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. 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. They released their debut album From Her to Eternity in June 1984. Race left later in the year, although performed as a guest on several Bad Seeds releases later. The group continued briefly as a four-piece, releasing The Firstborn Is Dead in June 1985.

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. 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. Harvey took over on bass, with Kid Congo Powers joining on guitar and keyboardist Roland Wolf also joining. Tender Prey was released in 1988, before Wolf was dismissed the next year due to personality conflicts with Cave. The 1990 follow-up The Good Son was also the last Bad Seeds album for Powers, who left later in the year. 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.

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. 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. 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". The guitarist was replaced by James Johnston, who had previously toured briefly with the group in 1994. Johnston remained a member of the group until after the release of Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! in 2008.

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. He was replaced for shows later in the year by Ed Kuepper. After a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2013 with Push the Sky Away, during which time Barry Adamson returned to the band on percussion, keyboards and drums, filling in for Wydler who was absent to illness. Kuepper briefly toured with the group again, before being replaced later by George Vjestica. Adamson remained until early 2015, when Wydler returned to touring and keyboards were taken over by Larry Mullins (also known as Toby Dammit). Savage was forced to leave the touring group in early 2017 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He died the following September.

When the band returned to touring in 2022, they were joined by backing vocalists Janet Ramus, T Jae Cole and Subrina McCalla and keyboardist Carly Paradis, covering for Mullins who moved to drums, covering for Wydler. Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood also toured with the band in 2024 and 2025 while Casey stayed home for health reasons.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsNick Cave1983–presentall Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds releasesThomas Wydler1985–present all Bad Seeds releases from Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) onwards, except Live from KCRW (2013)Martyn P. Casey1990–presentall Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) onwardsJim Sclavunos1994–presentall Bad Seeds releases from Murder Ballads (1996) onwardsWarren Ellis1997–present all Bad Seeds releases from Let Love In (1994) onwardsGeorge Vjestica2013–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMick Harvey1983–2009all Bad Seeds releases from From Her to Eternity (1984) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2008)Blixa Bargeld1983–2003Barry AdamsonHugo Race1983–1984Kid Congo Powers(Brian Tristan)1986–1990Roland Wolf1986–1989 Conway Savage1990–2017 all Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) to Push the Sky Away (2013), except Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)James Johnston2003–2008

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsTracy Pew1983–1984 bassPew performed between December 1983 and January 1984, with Adamson substituting for Bargeld on guitar.Edward Clayton-Jones1984guitarClayton-Jones substituted for Blixa Bargeld during a European tour in May 1984.Christoph Dreher1985bassDreher temporarily replaced Barry Adamson during a UK tour in April 1985.Rowland S. Howard1985 Howard temporarily replaced Blixa Bargeld during a UK tour in April 1985.Ed KuepperKuepper filled in on guitar following Harvey's departure in early 2009, and again in early 2013.Larry Mullins(aka. Toby Dammit)2015–presentMullins took over keyboards in the touring lineup of the Bad Seeds from Adamson in early 2015, he has also replaced Wydler as drummer, starting with the 2022 European Tour.Carly Paradis2022–presentParadis joined the band, starting with their 2022 European tour on keyboards filling in for Mullins who took over drumming duties.Janet Ramusbacking vocalsRamus, 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 ColeSubrina McCallaMiça Townsend 2024–presentTownsend and Rose joined the band in 2024.Wendi RoseColin Greenwood2024–2025bassStanding in for Martyn P. Casey for the 2024 UK and European Tour. Continued to tour with the band into 2025.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesAugust – November 1983Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Thirlwell – bass, guitar (session only)From Her to Eternity (1984) – three tracksDecember 1983 – January 1984Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Barry Adamson – guitar, bass, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals Tracy Pew – bass (touring only)noneFebruary – April 1984Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocalsFrom Her to Eternity (1984)May 1984Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals Edward Clayton-Jones – guitar (touring only)noneMid-1984Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocalsLate 1984 – early 1985Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocalsThe Firstborn Is Dead (1985)April 1985Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Rowland S. Howard – guitar (touring only) Christoph Dreher – bass (touring only) Thomas Wydler – drums (touring only)noneMay 1985 – July 1986Nick 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 vocalsKicking Against the Pricks (1986) Your Funeral... My Trial (1986) – two tracksJuly – August 1986Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, drums, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocalsYour Funeral... My Trial (1986)September 1986 – July 1989Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals Roland Wolf – piano, organ, backing vocals, guitarTender Prey (1988) The Good Son (1989) – one trackAugust 1989 – May 1990Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, guitar, piano, organ, backing vocalsThe Good Son (1989)May 1990 – March 1994Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocalsHenry's Dream (1992) Live Seeds (1993) Let Love In (1994)March – July 1994Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocalsnoneJuly – September 1994Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals James Johnston – guitar, backing vocals (touring only)October 1994 – March 1997Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. (session only)Murder Ballads (1996)March 1997 – March 2003Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.The Boatman's Call (1997) No More Shall We Part (2001) Nocturama (2003)March 2003 – April 2008Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. James Johnston – guitar, organ, backing vocalsAbattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004) The Abattoir Blues Tour (2007) Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008)April 2008 – January 2009Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al.noneMay – July 2009Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al.