# List of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds members

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band from Melbourne. Formed by eponymous vocalist Nick Cave and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey after the breakup of The Birthday Party in August 1983, the original lineup of the group also included German guitarist Blixa Bargeld and English bassist Barry Adamson. The band's first tour, later in the year, featured guitarist Hugo Race in place of Bargeld (who was touring with Einstürzende Neubauten) and bassist Tracy Pew (also formerly of The Birthday Party), the latter of whom left early the next year. They released their debut album From Her to Eternity in June 1984. Race left later in the year, although performed as a guest on several Bad Seeds releases later. The group continued briefly as a four-piece, releasing The Firstborn Is Dead in June 1985.
Shortly after the release of the band's second album, Thomas Wydler joined as the new drummer for Bad Seeds, with Harvey moving to focus primarily on guitar and keyboards. Two albums followed in 1986 – Kicking Against the Pricks and Your Funeral... My Trial – the latter of which featured Adamson on only two tracks, having recently left. Harvey took over on bass, with Kid Congo Powers joining on guitar and keyboardist Roland Wolf also joining. Tender Prey was released in 1988, before Wolf was dismissed the next year due to personality conflicts with Cave. The 1990 follow-up The Good Son was also the last Bad Seeds album for Powers, who left later in the year. Harvey took over from Powers on guitar, as bassist Martyn P. Casey and keyboardist Conway Savage joined to expand the group to a six-piece.
The lineup of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds remained stable throughout the 1990s, save for two additions. First was second drummer and percussionist Jim Sclavunos, who joined in 1994 during the promotional tour for Let Love In. Second was violinist and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, who became an official members of the group in 1997 after having featured as a session and touring musician. In March 2003, founding member Bargeld left the Bad Seeds in order to "concentrate on other creative areas in [his] life", describing his departure as "nothing to do with artistic or personal differences with the band". The guitarist was replaced by James Johnston, who had previously toured briefly with the group in 1994. Johnston remained a member of the group until after the release of Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! in 2008.
On 22 January 2009, it was announced that Harvey, the last remaining original member of the Bad Seeds besides Cave, had left the band in order to pursue other projects. He was replaced for shows later in the year by Ed Kuepper. After a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2013 with Push the Sky Away, during which time Barry Adamson returned to the band on percussion, keyboards and drums, filling in for Wydler who was absent to illness. Kuepper briefly toured with the group again, before being replaced later by George Vjestica. Adamson remained until early 2015, when Wydler returned to touring and keyboards were taken over by Larry Mullins (also known as Toby Dammit). Savage was forced to leave the touring group in early 2017 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He died the following September.
When the band returned to touring in 2022, they were joined by backing vocalists Janet Ramus, T Jae Cole and Subrina McCalla and keyboardist Carly Paradis, covering for Mullins who moved to drums, covering for Wylder. Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood also toured with the band in 2024 while Casey stayed home for health reasons.

## Members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Nick Cave | 1983–present | vocalspianoorganguitarharmonicapercussion | all Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds releases |
| Thomas Wydler | 1985–present (studio only 2013–2015, 2022–present) | drumspercussionbacking vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) onwards, except Live from KCRW (2013) |
| Martyn P. Casey | 1990–present | bassbacking vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) onwards |
| Jim Sclavunos | 1994–present | percussiondrumsvibraphonebacking vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from Murder Ballads (1996) onwards |
| Warren Ellis | 1997–present (session 1993–97) | violinsynthesizersprogrammingtenor guitarmandolinpianobouzoukifluteaccordionbacking vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from Let Love In (1994) onwards |
| George Vjestica | 2013–present | guitarsbacking vocals | Push the Sky Away (2013) – three tracks onlyall Bad Seeds releases from Skeleton Tree (2016) onwards |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Mick Harvey | 1983–2009 | guitarsbassdrumspercussionpianoorganxylophonevibraphoneloopssamplesturntablesvocals | all Bad Seeds releases from From Her to Eternity (1984) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2008) |
| Blixa Bargeld (Christian Emmerich) | 1983–2003 | guitarsslide guitarpedal steel guitarbacking and some lead vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from From Her to Eternity (1984) to Nocturama (2003)Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2008) |
| Barry Adamson | 1983–19862013–2015 | bassguitarsorgandrumspercussionbacking vocals | From Her to Eternity (1984)The Firstborn Is Dead (1985)Kicking Against the Pricks (1986)Your Funeral... My Trial (1986) – two tracks onlyPush the Sky Away (2013)Live from KCRW (2013) |
| Hugo Race | 1983–1984 | guitarsbacking vocals | From Her to Eternity (1984)Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) – four tracks onlyTender Prey (1988) – two tracks onlyMurder Ballads (1996) - one track only |
| Kid Congo Powers (Brian Tristan) | 1986–1990 | guitarsbacking vocals | Tender Prey (1988)The Good Son (1990) |
| Roland Wolf | 1986–1989 (died 1995) | pianoorganguitars | Tender Prey (1988)The Good Son (1990) – one track only |
| Conway Savage | 1990–2017 (died 2018) | pianoorganbacking and some lead vocals | all Bad Seeds releases from Henry's Dream (1992) to Push the Sky Away (2013), except Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) |
| James Johnston | 2003–2008 (touring 1994) | guitarsorganbacking vocals | Murder Ballads – one track only (1996)Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)The Abattoir Blues Tour (2007)Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) |

