The Birthday Party (band)
| The Birthday Party | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Boys Next Door |
| Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Post-punk, gothic rock[1][2] |
| Years active | 1973–1983 |
| Labels | Missing Link, 4AD, Shock |
| Associated acts | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Crime and the City Solution, These Immortal Souls, Honeymoon in Red |
| Website | www.thebirthdayparty.com.au |
| Past members | |
| Nick Cave Mick Harvey Tracy Pew Phill Calvert Rowland S. Howard |
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The Birthday Party (originally known as The Boys Next Door) were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.
Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching, and have been called one of "the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups to emerge in the early '80s." [3] Their music was classified by critic Simon Reynolds as gothic rock.[1] In his lyrics, Nick Cave combined "sacred and profane" things,[1] using old testament imagery,[1] with stories about sin, curses and damnation.[1] Their 1981 single "Release the Bats" was particularly influential in the gothic scene.[1] Some of their material was also qualified as no wave.
Despite their limited commercial success, the creative core of the Birthday Party have gone on to acclaimed careers: singer and songwriter Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mick Harvey, and singer, songwriter and guitarist Rowland S. Howard.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early years and The Boys Next Door (1973–1978)
The nucleus of the band first met at the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School, in suburban Melbourne, in the early seventies. A rock group was formed in 1973, with Nick Cave (vocals), Mick Harvey (guitar), and Phill Calvert (drums), with other students John Cocivera, Brett Purcell and Chris Coyne (on guitar, bass and saxophone respectively). Most were also members of the school choir. The band played under various names at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others.
After their final school year in 1975 the band decided to continue as a four-piece group, with friend Tracy Pew picking up the bass. Greatly affected by the punk explosion of 1976 which saw Australian bands The Saints and Radio Birdman making their first recordings and tours, The Boys Next Door, as they were now called, began performing punk and proto-punk cover versions, such as "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Gloria", and a few original songs.[4] By November 1977 their set was dominated by fast original New Wave material, such as "Sex Crimes" and "Masturbation Generation".[5]
The Boys' second guitarist, Rowland S. Howard, joined in 1978, and about this time, the group's sound changed dramatically. The addition of Howard's guitar was certainly a catalyst (his later use of audio feedback being a hallmark of the group) but there were other changes, as well: their sound drew upon punk, rockabilly, free jazz and the rawest blues, but defied concise categorisation. Many songs were driven by prominent, repetitive basslines and frenetic, yet minimalist, drumming. Though the band was tightly rehearsed, the instrumentalists often sounded as if they were on the verge of collapse, this quality only emphasising the newfound mania of Cave's singing, and his expressionist lyrics. In producer/engineer Tony Cohen they found a willing accomplice to their experimentation and their refusal to repeat themselves; and in manager Keith Glass they found an enthusiastic financial backer. Glass' label Missing Link Records released all of the early Birthday Party records.
[edit] Name change and relocations (1978–1982)
After recordings and moderate success in Australia (including hundreds of live shows) they headed for London in 1980, changing their name to The Birthday Party and launching into a period of innovative and aggressive music-making. Some sources say the band took its new name from the Harold Pinter play The Birthday Party;[6] others (including Ian Johnston's Cave biography) state it was prompted by Cave misremembering, or intentionally misattributing, the name to a non-existent birthday party scene in the lengthy Dostoevsky novel, Crime and Punishment. They resided in London, with trips back to Australia and tours through Europe and the U.S. before relocating to West Berlin in 1982.
Above the barely-controlled racket, Cave's vocals ranged from desperate to simply menacing and demented. Critics have written that "neither John Cale nor Alfred Hitchcock was ever this scary," [7] and that Cave "doesn't so much sing his vocals as expel them from his gut".[8] Though Cave drew on earlier rock and roll shriekers; especially Iggy Pop and Suicide's Alan Vega, his singing with the Birthday Party remains powerful and distinct.
The single "Release the Bats" came out during the emergence of the gothic scene.[2] This song about "vampire sex" was promoted by an advert with the words "Dirtiness is next to antigodliness".[1]
Their 1982's Junkyard album was inspired by American gothic imagery, dealing with extreme subjects like an evangelist's murdered daughter.[1] Certain songs like "She's Hit" has bluesy qualities but the atmosphere was both decrepit and sinister.[1]
[edit] Final years (1982–1983)
For the Party, things had changed. Calvert was ejected in 1982; he was reportedly "unable to nail down the beats for 'Dead Joe' to everyone's satisfaction",[9] and Harvey moved to drums. When Pew was jailed for drunk driving and petty theft early in 1982, Chris Walsh, Barry Adamson and Howard's brother Harry replaced him for live appearances and brief studio work. Pew rejoined the band in July.
