Podcast 103 Live interview with Mick Harvey in Paris 2010 : some reasons to have left the band Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds…Part 2 (25′)
In this second part of the interview Mick Harvey explained us some of the strongest reasons he had to leave the band Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds after having formed it with Nick in 1983. It’s always hard to hear the break of such a long time collaboration (35 years with Nick) and I was not prepared to hear it but Mick’s talk is sincere, entire and without compromise : I hope you will appreciate it.
Mick Harvey with The Bad Seeds during their European tour 2008 (Thomas, Conway and Marty in the background; pic Zruda); Mick in Paris before the interview.
I chose just one song from Mick’s band “The Wallbangers” to start and finish the podcast : “The World keeps spinning around” because I didn’t want to interrupt his intense 15 minutes talk.
But Mick will give us a nice present with playing Live at the end of the interview an unreleased version of PJ Harvey’s song : “Glorius”!!! Thanks again Mick !!
Meltingpod connections :
For info there are some comments posted about that interview by fans of the band on Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds forum.
Oh ! I just found someone who translated part of Mick’s talk in a text and spread my podcasts too, here on a website called Nick Cave fixes”!! with other reactions to the interview.
mars 2nd, 2010 at 17:40:43
I think he’s right about the arrangements of certaing songs, and how they went with the easy versions. Maybe he didn’t like the whole Grindermanish attitude towards music. (I personally think it works great with Grinderman stuff, but with Bad Seeds songs you can’t be sure, it depends on a song). Sad, anyway
mars 2nd, 2010 at 20:46:42
Thank you Annie and Mick. One of the most candid interviews I have ever heard. Should get some ppl thinking, hopefully. I for one, cannot wait to hear Mick’s solo work and with such a passionate attitude, it can’t be anything other than good. All these yrs and the passion is still there. Quite rare and very beautiful but most of all, essential. As he says otherwise it is “dead”. An artist that has maintained such respect for the music as well as the audience after so many years speaks volumes.
mars 2nd, 2010 at 20:56:14
PS Glorious was glorious! Thanks for playing it! I meant Mick’s future solo work cos we all know his four studio albums are fantastic and highly recommended!
mars 3rd, 2010 at 03:34:01
Mick felt that his opinion had been overlooked and his artistic integrity undermined. As he points to, it is hard to keep subtle in a stadium tin can version of the beautiful “Weeping Song”. Stadium size concerts are for anthemic bands like U2 or other shit like that. Even Neil Young looses his subtlety in those huge gigs… It’s the 2 dollar shop !
About reason #2… Mick deserves all respect to have co-founded, coordinated and grow, the Boys Next Door, the Birthday Party and the Bad Seeds. Not to mention his work with other bands and solo ! EVERYBODY knows that ! It is sad, very fucking sad, but when trust is gone in a musical or theatrical group, there is no way any true artistic creativity can take place. LIFE is gone and it is time to leave and turn toward where communication abounds, feelings are good and you’re needed and desired. Your family. Your friends.
Glorious is gorgious ! It has that remarkable PJ’s lament “griffe”.
Thank you Mick to open this big heart of yours.
Thank you Annie for an emotional and authentic moment !
mars 3rd, 2010 at 04:18:21
He doesn’t pull any punches, does he? A really interesting interview, particularly what he says about some of the lazy live performances. Good on him. It’s meant to be about the music and not just Nick strutting about on stage soaking up the adulation.
Looking forward to the more relaxed part 3!
mars 3rd, 2010 at 14:43:02
Thanks for your comments even if I know for the first time publishing a polemic podcast on Meltingpod I took the risk to get pretty polemic reactions.
What can I say except I was disappointed to see The Bad Seeds during their European tour 2008 in big venues : I found the acoustic quality was very bad.
Last year in Dresden I saw them again in a small open air amphitheatre in the forest…it was magic !! and I knew I was not the only one to have appreciated the priviledge to be there.
So no doubt about that subject I agree with Mick.
For the rest even if it’s a sad story which often happens in many other groups (like Christian mentioned it) I can just wish now the best to both sides : to Mick and to the Bad Seeds !
Happy you loved the Live song “Glorius” too !
BTW and for info re-big venues or not ? : it’s a courageous decision regarding the financial aspect took by the famous street-theater French company “Royal de Luxe”, after becoming N°1 in the world in their art : they decided to escape to their popularity and to the many thousands people who were expecting the beginning of their performance 3 hours before, because they felt their original artistic concept was lost or impossible to apply anymore with the big crowds around.
