WO1 Farrell was born in Manchester, England, and played cornet with Besses o'th' Barn Boys' Brass Band prior to emigrating to Western Australia in 1970 with his family. Soon after arriving in Perth he joined the Australian Army as an apprentice musician in January 1972.

During his 20.5 years in the Australian Army Band Corps, Dave served with the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, the Band of the First Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka, and the Band of the Fifth Military District, Perth. Prior to his discharge from the regular army, he was posted to the Soldier Career Management Agency as the first Corps Career Advisor for the Australian Army Band Corps.

On discharge from the regular army in July 1992 he joined the Army Reserve as the Bandmaster of the Second/Tenth Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery Band, Dave also runs a successful business as a piano tuner.