The Mutiny EP contained lyrics evoking blasphemy, words which were as dark as the gothic poems of Lautréamont.[1] The title track portrayed a dirty heaven with rats and trash.[1]
In 1982 a spin-off group with Lydia Lunch, Honeymoon In Red, recorded an album which was eventually released in 1987. Harvey and Cave were reportedly so unhappy with the mixing and overdubbing done after their involvement that they requested their names be withheld from its liner notes. Howard and Pew apparently had no objections to being credited by name.
A tour in January 1983 found the group return to a five-piece, with Jeffrey Wegener playing drums and Harvey returning to second guitar. Wegener did not remain with the group, however, and they returned to a four-piece soon after. Later this year, Blixa Bargeld from the German band Einstürzende Neubauten played guitar on the track "Mutiny in Heaven". Tension between Cave and Howard soon came to a head, but it was Harvey who first left the group – their final tour saw Des Hefner on drums. The Birthday Party disbanded in late 1983, due in part to the split between Cave and Howard, as well as work and drug-related exhaustion.
[edit] Post-breakup, legacy and influence
Several groups rose from the Birthday Party's ashes: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (featuring Cave, Harvey, Adamson, Bargeld and briefly Pew), Crime and the City Solution (featuring Harvey and Howard, later just Harvey) and These Immortal Souls (featuring Howard).
Pew died from injuries caused by an epileptic seizure in 1986.
Due in part to their legendary status and to the continuing success of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Birthday Party's back catalogue has been re-released on CD several times. In recent years Mick Harvey has overseen releases of rare or previously unissued recordings.
The Birthday Party's initial impact was on the Gothic rock genre. According to New Musical Express, "The Party have been indirectly held responsible for the rise of a visceral new hardcore, ranging from The Sex Gang Children, through Danse Macabre to March Violets."[10] Rock acts that have cited The Birthday Party as an influence include LCD Soundsystem,[11] White Zombie, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Coil, My Bloody Valentine, Deerhunter, Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello, Cocteau Twins, The Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid, Melt-Banana, 16 Horsepower, Big Boys, Dinosaur Jr., and Tindersticks. U.S. indie label 31G Records released a tribute album to The Birthday Party, Release the Bats.
In October 2007, Cave alone was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech, Cave took it upon himself to 'induct' the Australian members of the Bad Seeds (including Harvey), plus Howard and Pew from The Birthday Party.
Rowland S. Howard died 30 December 2009 of liver cancer.[12]
[edit] Members
- Band members
- Nick Cave – vocals, saxophone (1976–1983)
- Mick Harvey – guitar, drums, keyboard, vocals (1976–1983)
- Tracy Pew (deceased) – bass, vocals (1976–1982, 1982–1983)
- Phill Calvert – drums (1976–1982)
- Rowland S. Howard (deceased) – guitar, vocals (1978–1983)
- Touring and guest musicians
- Chris Walsh – bass (February 1982)
- Barry Adamson – bass (April–May 1982)
- Harry Howard – bass (June–July 1982)
- Jeffrey Wegener – drums (January 1983)
- Des Hefner – drums (May–June 1983)
- Blixa Bargeld – guitar (1983, in-studio guest)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The Boys Next Door
- Door, Door (LP, 1979)
- The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party
- The Birthday Party (LP 1980). Originally credited to the Boys Next Door. Later re-released and attributed to The Birthday Party. Re-released on CD in 1988 with the band's early recordings, under the title "Hee Haw" (see below; not to be confused with the "Hee Haw" EP of 1979).
