Nick Cave

Australia, 1978–now

Australian singer and writer, first with the Birthday Party and from 1983 with the Bad Seeds. His songs draw on murder ballads and biblical language, later turning to plainer, elegiac writing.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Nick Cave and 2 artists Nick Cave influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Nick Cave?

• Leonard Cohen — The Bad Seeds' debut opens with Cohen's 'Avalanche' — Cave has called hearing Songs of Love and Hate at 14 a life-changing event.
• Johnny Cash — Cash's gospel darkness was Cave's childhood door into music — the two later duetted on 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry'.
• The Stooges — The Birthday Party's confrontational chaos was built on the Stooges — a documented foundation of Cave's first band.

Which artists did Nick Cave influence?

• Florence and the Machine — Cave is both a stated influence and one of the male performers Welch has modelled her stagecraft on, alongside Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger.
• Arctic Monkeys — Nick Cave is among the lyricists Alex Turner most admires, a touchstone for his narrative, character-driven songwriting.