David Nichols began publishing his own fanzine, Distant Violins, in 1980, before working as a freelance writer and subsequently as features editor of the Australian edition of Smash Hits. His music writing has appeared in a wide range of periodicals in the USA, Great Britain, and Australia. His drawings and comic strips have also graced the pages of many obscure publications, as well as record sleeves, t-shirts, and Converse sneakers. Parallel to his journalistic work,

Nichols has pursued what has been described as a “unique musical vision” as the drummer in several bands, beginning with the Cannanes, of which he was a founding member in 1984 and left in 1996, through Crabstick, Blairmailer, Huon, Driving Past, and the Grey Tapes. He is a professor of urban planning history at the University of Melbourne.

David’s music-related books include The Go-Betweens and Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music 1960–85, and the graphic novel Persiflage, all available from Verse Chorus Press. His other books include Urban Australia and Post-Punk: Exploring Dogs in Space (co-edited with Sophie Perillo), Community Green (co-authored with Robert Freestone), and The Alert Grey Twinkling Eyes of C. J. DeGaris.