Mick Harvey: Managing The Birthday Party

[@bow5326]

I have a funny anecdote about meeting Blixa that I'm reminded of , reading some comments just now. I was backstage at the venue where my boyfriend's band was playing in support of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds In The Netherlands, Tivoli, Utrecht 1988. As the singer of his band was getting extremely nervous and agitated I fled to the hallway to sit on a step away from the chaos. Seemingly out of nowhere came Blixa and walked up to me, and asked if I could hold his mirror (this was a side mirror off a car so I held it by its arm). He proceeded to put shaving cream on his face and started shaving, having barely introduced himself we were having a pleasant conversation and I told him how I had once had an argument with Nick Cave, 5 (6?) years previous at a (band The Birthday Party)concert in Australia. Nick had broken a health and safety rule by hanging from a high scaffold on an already above average high stage and I was responsible for upholding it and possible consequences. Wouldn't you know it, Nick walked up to Blixa and I and Blixa said to Nick "I think you owe this young lady an apology Nick" who stared at me while I was convinced he wouldn't have remembered me (other side of the world etc) and it took him some time but eventually , he smiled and to my huge surprise just gave me a hug saying "yes, I was very reckless that night, I'm sorry". I was just flabbergasted grinning like an idiot and enthralled, watching Blixa shave his gorgeous face lol... 😻

[@24eggs]

great story Bow! thanks for sharing

[@brumd]

Aha, your boyfriend was in Spasmodique? ;) Btw, I am pretty sure the venue was Vredenburg, not Tivoli (also in Utrecht). Great line-up of the Bad Seeds that night: Mick Harvey playing bass that time, Kid Congo Powers and Blixa on guitars and the 2 guys from Die Haut on drums and keys. I will never ever forget the energy op the opening song 'From her to eternity'. Great memories..

[@bow5326]

@@brumd nope, my bf played bass in a band called Victorian Trance and it was most definitely in Tivoli. The only thing I could be wrong about is the year, as it may have been 1987 (?) But yeas, great memories ...

[@brumd]

@@bow5326 No, you are absolutely right! Tivoli, July 17, 1988. I didn't know The Bad Seeds played twice in Utrecht in a few months time. The concert I was referring to was Oct 18, 1988 (setlists of both concerts can be found on setlist.fm)

[@ted-hitchcock]

I used to bump into Blixa in Berlin at the produce markets. He loved his avocados.

[@KloiePicot]

Absolutely Mick, you kept the party rolling...your wit, charm, dedication and creativity kept all on track -

[@aleksandardevic5585]

great person,great multi-instrumentalist!

[@GravyDaveNewson]

I could listen to Mick talking all day.

[@lonboomer8147]

mick harvey is a treasure

[@glenlcampbell1122]

Such a fantastic talent he is!

[@24eggs]

'managing a band is like... training cats'

[@rachelLadyD]

a beautiful mind and soul

[@pixelart6400]

Capo

[@agstinacueva1673]

Witnessing the fights and the drugs as a sober individual must have been quite interesting.

[@shemusmcquillaide]

Mick Harvey before the Nuremberg commitee is it? He's innocent, good job in fact, his team actually won, final score Birthday Party 1, Bad Seeds 0.7.

[@lucylovic]

Van Halen needed drugs to be creative...eddie

[@maryburke5423]

And they still managed to produce pretty uninspiring hair rock 🤷‍♀️

[@jjseandxcefree]

so this pj harvey's dad?

[@mauharley]

No.

[@hom0s4cer]

so this pj harvey is dead?

[@NOWtheband]

@ Jj Sands - Yes.

[@NOWtheband]

@@hom0s4cer - Yes.

[@billyshane3804]

No her dad is Harvey Wallbanger