# Robert McComb

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**Robert Harold McComb** is an Australian musician who played [guitar](/source/Guitar), [violin](/source/Violin),[1] [organ](/source/Organ_(music)), and other instruments with [Perth](/source/Perth,_Western_Australia)-based rock group [The Triffids](/source/The_Triffids),[2] from 1979 to 1989.[3] He is the older brother of the band's founder and lead singer-songwriter, [David McComb](/source/David_McComb) (1962–1999). Both were also members of [Lawson Square Infirmary](/source/Lawson_Square_Infirmary) and The Red Ponies.

Subsequently, McComb was a teacher[3] of [geography](/source/Geography) in Melbourne. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids, with McComb and other surviving members, were inducted into the [ARIA Hall of Fame](/source/ARIA_Hall_of_Fame).[3]

## Biography

Robert Harold McComb was born in [Perth](/source/Perth), Western Australia as one of four sons. His parents were both doctors, his father, Dr. Harold Keith McComb (born 1924, Brisbane),[4] being a plastic surgeon[5][6] and his mother, Dr. Kathleen Athel Hockey ([AO](/source/Order_of_Australia)) (1923–2011), a medical geneticist.[6][7][8] Harold was the only son of A. R. McComb of [Montreal](/source/Montreal), Canada and Athel was the youngest daughter of P. R. Hockey of [Toorak, Victoria](/source/Toorak,_Victoria).[9] In 1947 both completed their medical degrees at [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne) and were engaged in July.[6] In 1955 the McCombs moved to Perth,[4] and raised their family in a historical residence, *[The Cliffe](/source/The_Cliffe)* in McNeil Street, [Peppermint Grove](/source/Peppermint_Grove,_Western_Australia).[10] All four boys attended [Christ Church Grammar School](/source/Christ_Church_Grammar_School) in [Claremont](/source/Claremont,_Western_Australia). The eldest son, Peter McComb, is also a doctor – in obstetrics and gynaecology – and an associate professor in [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver).[4]

In 1979 McComb joined his youngest brother, [David Richard McComb](/source/David_McComb) in the rock band [The Triffids](/source/The_Triffids), initially as a guitarist, replacing founder Phil Kakulas.[11][12][13] Aside from guitar, McComb also provided violin, keyboards, percussion and backing vocals for The Triffids from 1979 to their disbandment in 1989.[11][14] From 1990-1991, McComb toured internationally and recorded as a guest guitarist/violinist for [Tall Tales and True](/source/Tall_Tales_and_True). In June 1993, three former members of The Triffids: McComb, David and [Graham Lee](/source/Graham_Lee_(Australian_musician)); as well as [Charlie Owen](/source/Charlie_Owen_(musician)) and [Chris Wilson](/source/Chris_Wilson_(blues_musician)) guested on [Acuff's Rose](/source/Acuff's_Rose)'s debut studio album, *Never Comin' Down*.[15] On 2 February 1999 David McComb died.[11] From 2006, The Triffids, with McComb, have reformed for various performances with different guest lead vocalists. On 1 July 2008 The Triffids, with McComb and other surviving members, were inducted into the [ARIA Hall of Fame](/source/ARIA_Hall_of_Fame).[16]

Outside his music career, McComb has been a secondary school teacher of geography in Melbourne and has written advice for [Victorian Certificate of Education](/source/Victorian_Certificate_of_Education) students.[3][17] In October 2009, McComb was a guest panellist on [Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) TV pop music quiz show, *[Spicks and Specks](/source/Spicks_and_Specks_(TV_series))*.[18]

## References

**General**

- McFarlane, Ian (1999). ["Whammo Homepage"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp). *[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Australian_Rock_and_Pop)*. [St Leonards, NSW](/source/St_Leonards,_New_South_Wales): [Allen & Unwin](/source/Allen_%26_Unwin). ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from [the original](http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp) on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2012. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
- Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (2002 [1987]). *The Who's Who of Australian Rock*. [Noble Park](/source/Noble_Park,_Victoria), Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.[19]

**Specific**

1. Zuel, Bernard (26 June 2006). ["The Day of the Triffids"](http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/the-day-of-the-triffids-dawns/2006/06/25/1151174069667.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1). *[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. [Fairfax Media](/source/Fairfax_Media). Retrieved 9 July 2012.