They founded a second company under the “Les tréteaux des ménestrels” to appear for some shows in a quasi anonymity in little villages, being like at their debut a small group quickly immersed in the people daylife and be able to create again the surprise…the magic…they told me they got a lof of fun and felt after that a new energy in their biggest shows under “Royal de Luxe”.
their interview (+ their music) in 2005 is HERE
mars 4th, 2010 at 15:27:57
Annie, I like the way he was straight and sincere about why he left the Bad Seeds, no bullshit just honest. That’s is something to respect.
Looking forward to part III, very interesting guy Mick Harvey!
And you got him to “open up”
kisses,
Tom
mars 4th, 2010 at 20:17:06
Hi Annie,
Thanks for the linkback to Nick Cave Fixes. We’re looking forward to part 3, as well. Yes, many strong opinions but I feel it’s a healthy thing. Long time fans feel a little bewildered and rather wounded. Losing Rowland S. Howard in January was not easy for many who still hadn’t gotten over Mick Harvey’s leaving. Personally, I’m a Neubauten fan and I was quite happy to have Blixa pay 100% attention to his own band for the first time in 20 years. With Mick Harvey, however, it was like losing the heart of the Bad Seeds. And to know the details - it’s very difficult not to be emotional.
That said, I think these things are like thunderstorms. They clear the air.
Best wishes, Annie, and congratulations on your 5th anniversary!!!
Morgan Wolf, Administrator
Nick Cave Fixes & Seele Brennt, a Blixa - Neubauten tribute/trivia & discussion blog (NEW http://seelebrennt.wordpress.com/)
mars 5th, 2010 at 08:57:52
Thanks Christian for the precision, and yes the part 3 is on the table.
Welcome Morgan ! your blog is really precious for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ fans.
I really really appreciate Einstürzende Neubauten (I will check your other blog); funnily I watched a lot of their old and recent videos just a few days ago.
No wonder that Nick Cave got a flash on Blixa!!
mars 7th, 2010 at 12:26:12
I can’t prevent myself from being sad and enthusiastic at the same time.
mars 9th, 2010 at 11:41:34
Hi Annie
A rock and roll band as a bunch of bloodbrothers is a myth. When success comes, it’s mostly about business. Bad seeds make bitter plants, lol. Anyway, I like Mick Harvey and a little bit of polemic is always fun.
Kiss
Eric
mars 9th, 2010 at 12:26:51
enthusiastic Alice ? I think you maybe mean the positive thing when talentuous musicians separated, it’s you can get the chance to have two good bands instead just one !
funny Eric ? you old punk !!! next time I will bring you (and your black flag) with me to add your dark humor and simultaneously translate our talk in French !!
mars 9th, 2010 at 12:57:20
I’ll be there, Annie. How about a nice couscous in Ménilmontant ? It’ll be a rock and roll dinner.
mars 9th, 2010 at 18:54:45
Enthusiastic about the new numerous projects of Harvey. And sad to know the story.
mars 9th, 2010 at 22:44:21
Hey Annie, thanks for this …. fascinating stuff. It’s interesting for me to be reminded of how Nick can be such a bully … it’s hardly news that he can be a real *** … my feeling is that Nick didn’t need Mick in the way he used to, for so many years Mick was the one to bring some order to Nick’s chaotic creativity … the last time I saw the Bad Seeds was at All Tomorrow’s parties in Sydney in Jan 2009 … well, I can’t agree with Mick that the live versions were overly simplified and just bashed out … the reality is that the Bad Seeds are now a super-group (even if they aren’t marketing themselves that way), just look at Ed Kuepper being there to replace Mick … which also somewhat contradicts what Mick is saying … but I can fully believe that if Nick was being an absolute ***, you would quickly get to the point of going, “why?”. After all, Nick wouldn’t want to have Mick’s blood on his hands in terms of kicking him out. And you may recall that Mick left the Birthday Party in 1983 which precipated the end of that group. As Mick says … things change … Thanks again for this, Annie. Rob Miller
mars 10th, 2010 at 12:30:14
ok for the rock’n'roll dinner Eric with Champagne !!
Thanks Alice for your precisions.
Welcome Rob to Meltingpod ! I’m not sure to perfectly understand your point of view…though I hope you will not take bad the fact I moderated your comment with removing some expressions (no insult on this blog please !).
mars 11th, 2010 at 00:10:25
Great interview again Annie!
I was interested to hear what Mick would say about his leaving the Bad Seeds.
I guess I always knew it. Musical integrity and commercial BS can’t coexist.
