Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Namesakes #195: The Triffids


When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.

I was nine when the BBC's adaptation of Day of the Triffids arrived on TV... the perfect age for watching a scary show about killer plants taking over the world. In later years, I would discover the novel - one of many excellent sci fi / horror novels by the late, great John Wyndham who also wrote The Midwich Cuckoos, The Chrysalids and The Kraken Wakes, among others.

The Triffids were truly terrifying creatures... but will they prove as scary as some of the acts below?

THE TRIFFIDS #1

Made in Great Britain in 1963, and featuring Ernie and Barry Hilton… that’s about all I can tell you about these Triffids. Poppy beat band here, but later they went Folk.

The Triffids – Over Again


THE TRIFFIDS #2

A group of people posing for a photo

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Aussie Triffids, though they were more successful in the UK than in their native land. They germinated in Perth in 1978 and were still kicking around a decade later. Lead singer David McComb would then transfer his green fingers to producing Blackeyed Susans instead.

The Triffids – Wide Open Road


TRIFFID #3


A singular Triffid, although from the image above there were four of them, and just imagine if your daughter brought one of them home. That would be scary. These guys came from Albany, New York in 1984.

Triffid - Invasion


THE TRIFFIDS #4

Around the same time in New Zealand, these Triffids were invading. You'd have thought being neighbours, they might have heard of their Australian counterparts and chosen a different name. But obviously not...

The Triffids - Hide Out


That's your lot for today - there were a couple more listed on discogs, but obviously their music was far too scary for the tube of you.

Which Triffids made your day?


5 comments:

  1. The Aussie Triffids for me

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  2. despite your choice of a terrible song it still has to be #2.

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  3. #2 obviously. #3 was not worth the 30 seconds I had to spend listening to Marcus Armitage trying to sell me Omega 3 pills before the track started. #4 not particularly exciting but the compilation looks worth exploring.

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  4. #2, natch. I also loved that BBC TV adaptation, predictably. And if you liked those Wyndham books, you might also like The Death of Grass by John Christopher - it was out of print for a while, but is available again and well worth a look.

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  5. #4 is absolute bobbins. At least it's not dreary (that would be #2)

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