October 1968) is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter, and voice actor. He is best known for voicing the character [Bandit Heeler](/source/Bandit_Heeler) in the [Peabody Award](/source/Peabody_Award)-winning<ref>https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/bluey/</ref> animated children's series ''[Bluey](/source/Bluey_(TV_series))'' and as the frontman of the [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane)-based rock group [Custard](/source/Custard_(Australian_band)).<ref name="McF">McFarlane [https://web.archive.org/web/20040823035354/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=248 'Custard'] entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref><ref name="SpencerDavidM">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPMuso.php?categorywho=musos&userasks=38848 McCormack, David]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref>

==Career==
===1986–1989: Early groups===
McCormack grew up in the west Brisbane suburb of [Kenmore](/source/Kenmore%2C_Queensland), Queensland, and attended [Ipswich Grammar School](/source/Ipswich_Grammar_School). He started his musical career as a vocalist and guitarist in Brisbane [blues](/source/Rhythm_and_blues) [hip hop rock](/source/Rap_rock) outfit Who's Gerald? in 1986. The band included schoolteachers Paul Medew on bass guitar and Glen Donald on keyboards, and they later recruited Cathy Atthow on drums.<ref name="SpencerGerald">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPReleaseTracks.php?band=241440&userasks=37964 WHOS GERALD]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> They released a [cassette](/source/compact_cassette), ''Who's Gerald's Greatest Hits'', in the same year on their own Gerald Corp Records. In March 1988, they released a single, "Wrestle Wrestle" and had the track "Pins and Needles" on that year's ''Youngblood'' [compilation](/source/compilation_album).

Atthow, McCormack and Medew briefly formed Automatic Graphic in 1988 with Scott Younger.<ref name="SpencerAutomatic">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=10015 AUTOMATIC GRAPHIC]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref>

===1989–2000, 2009–present: Custard===
{{Main|Custard (Australian band)}}
In 1989, McCormack and Medew formed Custard Gun with Shane Brunn (later in Hugbubble, Vanlustbader) on drums and James Straker (later in Melniks).<ref name="SpencerCustardGun">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=49795 CUSTARD GUN]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> After a number of performances, Straker left in early 1990, the band was renamed Custard, and Straker was replaced at year's end by Matthew Strong on guitar.<ref name="McF"/>

Custard existed for about a decade, with a number of different drummers including Gavin Herrenberg, Danny Plant, John Lowry and [Glenn Thompson](/source/Glenn_Thompson_(musician)) (later of [The Go-Betweens](/source/The_Go-Betweens)). The band released five studio albums in the 1990s: ''Buttercup/Bedford'', ''[Wahooti Fandango](/source/Wahooti_Fandango)'', ''[Wisenheimer](/source/Wisenheimer)'', ''[We Have the Technology](/source/We_Have_the_Technology)'' and ''[Loverama](/source/Loverama)'', a number of EPs and singles and a greatest hits compilation entitled ''[Goodbye Cruel World](/source/Goodbye_Cruel_World_(Custard_album))''.<ref name="SpencerCustard">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=49700 CUSTARD]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> A DVD video clip compilation called ''The Spaces by the Side of the Road – A Digital History of Custard'' was released in 2007.<ref name="ref01">{{cite news|last=Mathewson|first=Catriona|title=Cream of the Custard|work=[The Courier-Mail](/source/The_Courier-Mail)|publisher=[News Corporation](/source/News_Corporation_(1980%E2%80%932013))|date=21 November 2007|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22797318-5003421,00.html|access-date=23 February 2010}}</ref>

Custard reformed for a concert on 10 December 2009, as part of the Queensland Proclamation Day, 150th Anniversary Celebrations.<ref name="ref02">{{cite news |last=Mengel |first=Noel |title=Powderfinger and Custard pay homage to Queensland music |publisher=Brisbane Courier Mail |date=10 October 2009 |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26187790-3102,00.html |access-date=15 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013115716/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C20797%2C26187790-3102%2C00.html |archive-date=13 October 2009  }}</ref>

Custard released a new album in November 2015, entitled ''[Come Back, All Is Forgiven](/source/Come_Back%2C_All_Is_Forgiven)'', which was followed by 2017's ''[The Common Touch](/source/The_Common_Touch_(album))''.

