List of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds members

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The band onstage
The band performing in 2008

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band from Melbourne. Formed by eponymous vocalist Nick Cave and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey after the breakup of The Birthday Party in August 1983, the original lineup of the group also included German guitarist Blixa Bargeld and English bassist Barry Adamson.[1] The band's first tour, later in the year, featured guitarist Hugo Race in place of Bargeld (who was touring with Einstürzende Neubauten) and bassist Tracy Pew (also formerly of The Birthday Party), the latter of whom left early the next year.[2] They released their debut album From Her to Eternity in June 1984.[3] Race left later in the year, although performed as a guest on several Bad Seeds releases later.[4] The group continued briefly as a four-piece, releasing The Firstborn Is Dead in June 1985.[5]

Shortly after the release of the band's second album, Thomas Wydler joined as the new drummer for Bad Seeds, with Harvey moving to focus primarily on guitar and keyboards.[1] Two albums followed in 1986 – Kicking Against the Pricks and Your Funeral... My Trial – the latter of which featured Adamson on only two tracks, having recently left.[6] Harvey took over on bass, with Kid Congo Powers joining on guitar and keyboardist Roland Wolf also joining.[7] Tender Prey was released in 1988, before Wolf was dismissed the next year due to personality conflicts with Cave.[8] The 1990 follow-up The Good Son was also the last Bad Seeds album for Powers, who left later in the year.[1] Harvey took over from Powers on guitar, as bassist Martyn P. Casey and keyboardist Conway Savage joined to expand the group to a six-piece.[1]

The lineup of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds remained stable throughout the 1990s, save for two additions. First was second drummer and percussionist Jim Sclavunos, who joined in 1994 during the promotional tour for Let Love In.[9] Second was violinist and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, who became an official members of the group in 1997 after having featured as a session and touring musician.[10] In March 2003, founding member Bargeld left the Bad Seeds in order to "concentrate on other creative areas in [his] life", describing his departure as "nothing to do with artistic or personal differences with the band".[11] The guitarist was replaced by James Johnston, who had previously toured briefly with the group in 1994.[1] Johnston remained a member of the group until after the release of Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! in 2008.[1]

On 22 January 2009, it was announced that Harvey, the last remaining original member of the Bad Seeds besides Cave, had left the band in order to pursue other projects.[12] He was replaced for shows later in the year by Ed Kuepper.[13] After a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2013 with Push the Sky Away, during which time Barry Adamson returned to the band on drums and keyboards, filling in for Wydler who was absent to illness.[14] Kuepper briefly toured with the group again, before being replaced later by George Vjestica.[1] Adamson remained until early 2015, when Wydler returned to touring and keyboards were taken over by Larry Mullins (also known as Toby Dammit).[15] Savage was forced to leave the touring group in early 2017 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.[16] He died the following September.[17]

Members[edit]

Current[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Nick Cave 2009 New York City 2 by David Shankbone (3934425878).jpg
Nick Cave 1983–present
  • vocals
  • piano
  • organ
  • guitar
  • harmonica
  • percussion
all Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds releases
Thomas Wydler 1985–present (studio only 2013–2015, 2022–present)
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) onwards, except Live from KCRW (2013)
Martyn P Casey.jpg
Martyn P. Casey 1990–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) onwards
Jim Sclavunos.jpg
Jim Sclavunos 1994–present
  • percussion
  • drums
  • vibraphone
  • backing vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from Murder Ballads (1996) onwards
Warren Ellis, musician (2006).JPG
Warren Ellis 1997–present (session 1993–97)
  • violin
  • synthesizers
  • programming
  • tenor guitar
  • mandolin
  • piano
  • bouzouki
  • flute
  • accordion
  • backing vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from Let Love In (1994) onwards
George Vjestica.jpg
George Vjestica 2013–present
  • guitars
  • backing vocals

Former[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mick Harvey 2.jpg
Mick Harvey 1983–2009
  • guitars
  • bass
  • drums
  • percussion
  • piano
  • organ
  • xylophone
  • vibraphone
  • loops
  • samples
  • turntables
  • vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from From Her to Eternity (1984) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2008)
Blixa Bargeld Ludwigshafen.jpg
Blixa Bargeld
(Christian Emmerich)
1983–2003
  • guitars
  • slide guitar
  • pedal steel guitar
  • backing and some lead vocals
  • all Bad Seeds releases from From Her to Eternity (1984) to Nocturama (2003)
  • Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2008)
Barry Adamson PrimaveraSound 2007 detail.jpg
Barry Adamson
  • 1983–1986
  • 2013–2015
  • bass
  • guitars
  • organ
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
Hugo Race & The True Spirit (AUS).jpg
Hugo Race 1983–1984
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
  • From Her to Eternity (1984)
  • Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) – four tracks only
  • Tender Prey (1988) – two tracks only
  • Murder Ballads (1996) - one track only
Kid Congo Powers 01.jpg
Kid Congo Powers
(Brian Tristan)
1986–1990
Roland Wolf 1986–1989 (died 1995)
  • piano
  • organ
  • guitars
  • Tender Prey (1988)
  • The Good Son (1990) – one track only
Conway Savage 1990–2017 (died 2018)
  • piano
  • organ
  • backing and some lead vocals
all Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) to Push the Sky Away (2013), except Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)
JamesJohnston August2009.jpg
James Johnston 2003–2008 (touring 1994)
  • guitars
  • organ

