Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s...
band with multinational personnel, fronted by
Nick CaveNicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles...
.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was originally formed in late 1983 by two former members of the
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n band
The Birthday PartyThe Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk group, active from 1976 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching...
:
Nick CaveNicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles...
(vocals, songwriter, keyboards, harmonica) and
Mick HarveyMichael 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. A multi-instrumentalist, Harvey plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums...
(drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, occasional songwriter). The name of the new project indicated the shift in Cave's role from lead singer, as in
The Birthday PartyThe Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk group, active from 1976 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching...
, to band leader, and coincided with his shift in songwriting style from
expressionismExpressionism was a cultural movement originating in Germany at the start of the 20th-century as a reaction to positivism and other artistic movements such as naturalism and impressionism. It sought to express the meaning of "being alive" and emotional experience rather than physical reality...
to detailed lyrical narrative.
Cave and Harvey were joined by a semi-fluid group of bandmates, initially including
Einstürzende NeubautenEinstürzende Neubauten is a German avant-garde music band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N. U...
member
Blixa BargeldBlixa Bargeld is a composer, author, actor, singer, musician, performer and lecturer in a number of artistic fields...
(guitar),
Hugo RaceHugo Race is an Australian rock musician and record producer who has been based in Europe since 1989. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, before forming The Wreckery with Nick Barker and Robin Casinader in the 1980s. He is currently a member of Hugo Race and the True Spirit.Race is...
(guitar), and former
MagazineMagazine were an English post-punk group active between 1977 and 1981. Their debut single, "Shot By Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving...
member
Barry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic. He has also worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch, and released numerous solo recordings.-Early life:He read comic books from...
(guitar, bass, piano).
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s...
band with multinational personnel, fronted by
Nick CaveNicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles...
.
1980s
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was originally formed in late 1983 by two former members of the
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n band
The Birthday PartyThe Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk group, active from 1976 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching...
:
Nick CaveNicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles...
(vocals, songwriter, keyboards, harmonica) and
Mick HarveyMichael 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. A multi-instrumentalist, Harvey plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums...
(drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, occasional songwriter). The name of the new project indicated the shift in Cave's role from lead singer, as in
The Birthday PartyThe Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk group, active from 1976 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching...
, to band leader, and coincided with his shift in songwriting style from
expressionismExpressionism was a cultural movement originating in Germany at the start of the 20th-century as a reaction to positivism and other artistic movements such as naturalism and impressionism. It sought to express the meaning of "being alive" and emotional experience rather than physical reality...
to detailed lyrical narrative.
Cave and Harvey were joined by a semi-fluid group of bandmates, initially including
Einstürzende NeubautenEinstürzende Neubauten is a German avant-garde music band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N. U...
member
Blixa BargeldBlixa Bargeld is a composer, author, actor, singer, musician, performer and lecturer in a number of artistic fields...
(guitar),
Hugo RaceHugo Race is an Australian rock musician and record producer who has been based in Europe since 1989. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, before forming The Wreckery with Nick Barker and Robin Casinader in the 1980s. He is currently a member of Hugo Race and the True Spirit.Race is...
(guitar), and former
MagazineMagazine were an English post-punk group active between 1977 and 1981. Their debut single, "Shot By Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving...
member
Barry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic. He has also worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch, and released numerous solo recordings.-Early life:He read comic books from...
(guitar, bass, piano). After some studio work, the band's premiere public performance was held on
New Year's EveNew Year's Eve or Old Year's Night is on , the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day.New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day...
, 1983, in Melbourne, under the name "Nick Cave - Man Or Myth?", followed by a tour. The band then briefly called themselves "Nick Cave and the Cavemen" before adopting the "Bad Seeds" moniker, in reference to the final Birthday Party release,
The Bad SeedMutiny/The Bad Seed is a compilation album by The Birthday Party. It is compiled from 2 EPs recorded in October 1982 and released in 1983, The Bad Seed and Mutiny!, and was released in 1989. It is written by Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Rowland S...
E.P. The group soon recorded their debut album,
From Her to EternityFrom Her to Eternity is the debut album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984. The title is a pun on the book/movie From Here to Eternity.The majority of the album was recorded at Trident Studios, London in March 1984...
, released in 1984, which was quickly followed by Race's departure.
