Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1983, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds was founded by two former members of post-punk band The Birthday Party: vocalist / musician Nick Cave and guitarist Mick Harvey. While the band’s line-up would change over the years, the Bad Caves would – at one time or another – also feature Blixa Bargeld (Einstürzende Neubauten), Barry Adamson (Magazine), Kid Congo Powers (The Gun Club), Warren Ellis (The Dirty Three), and others. Although the band originated in Australia, they achieved their greatest success in England and Europe, beginning with their debut album, From Her to Eternity, which reached the number 1 position on the UK’s Independent Albums chart. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds initial sound was dark and aggressive post-punk with Nick Cave’s low and brooding vocals guiding the band through a series of intense songs with poetic lyrics that depicted a life of drugs, debauchery, and confusion. During the band’s early years, they remained a cult band with critically acclaimed albums such as The Firstborn Is Dead (1985), Kicking Against the Pricks (1986), Your Funeral… My Trial (1986), and Tender Prey (1988). However, by the time of 1990’s The Good Son, the Bad Seeds’ sound had matured into a more emotional soundscape that appealed to a larger audience. They achieved international success with albums such as Henry’s Dream (1992), Let Love In (1994), and Murder Ballads (1996), which hit number 1 in several countries. Success continued with albums including The Boatman’s Call (1997), No More Shall We Part (2001), Nocturama (2003), and the double album Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004). Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds had become so popular that Cave, Warren Ellis, and several other musicians began a less-stressful musical side project called Grinderman, who released their first album in 2006. Outside of the Bad Seeds and Grinderman, Nick Cave - usually with Ellis - also composed several movie soundtracks. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds returned in 2008 with Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) and the internationally successful Push the Sky Away (2013), which reached number 1 in five countries and hit the Top 5 in many others. His albums Skeleton Key (2916) and Ghosteen (2019) were similarly successful. In 2024, the band released the single “Frogs,” which was the first track to be pulled from their 18th studio album Wild God. Throughout their career, they also released four live albums, four compilations several EPs and over three dozen singles. Nominated for many awards over the years, Nick Cave and his mates have walked away with an APRA Music Award (1996), seven ARIA Music Awards (1996 x 3, 2001, 2008, and 2013 x 2), and two EG Awards (2008).