Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
After the Birthday Party split, the enigmatic Australian vocalist Nick Cave retained his association with Berlin by teaming up with ex- Einsturzende Neubauten member Blixa Bargeld (guitar), together with ex- Magazine personnel Barry Adamson (bass and other instruments) and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey. The debut album FROM HERE TO ETERNITY was joined by a startling rendition of the Elvis Presley classic ‘In the Ghetto’, showing Cave had lost none of his passion and the ability to inject tension in his music. THE FIRST BORN IS DEAD followed a year later, promoted by the excellent Tupelo, but the Bad Seeds made their mark with KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS in the summer of 1986, bolstered by the UK Independent number 1, The Singer. Cave had always drawn from a variety of sources, from Captain Beefheart to delta blues, and the Bad Seeds’ material betrayed a claustrophobic, swamp-like aura. Although purely cover versions, KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS (which included drummer Thomas Wylder) fully displayed Cave's ability as an original interpreter of artist's material. However, YOUR FUNERAL, MY TRIALemphasized the power of his self-penned work. After a brief hiatus from recording, it was two years before Cave returned, but it was worth the wait. The Mercy Seat was a taut, violent single, followed by the milder Oh Deanna. Both elements were present on October 1988's TENDER PREY. The Ship Song, released in February 1990, continued Cave's exploration of the more traditional ballad, and was followed by another strong album, THE GOOD SON, in April. Cave's literary aspirations were given an outlet by Black Spring Press in 1989 by publishing his novel AND THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL. His film appearances include Wim Wenders’ WINGS OF DESIRE and a powerful performance as a prison inmate in the Australian production, GHOSTS OF THE CIVIL DEAD.