After spending his early childhood in New Zealand (born 1957), Tracy began attending Caulfield Grammar School in 1972 when his family relocated to Australia. There he became friends with the "art house gang" which included his eventual band mates. Upon discovering he'd been secretly learning Bass Guitar (from Chris Walsh) he was immediately adopted into the band at the expense of Brett Purcell.
Tracy's personality is legend and his individuality suffused everything he came into contact with. The power of his playing style was such that many of The Birthday Party's best works were written with his awesome undertow in mind.
During 1981 he developed the sartorial cowboy look for which he became renowned and instantly recognizable.
In contrast to his image as a wild man and renegade Tracy was an inveterate reader and after the band's breakup returned to University in Melbourne where he set about studying Literature and Philosophy.
Unfortunately his years of excess had contributed to the onset of an epileptic condition and he died as the result of a seizure in November 1986. His colleagues always felt he would have gone on to become a great writer. Sadly we shall never know.
Post Birthday Party...
Played on tour with Chris Bailey's Saints around the release of the classic 'A Little Madness to be Free'.
Guested on a few songs from the 'Kicking Against the Pricks' sessions with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.I am a fan. This is a fanpage. If you would like to contribute any resources to this page, please message me. If someone representing the interests of Tracy Pew would like to take over the running of this page, please make contact with me.
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