Alsy MacDonald

Infobox musical artist
Name = Alsy MacDonald

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Img_capt =
Img_size = 150
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Allan MacDonald
Alias = Alsy MacDonald
Born = birth date and age|1961|08|14|df=yes
Perth, Western Australia
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = drums
Voice_type =
Genre = Rock Music
Occupation = musician, drummer, singer
Years_active = 1976-1989
Label =
Associated_acts = The Triffids
URL =
Notable_instruments =

Allan MacDonald is an Australian rock musician and lawyer, best known as the drummer of the 1980s band The Triffids, where he was nicknamed 'Alsy'.

He was born on August 14, 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 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 Euorope 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 who had fallen in love with Jill Birt, the keyboardist for the band, got married.

MacDonald is now a lawyer for the Equal Opportunity Commission in Perth [ [http://equalopportunity.wa.gov.au/sept2006.html#staff Equal Opportunity Commission - staff profile] ] , his wife Jill, mother of their three children, is an architect.

References

* The Australian - Tony Barass (April 17, 1999)

External links

* [http://www.triffids.com/ The Triffid's official website]

Persondata
NAME=MacDonald, Alan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Alsy MacDonald
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian musician
DATE OF BIRTH=14 August 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH=Perth, Western Australia Australia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=