- The Birthday Party
- Prayers on Fire (LP, 1981)
- Junkyard (LP, 1982) (UK #73)[13]
- A Collection ... (CD, after Junkyard)
- It's Still Living (LP, 1985)
- Best and Rarest (LP, 1985)
- Hee Haw (CD, 1988)
- Mutiny/The Bad Seed (CD, 1989)
- Hits (CD, 1992)
- Live 1981–82 (CD, 1999)
- The John Peel Sessions (CD, 2001)
[edit] Singles and EPs
- The Boys Next Door
- "These Boots Are Made For Walking/Boy Hero" (7" single, 1978)
- "Shivers/Dive Position" (7" single, 1978)
- Hee Haw (EP, 1979)
- The Birthday Party
- "Mr Clarinet" (7" single, 1980)
- "The Friend Catcher" (7" single, 1980)
- Hee Haw re-edition The Boys Next Door single as The Birthday Party (EP, 1980)
- "Nick the Stripper" (12" EP, 1981)
- "Release the Bats/Blast Off!" (7" single, 1981)
- Drunk on the Pope's Blood/The Agony Is The Ecstasy (12" EP; music by Lydia Lunch on one side)
- The Bad Seed (12" EP, 1983)
- Mutiny (12" EP, 1983)
- The Peel Sessions (12" EP, 1987)
- The Peel Sessions (12" EP, 1988)
[edit] Video and DVD
- Pleasure Heads Must Burn (VHS, 1984)(DVD, 2003)
- Mutiny! The Last Birthday Party (Directed by Heiner Muhlenbrock, DVD release 2008)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Reynolds, Simon. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. London: Faber and Faber, 2005. p. 429-431. ISBN 0-571-21569-6.
- ^ a b Lewis, Luke (5 March 2009). "Release The Bats - It's The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks". http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&p=5890&more=1&c=1. "7. The Birthday Party – Release The Bats. Knuckle-dragging drums. Sickening, scything distortion. Barely comprehensible vocals in the Vic Reeves 'club style': here was a compelling sonic template for goth's lunatic fringe. Most gothic moment: Nick Cave's blood-curdling shriek: "Whooaaargh! BITE!""
- ^ Thomas, Stephen. "The Birthday Party". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3681/biography. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "The Boys Next Door Concerts". Home.iae.nl. http://home.iae.nl/users/maes/cave/live/bndgigs.html#2nd. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ ""Lethal Weapons" 30 Years On, by David Nicholls". Messandnoise.com. 22 October 2007. http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/1301167. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Heathenworld.com". Heathenworld.com. http://www.heathenworld.com/bandname/a-e.html. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Trouser Press". Trouser Press. http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=birthday_party. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Blast Off!". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/song/t3606092. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Dead Joe". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/song/t3606094. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ New Musical Express, 25 December 1982. Cited in Jennifer Park, "Melancholy and the Macabre: Gothic Rock and Fashion," Gothic: Dark Glamour by Valerie Steele and Jennifer Park, p. 141, 143.
- ^ Thrasher Magazine, Sept, 2005 by Sarah Pulver James Murphy : « My first album: I got some birthday money, went to the record store and bought Siouxsie and the Banshees Join Hands, The Fall Grotesque, and The Birthday Party Nick the Stripper, all in one day. And all three of those records are three of my favorite things I've ever heard. »
- ^ "Bandmate pays tribute to Birthday Party guitarist - Entertainment (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 31 December 2009. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/31/2783381.htm?section=entertainment. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 58. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
[edit] Further reading
- Reynolds, Simon. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. London: Faber and Faber, 2005. p. 429-431. ISBN 0-571-21569-6.
- "Inner City Sound", Clinton Walker (Wild & Wooley, 1981; revised and expanded edition, Verse Chorus Press, 2005)
- "Stranded: The Secret History of Australian Independent Music 1977-1991", Clinton Walker (Pan MacMillan Australia, 1996) ISBN 0-7329-0883-3
- "Bad Seed: A biography of Nick Cave", Ian Johnstone (1996) ISBN 0349107785
- "The life and music of Nick Cave: An illustrated biography", Maximilian Dax & Johannes Beck (1999) ISBN 3-931126-27-7
- "Kicking Against the Pricks: An Armchair Guide to Nick Cave", Amy Hanson (2005) ISBN 1-900924-96-X
- "Nick Cave Stories", Edited by Janine Barrand (2007)
[edit] External links
- The Birthday Party official site
- From The Archives: a site with discography, concert history, videography, bibliography, etc. Also features Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Einstürzende Neubauten and related artists.
- Article on The Birthday Party from HowlSpace
- The Birthday Party discography from Nick Cave Online
- Inner City Sound Website: a site dedicated to Clinton Walker's book "Inner City Sound" which lists The Birthday Party and other alternative Australian bands of that era.
- Record cover art at prehistoricsounds.com