Cave separated from long-time girlfriend and credited Bad Seed lyricist
Anita LaneAnita Lane is an Australian singer and songwriter who directly influenced the early 1980s European post-punk landscape.-Birthday Party:Lane was born in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1950s. Lane began singing and writing songs at age 16. She was a classmate with Rowland S. Howard who would...
in the mid-1980s and began a relationship with Elisabeth Recker. While in Berlin, he released four albums with the Bad Seeds:
The Firstborn Is DeadThe Firstborn Is Dead is the second studio album released by the post-punk band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was first released in 1985. On this record, singer Nick Cave continued his fascination with the American South, with its references to Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Blind Lemon Jefferson...
;
Kicking Against the PricksKicking Against the Pricks is the third album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. First released in 1986, the album is a collection of cover versions...
;
Your Funeral, My Trial; and
Tender PreyTender Prey is the fifth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1988 on Mute Records.Tender Prey contains Cave's 'signature' tune "The Mercy Seat", which he has subsequently played at almost all of his live performances since 1988, and was covered by Johnny Cash.The album is dedicated to...
.
Kicking Against the Pricks was the first album to feature the drumming of Swiss
Thomas WydlerThomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
, which was shortly followed by Adamson's departure and the arrival of American guitarist
Kid Congo PowersKid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
, along with short-tenured keyboardist
Roland WolfRoland Wolf was a musician who played keyboards with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from 1986 to 1989. He appeared as a band member on their 1988 album Tender Prey and returned a guest member on their followup album, 1990's The Good Son....
. In 1987, the Bad Seeds made an appearance in the
Wim WendersErnst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders is a German film director, playwright, author, photographer and producer.-Early life:Wenders was born in Düsseldorf. He graduated from high school in Oberhausen in the Ruhr area. He then studied medicine and philosophy in Freiburg and Düsseldorf...
film
Wings of DesireWings of Desire is a 1987 film by the German director Wim Wenders. Its original German title is Der Himmel über Berlin, which can be translated as The Sky over Berlin. Rainer Maria Rilke's poetry partially inspired the movie; Wenders claimed angels seemed to dwell in Rilke's poetry...
.
1990s
In 1990, the band collectively eliminated hard drugs from its diet, relocated to
BrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
, and released
The Good SonThe 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...
, Powers' final collaboration with the band. Their next record, 1992's
Henry's DreamHenry'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...
, was the first to feature current members Martyn Casey and
Conway SavageConway Savage is an Australian rock musician best known as pianist/organist/backing vocalist for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds...
. Following it came 1994's
Let Love In.
In 1996, Cave and the Bad Seeds released
Murder BalladsMurder 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...
. It includes "Henry Lee," a duet with British rock singer
PJ HarveyPolly Jean Harvey is an English musician and singer-songwriter. Raised in Corscombe, Dorset, Harvey formed the band as a teenager with drummer Rob Ellis and bassist Ian Olliver, who was replaced with Steve Vaughan. The trio released their first album Dry in 1992...
(with whom Cave had a brief relationship), and "
Where the Wild Roses Grow"Where the Wild Roses Grow" is an alternative-rock song written by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' ninth album Murder Ballads , and features guest vocals by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue. The song was produced by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Tony Cohen...
," a duet with Australian pop idol
Kylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE is an Australian pop singer, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actor on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987...
. The latter was a mainstream hit in the UK and in Australia, winning three ARIA Awards including "Song of the Year." Australian violinist
Warren EllisWarren Ellis is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, most famous for his work with Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He plays violin, piano, bouzouki, guitar, flute and mandolin...
began working with the band at this time, and would play an increasingly significant creative role in the band's output in coming years. American drummer
Jim SclavunosJim Sclavunos is an American rock music drummer, percussionist and producer.At 6'7", Sclavunos, a half-Greek and half-Italian from Brooklyn, New York , is one of the tallest musicians in modern music. He's performed with Sonic Youth, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Lydia Lunch and was a member of 8 Eyed...
also joined the group.
Their next album,
The Boatman's CallThe Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was released in 1997 and remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's long career.The album's tone is sombre and minimalist...
(1997), is marked by a radical shift away from archetypal and violent narratives to biographical and confessional songs about his relationships with Carneiro and Harvey. Cave then took a short break to rehabilitate from his 20 years of
heroinHeroin, or diacetylmorphine , also known as diamorphine , is a semi-synthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine...
and alcohol abuse, during which time he got married.
2000s
Following Cave's rehab, the band resurfaced with
No More Shall We PartNo More Shall We Part is the 11th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on April 2, 2001 in the UK . The album came after a 4-year gap from recording, following the much acclaimed album The Boatman's Call. Cave had to overcome heavy heroin and alcohol addictions in 1999-2000 before...
in 2001. After the release of the 2003 album
NocturamaNocturama is the 12th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 2003. It received a fairly mixed reaction, though it had some moderate critical success...
