The Birthday Party | Artist
The Birthday Party was an Australian post-punk band formed 1978 in Melbourne by Nick Cave (vocals, saxophone), Rowland S Howard (guitar, vocals), Mick Harvey (guitar, keyboards), Tracy Pew (bass) and Phill Calvert (drums). Cave, Harvey and Calvert had originally met at Caulfield Grammar School and formed the band The Boys Next Door. Rowland S Howard joined in '78 and his characteristic feedback drenched guitar style reshaped the group's sound which drew upon punk, rockabilly and blues influences. The album Door Door, credited to The Boys Next Door, was released in '79 and was unremarkable except for the excellent track "Shivers" penned by Howard. The Birthday Party album was initially credited to The Boys Next Door but reissued as The Birthday Party when the band relocated from Melbourne to London in 1980. It was their next two classic albums, Prayers on Fire ('81) and Junkyard ('82) where the band reached their potential, in particular Cave who is heard in full voice. Despite limited commercial success, The Birthday Party's influence has been far-reaching, and they have been called "one of the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups to emerge in the early '80s." The band split in 1983 with Cave and Harvey forming Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and Rowland S Howard working solo and collaborating with Lydia Lunch. Outstanding Birthday Party Albums include the three studio albums, the live albums It's Still Living ('85) and Live 1981-82 ('99), the EPs The Bad Seed ('83), The Birthday Party ('83) and Mutiny! ('83), and the compilations Hee-Haw ('88) and Hits ('92).
Artist Website: thebirthdayparty.com
Featured Albums: The Birthday Party
Related Artists: Rowland S Howard, Nick Cave, The Boys Next Door, Crime & The City Solution, Mick Harvey, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Anita Lane