1. ["Artist: The Triffids"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090202125519/http://www.abc.net.au/longway/artist_index/triffids.htm). *[Long Way to the Top](/source/Long_Way_to_the_Top)*. [Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) (ABC). Archived from [the original](http://www.abc.net.au/longway/artist_index/triffids.htm) on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.

1. ["ARIA Hall of Fame - The Triffids"](http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/document/thetriffids-final.pdf). [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association) (ARIA). [Archived](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090305052500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/93989/20090305-1625/www.ariahalloffame.com.au/document/thetriffids-final.pdf) 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 July 2012.

1. ["Emeritus Consultants Biographies – Harold Keith McComb"](http://www.rph.wa.gov.au/emeritus/mccomb.html). [Royal Perth Hospital](/source/Royal_Perth_Hospital). 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. ["McComb Foundation history"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120209112415/http://www.mccomb.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=27). Archived from [the original](http://www.mccomb.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=27) on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

1. Heinz, Karin Coventry (December 2005). ["Western Australian Medicos Establish Scholarship at Queen's"](http://www.queens.unimelb.edu.au/PDFs/QCInAeternumDec05.pdf). *In Aeternum*. [Queens College](/source/Queen's_College_(University_of_Melbourne)) – [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090709080119/http://www.queens.unimelb.edu.au/PDFs/QCInAeternumDec05.pdf) 9 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. Sutherland, Grant R (9 December 2009). ["The History and Development of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120318105814/https://www.hgsa.org.au/website/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hgsa-history.pdf). Human Genetics Society of Australasia. Archived from [the original](https://www.hgsa.org.au/website/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hgsa-history.pdf) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. ["Obituary: Dr Athel Hockey, (McComb), AO. \[1923-2011\]"](http://www.genomics.health.wa.gov.au/news/newsletters_april2011.cfm#_Obituary:_Dr_Athel). *Newsletters April 2011*. Office of Population Health Genomics, Department of Health, [Government of Western Australia](/source/Government_of_Western_Australia). April 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

1. ["Lady Kitty Writes About People"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page7315423). *[The Advertiser](/source/The_Advertiser_(Adelaide)) (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954)*. [National Library of Australia](/source/National_Library_of_Australia). 15 July 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

1. [Heritage Council of Western Australia – Heritage listing – 'The Cliffe'](http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/PDF_Files/T%20-%20A-D/The%20Cliffe%20(I-AD).PDF)

1. McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for ['The Triffids'](https://web.archive.org/web/20040417003225/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=737). Archived from the [original](http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=737) on 17 April 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

1. Nimmervoll, Ed. ["The Triffids"](http://www.howlspace.com.au/en2/triffids/triffids.htm). Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. [Archived](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/triffids/triffids.htm) 26 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 February 2014.

1. Spencer et al, (2007), 'Triffids, The' entry.

1. Holmgren, Magnus; Skjefte, Morten; Warnqvist, Stefan; Simonetti, Vince. ["The Triffids"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120926111648/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/triffids.html). [Australian Rock Database](/source/Australian_Rock_Database). Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from [the original](http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/triffids.html) on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2014.

1. McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for ['Acuff's Rose'](https://web.archive.org/web/20040803073531/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=11). Archived from the [original](http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=11) on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2012.

1. ["Winners by Year: 2008"](http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2008). [Australian Recording Industry Association](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association) (ARIA). Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. McComb, Robert (December 2001). ["VCE Geography sample SACs for Unit 3"](http://www.gtav.asn.au/Interaction/Archive/vol_29.php#Volume%2029%20Number%204). *Interaction*. Vol. 29, no. 4. Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. ["Episode Thirty Seven"](http://www.abc.net.au/tv/spicksandspecks/txt/s2696648.htm). *[Spicks and Specks](/source/Spicks_and_Specks_(TV_series))*. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 7 October 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

1. ["Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry"](http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2090055). *catalogue*. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

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