, which failed to excite reviewers, Bargeld announced he was leaving the Bad Seeds after 20 years with the group to devote more time to Einstürzende Neubauten.
The next year the band released their first double record, the acclaimed two-disc set
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of OrpheusAbattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus is the 13th studio album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It is a double CD, with 17 songs , and was released on the 20th of September 2004....
, with English guitarist and organist James Johnston (of the group
Gallon DrunkGallon Drunk are an English band formed in London in 1988.-Biography:Their sound is characterised by a swamp rock sound, is noted for its dark subject matter. The lead vocalist is James Johnston, who is also a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Faust...
) replacing Bargeld. In 2005, Cave and the Seeds released
B-Sides & Rarities, a three-disc, 56-track collection of B-sides, rarities, and tracks that had appeared on film soundtracks.
In 2006 Cave, Ellis, Sclavunos and Casey started a new group called
GrindermanGrinderman is a rock band formed by Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Martyn P...
. The band, essentially half of the Bad Seeds and featuring Cave on guitar for the first significant time, plays
garage rockGarage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name. In the early 1970s, some rock critics retroactively labelled it as punk rock...
-influenced music that nonetheless retains much of the Bad Seeds' aura. Since this time, the two bands have operated simultaneously.
In October 2007 Cave was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and expressed his intention to induct the Australian members of the Bad Seeds (excluding Hugo Race), plus the members of
The Birthday PartyThe Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk group, active from 1976 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching...
(excluding Phill Calvert) in his acceptance speech.
In March 2008 the Bad Seeds released their 14th studio album,
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the fourteenth studio album by international 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 in Chiswick, and was released on March...
, inspired by the Biblical story of the
resurrectionThe resurrection of dead humans is a central doctrine of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It may refer either to the resurrection of particular individuals, or a general resurrection of humanity....
of
Lazarus of BethanyLazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
by Jesus Christ . The album received excellent reviews. The band also released an exclusive "Live Session" EP through iTunes in April 2008, recorded at Air Studios on March 2, as part of iTunes' "Live From London" series. The group next embarked on a North American and European tour supporting
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, with a seven-piece lineup omitting Johnston, who had reportedly left the group after the album's completion.
Cave and the band curated an edition of the
All Tomorrow's PartiesAll Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place in England at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset....
music festival, the first in Australia, which took place in a number of locations in January 2009. On January 22, 2009, following a string of Bad Seeds concerts in Australia, Mute Records issued a statement from Mick Harvey announcing his departure from the band after 25 years citing professional and personal reasons. It was the end of a 36 year long musical collaboration between Cave and Harvey and left Cave as the group's only original member. Shortly thereafter, the band announced plans to perform summer festival dates with the addition of guitarist
Ed KuepperEd Kuepper is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded the seminal punk band The Saints, the experimental post-punk group Laughing Clowns and later the grunge-like The Aints...
, formerly of the influential Australian bands
The SaintsThe Saints are an Australian rock band, formed in Brisbane in 1974. They are considered to be one of the first and most influential punk groups. By 1975, contemporaneous with the Ramones, The Saints were employing the fast tempos, raucous vocals and "buzzsaw" guitar that characterised early punk rock...
and Laughing Clowns.
Current lineup
- Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and musical styles...
- vocals, piano, organ, harmonica, percussion, electric guitar, string arrangements (1983—present)
- Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
- drums, percussion, vocals (1985—present)
- Martyn P. Casey
Martyn Paul Casey is an Australian rock bass guitarist. He is best known as a member of The Triffids and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He is also a member of Nick Cave's new band, Grinderman. Casey plays either his Fender Precision Bass or Fender Jazz Bass.-Biography:Martyn Casey was born in...
- bass, vocals (1990—present)
- Conway Savage
Conway Savage is an Australian rock musician best known as pianist/organist/backing vocalist for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds...
- piano, organ, vocals (1990—present)
- Jim Sclavunos
Jim Sclavunos is an American rock music drummer, percussionist and producer.At 6'7", Sclavunos, a half-Greek and half-Italian from Brooklyn, New York , is one of the tallest musicians in modern music. He's performed with Sonic Youth, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Lydia Lunch and was a member of 8 Eyed...
- percussion, drums, organ, melodica, vocals (1994—present)
- Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, most famous for his work with Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He plays violin, piano, bouzouki, guitar, flute and mandolin...