The single 'Funky Again' was released in March 2020, ahead of the band's eighth studio album ''[Respect All Lifeforms](/source/Respect_All_Lifeforms)''.

The single 'Molecules Colliding' was released in August 2024 along with 'Someday' in September 2024. In October 2024 the album ''[Suburban Curtains](/source/Suburban_Curtains)''.

====Other 1990s bands====
thumb|McCormack, 1990s
During the 1990s, McCormack was moonlighting in other bands that formed in and around Custard's practice rooms. The Cows from 1993 (later styled as COW or C.O.W. – for Country or Western) had Thompson and Robert Moore on bass guitar;<ref name="SpencerTheCows">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=45980 COWS, THE]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref>{{clarification needed|date=December 2025}} as well as Maureen Hansen on vocals, Susie Hansen on vocals and Mark Lowry (twin brother of John Lowry) on bass guitar by 1995.<ref name="SpencerCOWS">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=45905 COW/ C.O.W (Country or Western)]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> COW released ''Beard'' in June 1996.

McCormack, Moore and Thompson recorded with [Robert Forster](/source/Robert_Forster_(musician)) (ex-[The Go-Betweens](/source/The_Go-Betweens)) for his second solo album, ''[Calling from a Country Phone](/source/Calling_from_a_Country_Phone)'', released in 1993 and toured with Forster as Silver Backwash.<ref name="McF"/>

Frank 'n' Stein from 1995 had Moore and McCormack join with his brother Dylan McCormack (ex-Biro) and Ian Wadley.<ref name="SpencerFrankNStein">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=78220 FRANK ?N? STEIN)]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{sic}} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> Miami, also from 1995, had Maureen Hansen (also in COW and McCormack's then girlfriend), Nick Naughton on drums and Medew.<ref name="SpencerMiami">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=136640 MIAMI)]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> Miami released two CDs: ''Costume of Sand'' (March 1997) and ''Feel the Seed'' (1998). Computor was another collaboration between McCormack and Moore,<ref name="SpencerComputer">Spencer et al, (2007) [http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPTracks.php?Band_ID=43615 COMPUTER]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{sic}} entry. Retrieved 23 February 2010.</ref> which was electronic sounding and they released a tape called ''Floppy Disk''.

===2000–2017: Solo releases, The Titanics, and The Polaroids===
Around the time Custard broke up, McCormack formed The Titanics with his then-wife [Emma Tom](/source/Emma_Tom),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-09-20 |title=Thinker, tailored |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/thinker-tailored-20020920-gdfnd4.html |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Glenn Thompson and filmmaker [Tina Havelock Stevens](/source/Tina_Havelock_Stevens). During their three-year run, they had at least seven releases: debut album ''Size Isn't Everything'' (2000) and its three alternate variations, and final album ''Love Is The Devil'' (September 2000) which spawned two singles: "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" (2000) and "Shoulda" (2001).

In 2001, McCormack released a solo album of electronic songs, ''The Matterhorn''.<ref name="the matterhorn">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanity.com.au/products/362145/Matterhorn-The|title= Matterhorn, The|website=Sanity|access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2002, McCormack recruited a backing band called The Polaroids. Together, they released the albums ''Candy'' (2002) and ''The Truth About Love'' (2004), and the DVD ''Save Dave: David McCormack and the Polaroids Live  At The Hopetoun Hotel Sydney June 2003 (2003, DVD)''<ref>{{Cite web |title=David McCormack And The Polaroids – Save Dave - Live At The Hopetoun Hotel Sydney June 2003 (2003, DVD) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8501363-David-McCormack-And-The-Polaroids-Save-Dave-Live-At-The-Hopetoun-Hotel-Sydney-June-2003 |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=Discogs}}</ref>''.'' McCormack reunited with The Polaroids in February 2024 to record 8 songs. This collection was released in June 2024 as a vinyl only EP called “Get Old” on his label Das Kong.  

