Nicholas Edward Cave (born September 22, 1957) is a musician, songwriter, poet, author, and actor. Cave was born in Warracknabeal , Australia, the son of (librarian) Dawn and (English-teacher) Colin Cave, brother of Tim (b. 1952), Peter (b. 1954) and Julie (b. 1959). In 1989 his first novel, And The Ass Saw The Angel, was published. The themes of the book greatly influenced (and were influenced by) the first few albums of his highly-successful band, The Bad Seeds.

History

In high school at Melbourne's elite Caulfield Grammar School, Cave met Mick Harvey, with whom he founded his first band, The Boys Next Door. The band played a role in Melbourne's post-punk music scene of the late 1970s, before changing their name to The Birthday Party and moving to London, then West Berlin

The Birthday Party disbanded in 1984, and Cave and Harvey went on to form the first version of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds with guitarist Blixa Bargeld (from Einstürzende Neubauten), bassist Barry Adamson (formerly of Magazine) and guitarist Hugo Race . Cave's girlfriend Anita Lane was also a creative influence.

This line-up recorded their debut album, released in 1984, From Her To Eternity,

Several musicians have come and gone; Cave and Harvey have been the only constants. Over the years the line-up would change to at times include:

• Kid Congo Powers
• Roland Wolf
• Martyn P. Casey (current)
• Conway Savage (current)
• Thomas Wydler (current)
• Warren Ellis (current)
• Jim Sclavunos (current)
• James Johnston (current)

Cave moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where he married Viviane Carneiro in 1987. The two have a son, Luke, born 1991. In spring of 1993, Cave moved back to London. He now lives in Brighton, and is married to actress Susie Bick, with whom he has twin sons, Arthur and Earl.

Nick Cave's music is featured in several of Wim Wenders' movies, including Wings of Desire (where Cave also appears, doing a live performance), Until the End of the World, and Faraway... So Close . Cave also co-wrote and acted in Ghosts... of the Civil Dead , a 1989 independent movie. Also in 1989, Cave published his novel And the Ass Saw the Angel, to critical acclaim. Cave also starred in the 1991 film, Johnny Suede, with Brad Pitt.

In 1996, Cave and The Bad Seeds released an album, Murder Ballads, which was, as the title suggests an album of songs about murder. A duet with Kylie Minogue, "Where The Wild Roses Grow", was a mainstream hit, winning an ARIA Award for "Song of the Year". After The Boatman's Call, Cave took some time rehabilitating from his heroin and alcohol habit, before resurfacing with the dark and gloomy No More Shall We Part in 2001.

In 1998, the same year that Cave issued a 'Best Of' CD, an intriguing compilation surfaced in Australia entitled Original Seeds: songs that inspired Nick Cave featuring Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen, among others.

After the release of the 2003 album Nocturama Blixa Bargeld announced he was leaving the band to devote more time to Einstürzende Neubauten, leaving Mick Harvey as the only surviving founding member of the band other than Cave himself.

The Proposition , a film written by Cave, directed by John Hillcoat and starring Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, David Wenham and Emily Watson, has recently finished filming in Queensland.

In 2005, Cave and The Bad Seeds released, B-Sides & Rarities a comprehensive three disc 56 track collection of b-sides, rarities, and tracks that appeared on film soundtracks.

Trivia

• The band most likely derived its name from the novel (and subsequent 1956 horror movie) The Bad Seed.
• He is reportedly a member of The Sons of Lee Marvin -- a semi-secret society founded by director Jim Jarmusch.

Discography

His albums produced with the Bad Seeds include:

• From Her To Eternity (1984)
• The Firstborn Is Dead (1985)
• Kicking Against the Pricks (1986)
• Your Funeral, My Trial (1986)
• Tender Prey (1988)
• The Good Son (1990)
• Henry's Dream (1992)
• Live Seeds (1993)
• Let Love In (1994)
• Murder Ballads (1996)
• The Boatman's Call (1997)
• The Best Of (1998)
• No More Shall We Part (2001)
• Nocturama (2003)
• Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
• B-Sides & Rarities (2005)

External links

• Nick Cave's unofficial website
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds official website