- violin, fender mandocaster, loops, mandolin, tenor guitar, viola, bouzouki, accordion, flute, lute, piano, programming, percussion, string arrangements, vocals (1997—present; as guest, 1994-1997)
- Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded the seminal punk band The Saints, the experimental post-punk group Laughing Clowns and later the grunge-like The Aints...
- electric guitar, vocals (2009—present)
In addition to his performances with the Bad Seeds, Cave has, since the '90s, performed live 'solo' tours with Cave on piano, Ellis on violin and a fluctuating bass/drums line-up. The current trio is Bad Seeds' Martyn P. CaseyMartyn Paul Casey is an Australian rock bass guitarist. He is best known as a member of The Triffids and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He is also a member of Nick Cave's new band, Grinderman. Casey plays either his Fender Precision Bass or Fender Jazz Bass.-Biography:Martyn Casey was born in...
, Jim SclavunosJim Sclavunos is an American rock music drummer, percussionist and producer.At 6'7", Sclavunos, a half-Greek and half-Italian from Brooklyn, New York , is one of the tallest musicians in modern music. He's performed with Sonic Youth, Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Lydia Lunch and was a member of 8 Eyed...
and Warren EllisWarren Ellis is an Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer, most famous for his work with Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He plays violin, piano, bouzouki, guitar, flute and mandolin...
(nicknamed the Mini-Seeds, later known as a separate band, GrindermanGrinderman is a rock band formed by Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Martyn P...
).
Past members
- Barry Adamson
Barry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic. He has also worked on film soundtracks for David Lynch, and released numerous solo recordings.-Early life:He read comic books from...
- bass, electric guitar, drums, organ, piano, percussion, vocals (1983—1986)
- Blixa Bargeld
Blixa Bargeld is a composer, author, actor, singer, musician, performer and lecturer in a number of artistic fields...
- electric guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, keyboards, vocals (1983—2003)
- 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. A multi-instrumentalist, Harvey plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums...
- electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, organ, percussion, piano, loops, string arrangements, vocals (1983—2009)
- James Johnston - organ, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals (2003—2008; as guest, 1994)
- Anita Lane
Anita Lane is an Australian singer and songwriter who directly influenced the early 1980s European post-punk landscape.-Birthday Party:Lane was born in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1950s. Lane began singing and writing songs at age 16. She was a classmate with Rowland S. Howard who would...
- lyrics (1984)
- Kid Congo Powers
Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan , an American rock guitarist and singer, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
- electric guitar, slide guitar (1986—1990)
- Hugo Race
Hugo Race is an Australian rock musician and record producer who has been based in Europe since 1989. He was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, before forming The Wreckery with Nick Barker and Robin Casinader in the 1980s. He is currently a member of Hugo Race and the True Spirit.Race is...
- electric guitar, vocals (1983—1984)
- Roland Wolf
Roland Wolf was a musician who played keyboards with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from 1986 to 1989. He appeared as a band member on their 1988 album Tender Prey and returned a guest member on their followup album, 1990's The Good Son....
(deceased) - piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals (1986—1989)
Guest and touring musicians
- Edward Clayton-Jones - guitar (1984)
- Christoph Dreher
Christoph Dreher is an author, filmmaker and musician. Since 2000, he has been a professor for audiovisual media.After having studied Political Science and philosophy at Berlin's Freie Universität, he studied filmmaking at DFFB between 1978 and 1983.In 1980, Christoph Dreher founded the post-punk...
- bass (1985)
- Rowland S. Howard
Rowland Stuart Howard is an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his use of electric guitar audio feedback in the post-punk group The Birthday Party and his collaborations with Lydia Lunch and Nikki Sudden.-1978-1990:As a member of Melbourne new wave band The Boys...
- electric guitar, organ, vocals (1985)
- Tracy Pew
Tracy Pew was an Australian musician, best known as the bass player for The Birthday Party.Born in Australia, Pew moved with his family to New Zealand in 1959, returning in May 1964. His sister Fiona was born 19 June 1964...
(deceased) - bass (1984)
- James G. Thirlwell
James George Thirlwell , aka Clint Ruin, aka Frank Want, aka Foetus, is an Australian vocalist, composer and record producer...
- uncredited studio session (1983)
Nationalities
Band leader Cave moved from
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital city and most populous city of the State of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne city centre is the anchor of the larger geographical area and statistical division known as the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area – of which Melbourne is...
to
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
in 1980. Since forming The Bad Seeds in 1984 he has lived in
BerlinBerlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city and the eighth most populous urban area in the European Union...