### Touring

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
| Tracy Pew | 1983–1984 (died 1986) | bass | Pew performed between December 1983 and January 1984, with Adamson substituting for Bargeld on guitar. |
| Edward Clayton-Jones | 1984 | guitar | Clayton-Jones substituted for Blixa Bargeld during a European tour in May 1984. |
| Christoph Dreher | 1985 | bass | Dreher temporarily replaced Barry Adamson during a UK tour in April 1985. |
| Rowland S. Howard | 1985 (died 2009) | guitarbacking vocals | Howard temporarily replaced Blixa Bargeld during a UK tour in April 1985. |
| Ed Kuepper | 20092013 | guitarbacking vocals | Kuepper filled in on guitar following Harvey's departure in early 2009, and again in early 2013. |
| Larry Mullins (aka. Toby Dammit) | 2015–present | pianokeyboardsdrumspercussionbacking vocals | Mullins took over keyboards in the touring lineup of the Bad Seeds from Adamson in early 2015, he has also replaced Wydler as drummer, starting with the 2022 European Tour. |
| Carly Paradis | 2022–present | keyboards | Paradis joined the band, starting with their 2022 European tour on keyboards filling in for Mullins who took over drumming duties. |
| Janet Ramus | 2022–present | backing vocals | Ramus, Cole and McCalla joined the band on their 2022 European tour. Ramus and Cole previously toured with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on their 2021–2022 Carnage tour. |
| T Jae Cole | 2022–present | backing vocals | Ramus, Cole and McCalla joined the band on their 2022 European tour. Ramus and Cole previously toured with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on their 2021–2022 Carnage tour. |
| Subrina McCalla | 2022–present | backing vocals | Ramus, Cole and McCalla joined the band on their 2022 European tour. Ramus and Cole previously toured with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on their 2021–2022 Carnage tour. |
| Miça Townsend | 2024–present | backing vocals | Townsend and Rose joined the band in 2024. |
| Wendi Rose | 2024–present | backing vocals | Townsend and Rose joined the band in 2024. |
| Colin Greenwood | 2024 | bass | Standing in for Martyn P. Casey for the 2024 UK and European Tour. |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| August – November 1983 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Thirlwell – bass, guitar (session only) | From Her to Eternity (1984) – three tracks |
| December 1983 – January 1984 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Barry Adamson – guitar, bass, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals Tracy Pew – bass (touring only) | none |
| February – April 1984 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals | From Her to Eternity (1984) |
| May 1984 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals Edward Clayton-Jones – guitar (touring only) | none |
| Mid-1984 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Hugo Race – guitar, backing vocals | none |
| Late 1984 – early 1985 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals | The Firstborn Is Dead (1985) |
| April 1985 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – drums, piano, organ, backing vocals Rowland S. Howard – guitar (touring only) Christoph Dreher – bass (touring only) Thomas Wydler – drums (touring only) | none |
| May 1985 – July 1986 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Barry Adamson – bass, guitar, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Kicking Against the Pricks (1986) Your Funeral... My Trial (1986) – two tracks |
| July – August 1986 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, drums, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Your Funeral... My Trial (1986) |
| September 1986 – July 1989 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, piano, organ, guitar, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals Roland Wolf – piano, organ, backing vocals, guitar | Tender Prey (1988) The Good Son (1989) – one track |
| August 1989 – May 1990 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Kid Congo Powers – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – bass, guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals | The Good Son (1989) |
| May 1990 – March 1994 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals | Henry's Dream (1992) Live Seeds (1993) Let Love In (1994) |
| March – July 1994 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals | none |
| July – September 1994 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals James Johnston – guitar, backing vocals (touring only) | none |
| October 1994 – March 1997 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. (session only) | Murder Ballads (1996) |
| March 1997 – March 2003 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Blixa Bargeld – guitar, backing vocals Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. | The Boatman's Call (1997) No More Shall We Part (2001) Nocturama (2003) |
| March 2003 – April 2008 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. James Johnston – guitar, organ, backing vocals | Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (2004) The Abattoir Blues Tour (2007) Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) |
| April 2008 – January 2009 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. | none |
| May – July 2009 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. Ed Kuepper – guitar (touring only) | none |
| July 2009 – January 2013 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, mandolin, flute, et al. | Push the Sky Away (2013) |
| February – April 2013 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. Barry Adamson – drums, keyboards, backing vocals Ed Kuepper – guitar (touring only) | none |
| May 2013 – early 2015 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – drums, percussion, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. Barry Adamson – organ, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals | none |
| Early 2015 – May 2017 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Conway Savage – piano, organ, backing vocals (touring only) Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals Larry Mullins – keyboards, piano, percussion, backing vocals (touring only) | Skeleton Tree (2016) |
| May 2017 – October 2018 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wydler – drums, percussion, backing vocals Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals Larry Mullins – keyboards, piano, percussion, backing vocals (touring only) | Distant Sky: Live in Copenhagen (2018) Ghosteen (2019) |
| June 2022 – September 2024 | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Thomas Wylder – drums (session only) Martyn P. Casey – bass, backing vocals Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals Larry Mullins – drums, percussion, backing vocals (touring only) Carly Paradis – keyboards (touring only) Janet Ramus - backing vocals (touring only) T Jae Cole - backing vocals (touring only) Subrina McCalla - backing vocals (touring only) | Wild God (2024) |
| September 2024 – present | Nick Cave – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica Jim Sclavunos – percussion, drums, backing vocals Warren Ellis – violin, guitar, synthesizers, et al. George Vjestica – guitar, backing vocals Larry Mullins – drums, percussion, backing vocals (touring only) Carly Paradis – keyboards (touring only) Janet Ramus - backing vocals (touring only) T Jae Cole - backing vocals (touring only) Miça Townsend – backing vocals (touring only) Wendi Rose – backing vocals (touring only) Colin Greenwood – bass (touring only) | |