In 2006, McCormack was one of the two weekly 'mystery' guests on the Australian television show [RocKwiz](/source/RocKwiz) on [SBS One](/source/SBS_One).<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Jade McRae and Dave McCormack |series=RocKwiz |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0775746/ |access-date=25 February 2012 |work=[SBS One](/source/SBS_One) |date=11 March 2006 |season=2 |number=14}}</ref>

In November 2006, under the guidance of JJJ, McCormack assembled a band to perform a concert at the [Tivoli](/source/Tivoli%2C_Queensland) in Brisbane as a tribute for the late [Grant McLennan](/source/Grant_McLennan) of [The Go-Betweens](/source/The_Go-Betweens). Early in 2007, McCormack then went into the studio to produce a tribute album to the band, called ''Write Your Adventures Down''.

In October 2009, McCormack released the album ''Little Murders''.

Since 2009, McCormack has been responsible for many film and television scores including ''[The Tall Man](/source/The_Tall_Man_(2011_film))'', ''[Rake](/source/Rake_(2010_TV_series))'', ''[Redfern Now](/source/Redfern_Now)'', ''[House Husbands](/source/House_Husbands)'', ''[Wild Boys](/source/Wild_Boys)'', and ''Blood Brothers''. Additionally, McCormack has also composed film scores for [Alex Proyas](/source/Alex_Proyas)'s ''[Garage Days](/source/Garage_Days)''<ref name="ref03">{{cite news|title = Garage Days (2002) Full Cast and Crew|publisher = IMDb|url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280696/fullcredits|access-date = 15 November 2009}}</ref> in 2002, and for [Daniel Krige](/source/Daniel_Krige)'s ''[West](/source/West_(2007_film))'' in 2006.<ref name="ref04">{{cite news|title=West (2007) Full Cast and Crew|publisher=IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480053/fullcredits|access-date=15 November 2009}}</ref>

=== 2018–present: Voice acting ventures===
Since 2018, McCormack has starred in the critically acclaimed [ABC Kids](/source/ABC_Kids_(Australia)) Australian [animated television series](/source/animated_television_series) ''[Bluey](/source/Bluey_(TV_series))'', voicing the titular character's father, [Bandit Heeler](/source/Bandit_Heeler).<ref>{{cite web |last1=ABC |first1=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |title=Bluey |url=http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s4894252.htm |website=ABC KIDS |access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> He was initially approached to read what he assumed would be merely "a couple of lines," only to voice the character for the entirety of the pilot. McCormack performs his voice work for the series remotely in [Sydney](/source/Sydney%2C_Australia), and his voice recordings are then sent to the production company in Brisbane. He does not hear any other voice actors or view footage while recording, and does not alter his own voice to produce Bandit's dialogue.<ref name="theguardian4">{{Cite web |last=Stafford |first=Andrew |date=16 May 2019 |title=Custard's Dave McCormack on voicing Bluey's dad: 'I'm popular at school drop-off time' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/16/custards-dave-mccormack-on-voicing-blueys-dad-im-popular-at-school-drop-off-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604200116/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/16/custards-dave-mccormack-on-voicing-blueys-dad-im-popular-at-school-drop-off-time |archive-date=4 June 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=[The Guardian](/source/Guardian_Australia)}}</ref> The series won a [Peabody Award](/source/Peabody_Award) at the 84th ceremony for "its unparalleled ability to seamlessly unite childhood bliss with meaningful life lessons."<ref>https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/bluey/</ref> McCormack is set to reprise his role as Bandit in the upcoming film adaptation, slated for release in August 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-22 |title=The 'Bluey' Movie Is Coming! All the Details We Know (So Far) About the Beloved Dog’s Big-Screen Debut |url=https://people.com/bluey-movie-everything-to-know-8762635 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=[People](/source/People_(magazine)) |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, he voiced the character Orbo in the [Max](/source/Max_(streaming_service)) American [adult animated](/source/adult_animated) television series ''[Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake](/source/Adventure_Time%3A_Fionna_and_Cake)''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Khanna |first1=Aryan |title=Bluey fans rejoice as Bandit joins Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake as The Scarab's boss Orbo |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-bluey-fans-rejoice-bandit-joins-adventure-time-fionna-cake-the-scarab-s-boss-orbo |website=Sportskeeda |date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>

In 2025, he narrated the ''Penny Pangolin'' series of children's audiobooks by Wayne D. Kramer, based on the children's picture books published by Heroes of Time Productions. 
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penny Pangolin Audiobooks |url=https://www.audible.com/series/Penny-Pangolin-Audiobooks/B0FHVNR861 |website=Audible |date=October 21, 2025 |access-date=October 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=You’ve Heard His Voice Before... Now He’s Reading Penny Pangolin! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wqct5weQuo |website=YouTube |date=October 21, 2025 |access-date=October 21, 2025}}</ref>