,
São PauloSão Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the world's 7th largest metropolitan area. The city is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state. It is also the richest city in Brazil. The name of the city honors Saint Paul. São Paulo exerts strong regional influence in...
,
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
, and
BrightonBrighton is a town in the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex on the south coast of Great Britain...
(
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
). The various international members of the band meet to record and tour. Nationalities of the current and ex-members are:
- Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n: Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Hugo Race, Conway Savage, Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey and Ed Kuepper
- British
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
: Barry Adamson and James Johnston
- German
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
: Blixa Bargeld and Roland Wolf
- Swiss: Thomas Wydler
- American
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: Kid Congo Powers and Jim Sclavunos
Discography
- From Her to Eternity
From Her to Eternity is the debut album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984. The title is a pun on the book/movie From Here to Eternity.The majority of the album was recorded at Trident Studios, London in March 1984...
(1984) UK #40
- The Firstborn Is Dead
The Firstborn Is Dead is the second studio album released by the post-punk band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was first released in 1985. On this record, singer Nick Cave continued his fascination with the American South, with its references to Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Blind Lemon Jefferson...
(1985) UK #53
- Kicking Against the Pricks
Kicking Against the Pricks is the third album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. First released in 1986, the album is a collection of cover versions...
(1986) UK #89
- Your Funeral… My Trial (1986)
- Tender Prey
Tender Prey is the fifth album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1988 on Mute Records.Tender Prey contains Cave's 'signature' tune "The Mercy Seat", which he has subsequently played at almost all of his live performances since 1988, and was covered by Johnny Cash.The album is dedicated to...
(1988) UK #67
- The Good Son
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...
(1990) UK #47, Australia #93, Norway #19
- 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...
(1992) UK #29, Australia #41, Germany #59
- Let Love In (1994) UK #12, Australia #8, Germany #34, Norway #18
- 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...
(1996) UK #8, Australia #3, Germany #5, Norway #1
- The Boatman's Call
The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was released in 1997 and remains one of the most critically acclaimed releases of Nick Cave's long career.The album's tone is sombre and minimalist...
(1997) UK #22, Australia #5, U.S #155, Germany #19, Norway #2
- No More Shall We Part
No More Shall We Part is the 11th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on April 2, 2001 in the UK . The album came after a 4-year gap from recording, following the much acclaimed album The Boatman's Call. Cave had to overcome heavy heroin and alcohol addictions in 1999-2000 before...
(2001) UK #15 U.S #180, Australia #4, Germany #8, Norway #1
- Nocturama
Nocturama is the 12th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 2003. It received a fairly mixed reaction, though it had some moderate critical success...
(2003) UK #20 US #182, Australia #8, Germany #11, Norway #2
- Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus is the 13th studio album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It is a double CD, with 17 songs , and was released on the 20th of September 2004....
(2CD) (2004) UK #11 US #126, Australia #5, Germany #7, Norway #1
- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is the fourteenth studio album by international 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 in Chiswick, and was released on March...
(2008) UK #4, Sweden #3, Australia #2, US #64, Norway #2
Awards
- 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
: inductee (Cave); honorary inductees (Harvey, Ellis, Savage, Casey)
- 2001 ARIA Awards
The 15th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 30 October, 2001. They were presented at the Capitol Theatre....
: Best Male Artist for No More Shall We PartNo More Shall We Part is the 11th studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on April 2, 2001 in the UK . The album came after a 4-year gap from recording, following the much acclaimed album The Boatman's Call. Cave had to overcome heavy heroin and alcohol addictions in 1999-2000 before...
(although the album is credited to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
- 2001 Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. Its head office is in Sydney, with other offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
75th Anniversary: "The Ship Song" voted in the APRA Top 30 Australian songsAPRA's Top 30 Australian songs of all time was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary. A panel of 100 music personalities were asked to list the ten best Australian songs, the data was compiled and the Top Ten in numerical order, were...
- 1996 ARIA Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual awards night celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Record Industry Association . The event has been held annually since 1987, when it was first conceived by Glen Mylne and Jim Keyes...
: Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Best Pop Release for "Where the Wild Roses Grow"Where the Wild Roses Grow" is an alternative-rock song written by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' ninth album Murder Ballads , and features guest vocals by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue. The song was produced by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Tony Cohen...
"
External links
- Official website
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on MySpace
MySpace is a social networking website. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media, which is owned by News Corporation. MySpace became the most popular social networking site in the United...