Loved the last part. Great acoustic song.
Thanks again!
Michel
mars 16th, 2010 at 08:57:34
Hello Annie!
Eventually found some time and Chris and I have just listened to the first 2 parts of the interview with Mick Harvey: You are a a very good interviewer to get him to open up and be so honest about the reasons for leaving the Bad Seeds!
I think it was funny that you had my man and my cat doing the introduction to the first part
We shall listen to the third part in a while.
Bisous
mars 16th, 2010 at 09:04:51
Happy you love the interview Michel !! can’t wait to hear you playing some songs at the acoustic guitar again Live !!
Hello Elisabet, it’s great for me to know you and Chris appreciated the both first podcasts and thank you for the nice compliment but honestly I think Mick was decided to speak and tell what’s on his mind : I just hold the microphone…if he is very sincere it’s surely because it’s in his nature !
btw : I love your cat’s hello to meltingpod…:)
Hoping to see you soon in Marseille !! it’s March now (re-Chris’ interview!!).
mars 25th, 2010 at 02:48:04
Well, that was very amusing - he sounded like someone from the show “grumpy old men” but because I’m not emotionally involved in the band I could see the humour in it. I’m sure he could be just as much as a pain in the arse as Nick Cave lol - can’t we all be!?
I don’t think it’s sad when someone leaves a band at all!!!!
I think it is a wonderful thing! Good on him for standing up and making change- what a boring world this would be without it!
Kudos to you Annie - you really made me giggle with your never ending patience as a good interviewer should be! and took the full brunt of it
you are so fair-minded, sweet and are not a leach so he trusted you enough to open up as if you were having a private conversation.
Hey can you interview Tom Waits or Iggy Pop sometime please ? :PPP
mars 25th, 2010 at 23:16:39
amazingly candid stuff Annie - ask an Australian an honest question and you’ll obviously get an honest answer! Mick was always the Brian Brown of the Bad Seeds.
Some great moments in the interview - as well as all the obvious Bad Seed / Bad Blood melodrama there’s got to be something amusing about the guy that wrote 6 Inch Gold Blade bemoaning the unlistenability of late period Stooges. At least the Stooges weren’t covering their amps with sheet metal!
Great interview … I will now forever have a mental image of Mick storming on stage at the next Bad Seeds gig and calling Ed Kuepper out for a duel…
mars 26th, 2010 at 10:36:21
arrg…Iggy ! would love too : but it’s not easy to approach iguanas !
About this interview : I always feel sad to hear schools friends can break a so long time and creative relationship…hoping one day Mick and Nick will find the right moment to talk each other again quietly.
not a duel (like I said to Michaela in the comments about the part 3) I asked a duo Simon..:)
avril 1st, 2010 at 08:44:51
It’s a DUET, Annie. A duet.
x
avril 1st, 2010 at 10:38:45
oh ! thank you Christian, you’re correct but duet is so close to duel; it could have been still be more ambiguous with my French accent; anyway no problem Mick well understood my “duo” even if my question appeared strange to him at that moment of the interview…it just was a spontaneous idea I had listening to him…
mai 21st, 2010 at 15:41:38
what a captivating interview…thnx so much for posting this…
sad that he has gone…and emotional doubtless..after so long …
but i have to agree that the last time i saw the bad seeds it was a pisstake….songs seemed to have lost their ‘tension’ ….like he says..long sets in big arenas sure, but they were used to that for 15 years of their career at least….more an attitude shift i think…brave decision to make on his part…relative economic security for ‘out on a limb’, but I am sure he won’t be short of work ever….being a talented multi-instrumentalist
as he is!
be interesting to see where the bad seeds go from here…will they finally cross over (hah) or turn into grinderman ptII?… there has been a seismic shift in the band recently anyway away from piano to guitar , from jazz to rock (unsubtle analogy i know), from nina simone to alex harvey!
a
mai 21st, 2010 at 21:08:57
thank you Al to share your spontaneous first reactions; I’m pretty curious too to hear Mick’s and Nick’s next work separately now…
août 31st, 2010 at 12:49:24
Its a mistake to let Mick Harvey go. At this stage of Cave’s career, he can’t afford to lose the efforts of Harvey.
janvier 28th, 2011 at 18:03:49
Personally I really like the way The Bad Seeds are going, although I love The Birthday Party and early Bad Seeds, I think you can only go so far with the avant-garde stuff that Blixa and Harvey seem to advocate. A bit sad to hear that Cave can be a dick to his fellow band members, Mick is a legend and should be treated with respect.