Touring[edit]

Image Name Years active Instruments Details
Tracy Pew 1983–1984 (died 1986) bass Pew performed between December 1983 and January 1984, with Adamson substituting for Bargeld on guitar.[1]
Edward Clayton-Jones 1984 guitar Clayton-Jones substituted for Blixa Bargeld, who was unavailable, during a European tour in May 1984.[4]
Rowland S. Howard 1985 (died 2009)
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
Howard temporarily replaced Blixa Bargeld, who was unavailable, during a UK tour in April 1985.[18]
Christoph Dreher 1985 bass Dreher temporarily replaced Barry Adamson, who was unwell, during a UK tour in April 1985.[18]
Ed Kuepper @ Red Hill Auditorium (4 12 11) (6491219987).jpg
Ed Kuepper
  • 2009
  • 2013
guitar Kuepper filled in on guitar following Harvey's departure in early 2009,[13] and again in early 2013.[1]
Larry_Mullins_-_L.J._Spruyt_Photography.tif
Larry Mullins
(aka. Toby Dammit)
2015–present
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
Mullins took over keyboards in the touring lineup of the Bad Seeds from Adamson in early 2015 and substituted Wydler as drummer for the 2022 European Tour.[15]
Carly_Paradis_at_the_2017_Sundance_Film_Festival.jpg
Carly Paradis 2022–present
  • keyboards
Paradis joined the band on their 2022 European tour on keyboards filling in for Mullins who took over drumming duties.
Janet Ramus backing vocals Ramus, Cole and McCalla joined the band on their 2022 European tour. Ramus and Cole previously toured with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on their 2021–2022 Carnage tour.
T Jae Cole
Subrina McCalla

Timeline[edit]

Lineups[edit]

Period Members Releases
August – November 1983
December 1983 – January 1984
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – guitar, bass, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Tracy Pew – bass (touring only)
none
February – April 1984
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • From Her to Eternity (1984)
May 1984
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Edward Clayton-Jones – guitar (touring only)
none
Mid-1984
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals
Late 1984 – early 1985
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals
April 1985 none
May 1985 – July 1986
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
July – August 1986
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Your Funeral... My Trial (1986)
September 1986 – July 1989
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, backing vocals
  • Roland Wolf – piano, organ, guitar
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
August 1989 – May 1990
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – bass, guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • The Good Son (1989)
May 1990 – March 1994
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
March – July 1994
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
none
July – September 1994
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • James Johnston – guitar (touring only)
October 1994 – March 1997
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. (session only)
March 1997 – March 2003
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
March 2003 – April 2008
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • James Johnston – guitar, organ
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
April 2008 – January 2009
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
none
May – July 2009
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Ed Kuepper – guitar (touring only)
July 2009 – January 2013
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
February – April 2013
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Barry Adamson – drums, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Ed Kuepper – guitar (touring only)
none
May 2013 – early 2015
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Barry Adamson – drums, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
Early 2015 – May 2017
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals (touring only)
  • Larry Mullins – keyboards, piano (touring only)
May 2017 – October 2018
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Larry Mullins – keyboards, piano (touring only)
  • Distant Sky: Live in Copenhagen (2018)
  • Ghosteen (2019)
June 2022 – present
  • Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
  • George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals
  • Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals
  • Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.
  • Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Larry Mullins – drums, percussion (touring only)
  • Carly Paradis – keyboards (touring only)
  • Janet Ramus - backing vocals (touring only)
  • T Jae Cole - backing vocals (touring only)
  • Subrina McCalla - backing vocals (touring only)

N/A

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Deming, Mark. "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. ^ Wray, Daniel Dylan (18 August 2014). "If This Is Heaven I'm Bailing Out: The Death Of The Birthday Party". The Quietus. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Nick Cave's 30 best songs: Saint Huck". Uncut. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b McFarlane, Ian. "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Wreckery'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  5. ^ Deming, Mark. "The First Born Is Dead - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  6. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Your Funeral... My Trial - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Biography 2001". Rage. 7 April 2001. Archived from the original on 1 July 2001. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  8. ^ Sclavunos, Jim. "The Good Son: Essay by Jim Sclavunos". Nick Cave. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  9. ^ 5ALtr, Leigh (5 February 2012). "Grinderman's Jim Sclavunos". FasterLouder. Retrieved 4 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead link]
  10. ^ Clarke, Paul (5 January 2010). "Album Review: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - The Road". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  11. ^ Cashmere, Paul (4 March 2003). "Blixa leaves the Bad Seeds". Undercover. Archived from the original on 15 March 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Bad Seeds co-founder Harvey quits". ABC News. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (2 March 2009). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Announce Reissue Details". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Touring Line-up". Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Toby Performs Live with Nick Cave in 20 European Cities". Toby Dammit. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Conway Savage". Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  17. ^ Snapes, Laura (3 September 2018). "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds pianist Conway Savage dies age 58". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Nick Cave's 30 best songs: Tower of Song". Uncut. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2019.

External links[edit]