Nick Cave Reflects on How Tragedy Transformed His Life and Art
Nick Cave, the renowned Australian musician and frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has opened up about how the tragic deaths of his two sons profoundly reshaped his perspective on life, art, and family. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Cave revealed that the loss of his sons, Arthur and Jethro, led him to reevaluate his priorities, shifting his focus from his creative work to his responsibilities as a husband, father, and grandfather.
Arthur, aged 15, died in a cliff-jumping accident in Brighton in 2015, while Jethro, aged 31, passed away in Melbourne in 2022. Cave described how these losses made him realise that art, which he once considered the “be-all and end-all” of his existence, no longer held the same significance. “After Arthur died, I just shut the office, and I haven’t gone back,” he said. “I was repelled by it in some way. It seemed so indulgent.”
Cave, now 67, explained that his family has become the primary source of his joy and creativity. He spoke warmly of his seven-month-old grandson, describing the experience of grandfatherhood as “difficult to exaggerate how beautiful this is.” He also emphasised the importance of his role as a husband and father, stating that these responsibilities now drive his creative energy. “I find my responsibility towards my children and my wife, and to be a citizen, a husband, these things are the actual animating force behind our creativeness,” he said.
The musician, known for hits such as Red Right Hand and Into My Arms, acknowledged that while he still works “very, very hard,” his work is no longer the central focus of his life. He also reflected on the intertwined nature of grief and love, describing grief as a “terrible reminder of the depths of our love.”
Cave and his family, including his wife Susie and Arthur’s twin brother Earl, relocated from Brighton to Los Angeles, finding it too painful to remain near the site of Arthur’s death. In 2018, Cave launched The Red Hand Files, an online platform where he responds to fans’ questions, often addressing themes of loss and grief. “What I really want to try and do is let people know in some way that there is a world beyond the grief they feel,” he said.
Looking ahead, Cave is set to tour North America later this year, though he hinted at retirement, joking that he will stop performing when he can no longer execute his signature knee drops on stage. “I could do them, I can get down. It’s getting up. It’s a little bit harder,” he quipped.
Cave’s reflections offer a poignant glimpse into how personal tragedy has reshaped his life and art, transforming him from a man consumed by his creative work to one deeply rooted in the love and responsibilities of family.
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