In this engaging conversation, Nick Cave, a renowned singer and writer known for his intense music with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, reflects on his artistic journey and the themes of loss and hope in his work. He shares the emotional complexities of songwriting, revealing how personal struggles fuel creativity. Cave also delves into his experiences with grief following the loss of his sons, the transformative power of addiction, and the importance of community in art. The light-hearted segment about his desert island favorites adds a delightful twist!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Free-Range Childhood
Nick Cave's childhood was idyllic and free-range in Wangaratta, Australia.
His mother would send the children out in the morning, and they'd return for dinner.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Introduction to Literature
Nick Cave's father, a teacher, encouraged him to read challenging literature.
He introduced Nick to Shakespeare and even the first chapter of Lolita at a young age.
question_answer ANECDOTE
A Pivotal Question
Nick Cave's father asked him a pivotal question at age 12: "What have you done for humanity?"
This prompted Nick to consider his contribution to the world and influenced his artistic journey.
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Set in 19th-century Tuscany, Italy, 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' follows the misadventures of Pinocchio, a wooden marionette created by the poor woodcarver Geppetto. Pinocchio's journey is marked by his propensity for lying, which causes his nose to grow, and his encounters with various characters, including the benevolent Blue Fairy. Through his experiences, Pinocchio learns valuable lessons about honesty, hard work, and the importance of making the right choices. The novel is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.
Nick Cave is a singer and writer who, with his band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has released emotionally intense and provocative music since the mid-Eighties. He is also a novelist, composer and has written film scripts and soundtracks along with his writing partner and Bad Seed Warren Ellis.
Nick grew up in Wangaratta, Australia the third of four children. He formed his first band, the Boys Next Door, in 1973 while he was at school. He studied fine art at the Caulfield Institute of Technology in Melbourne but left to pursue music. In 1980 the band relocated to London, renaming themselves the Birthday Party on the flight over. In 1984 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ released their debut album, From Her to Eternity, and they have gone on to put out a further 17 albums.
In 2015 Nick lost his son Arthur who died after accidentally falling off a cliff and seven years later his eldest son Jethro died. In 2018 Nick started the Red Hand Files, an online blog in which he answers questions posed by his fans, to try and articulate his feelings about grief. He has described it as a “strange exercise in communal vulnerability and transparency.”
In 2017 he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia.
DISC ONE: Metal Guru - T. Rex
DISC TWO: My Father - Nina Simone
DISC THREE: (I’m) Stranded - The Saints
DISC FOUR: It Serves You Right to Suffer - John Lee Hooker
DISC FIVE: Something on Your Mind - Karen Dalton
DISC SIX: Girl from the North Country - Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash West
DISC SEVEN: I Am a God – Kanye West
DISC EIGHT: Morning Dew - Tim Rose
BOOK CHOICE: The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
LUXURY ITEM: A suit
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Am a God – Kanye West
Desert Island Discs 