==Discography==
thumb|right|McCormack performing in 2017
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected details
! Title
! Details
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Matterhorn''
|
* Released: 2001<ref name="the matterhorn"/>
* Format: CD
* Label: Das Kong
|-
! scope="row" | ''Candy'' <br/> (as David McCormack and the Polaroids)
|
* Released: August 2002
* Format: CD
* Label: Das Kong Pty Ltd 
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Truth About Love'' <br/> (as David McCormack and the Polaroids)
|
* Released: 2004
* Format: CD, LP
* Label: Laughing Outlaw Records 
|-
! scope="row" | ''Little Murders''
|
* Released: 2009
* Format: CD digital
* Label: Das Kong
|-
! scope="row" | ''Get Old''<br/> (as David McCormack and the Polaroids)
|
* Released: 2024
* Format: LP, Digital
* Label: Das Kong / Sonar Music
|}

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
| 1996
| ''Dead Heart''
| Justin
|-
| 2000–2001
| ''Pizza''
| Spriuker, Middle Class Homeboy
|-
| 2002
| ''[Garage Days](/source/Garage_Days)''
| Himself (with The Titanics)
|- 
| 2005
| ''Blue Water High''
| The Band
|-
|2005
| ''headLand''
| David McCormack & The Juicy Fruits
|-
| 2012
| ''Rake''
| Rock Band
|-
| 2018–present
| ''[Bluey](/source/Bluey_(TV_series))''
| [Bandit Heeler](/source/Bandit_Heeler) (voice)
|-
| 2020
| ''Heroes Of Goo Jit Zu''
| Terrack (voice)
|-
| 2023–present
| ''[Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake](/source/Adventure_Time%3A_Fionna_and_Cake)''
| Orbo (voice)
|-
| 2027
| ''[The Bluey Movie](/source/The_Bluey_Movie)''
| [Bandit Heeler](/source/Bandit_Heeler) (voice)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=2025-09-04 |title=‘Bluey’ Movie Gets August 2027 Release Date |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/bluey-movie-release-date-august-2027-1236507991/ |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Music Awards===
The [ARIA Music Awards](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards) is an annual awards ceremony held by the [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). They commenced in 1987. 
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [1999](/source/ARIA_Music_Awards_of_1999)
| [Andrew Lancaster](/source/Andrew_Lancaster) and David McCormack for "[Girls Like That (Don't Go For Guys Like Us)](/source/Girls_Like_That_(Don't_Go_For_Guys_Like_Us))" by [Custard](/source/Custard_(Australian_band))
|[Best Video](/source/ARIA_Award_for_Best_Video)
| {{won}}
| <ref name="Video">ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Best-Video?view=list|title=Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date= 12 December 2019 }}</ref> 
|-
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}} 
* {{cite encyclopedia|last=McFarlane |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Australian_Rock_and_Pop) |title=Whammo Homepage |url=http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |access-date=23 February 2010 |year=1999 |publisher=[Allen & Unwin](/source/Allen_%26_Unwin) |location=[St Leonards, NSW](/source/St_Leonards%2C_New_South_Wales) |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010033414/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp |archive-date=10 October 2004 |ref=none}} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
* {{cite book|title=The Who's Who of Australian Rock|last=Spencer|first=Chris|author2=Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by [Ed Nimmervoll](/source/Ed_Nimmervoll)|orig-year=1987|year=2002|publisher=Five Mile Press|location=[Noble Park](/source/Noble_Park%2C_Victoria), Vic.|isbn=1-86503-891-1|ref=none}} Note: [on-line] version established at [https://web.archive.org/web/20091015024603/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/aboutww.htm White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd] in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}
* [http://www.custardband.com/ Custard's Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208201500/http://www.custardband.com/ |date=8 December 2015 }}

{{custard}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCormack, David}}
Category:1968 births
Category:Living people
Category:APRA Award winners
Category:Australian male singers
Category:Australian male voice actors
Category:Musicians from Brisbane
Category:People educated at Ipswich Grammar School

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David McCormack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McCormack) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McCormack?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
