Conway Savage
Encyclopedia
Conway Savage is an Australian rock musician best known as pianist/organist/backing vocalist for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
.
Savage joined the group in 1990 for their The Good Son
tour of that year, and has since appeared on albums such as Henry's Dream
, Let Love In, Murder Ballads
, The Boatman's Call
, No More Shall We Part
and Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
. One of his more noticeable performances is on the song "The Willow Garden", a b-side of "Where the Wild Roses Grow", where in a rare occasion for the Bad Seeds, Conway does lead vocals. Due to the overall minimal piano parts on the band's 14th release, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
, Conway was featured on backing vocals and hand claps.
He began playing piano in his early teens in the dining room of one of the pubs his parents owned in country Victoria. In the 1980s he played in the Melbourne-based country-rock band Dust On The Bible, with his sister-in-law Jane (wife of rock cabaret performer/builder Frank Savage) as lead vocalist, and in the rock band The Feral Dinosaurs.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he also guested on numerous albums and singles for various leading Australian musicians, including Kim Salmon
, Dave Graney
, Robert Forster
, Spencer P. Jones
, and David McComb
.
Savage has also produced his own critically acclaimed solo material. In 1993 he released a self-titled mini-album. In 1998 he linked up with singer/songwriter Suzie Higgie
for the collaborative album, Soon Will Be Tomorrow.
In 2000 Conway Savage released his debut full-length album Nothing Broken on his own label Beheaded Communications, featuring fellow Bad Seeds Mick Harvey
, Martyn P. Casey
, together with Charlie Owen
. In 2004, Conway Savage's third solo release Wrong Man's Hands, was recorded in Australia on an 8-track in a room above the Union Club Hotel, Fitzroy
, with members of Melbourne band The Stream, Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner. Conway Savage's 2005 release Rare Songs & Performances 1989-2004 traced his various studio and live material recorded in Australia and Europe. Guest musicians include Mick Harvey, Martyn P Casey, Jim White, Spencer P Jones, Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
.
Savage joined the group in 1990 for their The Good Son
The Good Son (album)
The Good Son is the sixth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1990 . It was preceded by the release of "The Ship Song/The Train Song" single. "The Weeping Song/Cock's 'n' Asses" was later also released as a single. After an album as dark and intense as Tender Prey, some fans were...
tour of that year, and has since appeared on albums such as Henry's Dream
Henry's Dream
Henry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in spring 1992. There are possible references to John Berryman's series of poems The Dream Songs, which logs the dreams of the protagonist Henry. This album remains a big favourite amongst Bad Seeds fans, although Nick Cave...
, Let Love In, Murder Ballads
Murder Ballads
Murder Ballads is the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1996 on Mute Records. As its title suggests, the album consists of new and traditional murder ballads, a genre of songs that relays the details of crimes of passion."Where the Wild Roses Grow," a duet featuring...
, The Boatman's Call
The Boatman's Call
The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1997. The album, which is entirely piano-based and a departure from the band's post-punk catalogue, remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's career.-Background and...
, No More Shall We Part
No More Shall We Part
A limited-edition version included a bonus disc with two extra tracks, plus multi-media CD-ROM files :...
and Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus is the 13th studio album released by Australian alternative rock band, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It is a double CD with 17 tracks – 9 on Abattoir Blues and 8 on The Lyre of Orpheus – which was released on 20 September 2004...
. One of his more noticeable performances is on the song "The Willow Garden", a b-side of "Where the Wild Roses Grow", where in a rare occasion for the Bad Seeds, Conway does lead vocals. Due to the overall minimal piano parts on the band's 14th release, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the fourteenth studio album by Australian alternative rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The album was recorded in June and July 2007 at The State of the Ark Studios in Richmond, London and mixed by Nick Launay at British Grove Studios in Chiswick, and was released on...
, Conway was featured on backing vocals and hand claps.
He began playing piano in his early teens in the dining room of one of the pubs his parents owned in country Victoria. In the 1980s he played in the Melbourne-based country-rock band Dust On The Bible, with his sister-in-law Jane (wife of rock cabaret performer/builder Frank Savage) as lead vocalist, and in the rock band The Feral Dinosaurs.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he also guested on numerous albums and singles for various leading Australian musicians, including Kim Salmon
Kim Salmon
Kim Leith Salmon is an Australian indie rock musician and songwriter, who attained fame in June 2004, when he was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Association Hall of Fame....
, Dave Graney
Dave Graney
David John "Dave" Graney is an Australian rock musician and singer-songwriter from Mount Gambier, South Australia. Since 1979, Graney is generally accompanied by drummer, Clare Moore...
, Robert Forster
Robert Forster
Robert Forster is an American actor, best known for his roles as John Cassellis in Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool, and as Max Cherry in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, the latter of which gained him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.- Early life :Forster was born Robert Wallace...
, Spencer P. Jones
Spencer P. Jones
Spencer P. Jones is a Melbourne based guitar player from Te Awamutu, New Zealand. He has been a member of The Emotional Retreads, Country Killed the Cow Penalty, Escape Committee, Cuban Heels, Beats Working, North 2 Alaskans, The Johnnys, The Beasts of Bourbon, Olympic Sideburns, Paul Kelly and The...
, and David McComb
David McComb
David Richard McComb was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of the Australian band, The Triffids.-Early years in Perth:...
.
Savage has also produced his own critically acclaimed solo material. In 1993 he released a self-titled mini-album. In 1998 he linked up with singer/songwriter Suzie Higgie
Suzie Higgie
Suzie Higgie is an Australian musician. She was lead singer and songwriter for the Falling Joys, an Australian alternative rock band formed in Canberra in 1985....
for the collaborative album, Soon Will Be Tomorrow.
In 2000 Conway Savage released his debut full-length album Nothing Broken on his own label Beheaded Communications, featuring fellow Bad Seeds Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
, Martyn P. Casey
Martyn P. Casey
Martyn Paul Casey is an English-born Australian rock bass guitarist. He had been a member of The Triffids, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Casey plays either his Fender Precision Bass or Fender Jazz Bass.-Biography:...
, together with Charlie Owen
Charlie Owen
Charlie Owen is a businessman residing in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned his bachelor's degree at Princeton University and his law degree at the University of Virginia. Owen worked as a federal prosecutor before Governor of Kentucky Edward T. Breathitt asked him to return to Kentucky to head the...
. In 2004, Conway Savage's third solo release Wrong Man's Hands, was recorded in Australia on an 8-track in a room above the Union Club Hotel, Fitzroy
Fitzroy, Victoria
Fitzroy is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra. Its borders are Alexandra Parade , Victoria Parade , Smith Street and Nicholson Street. Fitzroy is Melbourne's...
, with members of Melbourne band The Stream, Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner. Conway Savage's 2005 release Rare Songs & Performances 1989-2004 traced his various studio and live material recorded in Australia and Europe. Guest musicians include Mick Harvey, Martyn P Casey, Jim White, Spencer P Jones, Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner.
Solo discography
- 1993 Conway Savage (mini-album)
- 1998 Soon Will Be Tomorrow (with Suzie Higgie)
- 2000 Nothing Broken
- 2004 Wrong Man's Hands
- 2005 Rare Songs & Performances 1989-2004
- 2007 Quickie For Ducky (with Amanda Fox & Robert Tickner)
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/conwaysavage