Nick Cave, the 67-year-old frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, has unveiled a profound transformation in his artistic approach following the devastating loss of his two sons. After the tragic deaths of his 15-year-old son Arthur in 2015 and his eldest son Jethro at 31 in 2022, Cave's relationship with creativity and work underwent a significant shift. In 2018, he established The Red Hand Files, an online platform where fans can pose questions, and he provides responses to some of the hundreds he receives weekly. Through this platform and other public engagements, Cave has shared his evolving perspective on grief, art, and family.
Following Arthur's untimely death from a cliff fall in Brighton, Cave found himself unable to continue working, describing a sense of repulsion towards his previous artistic process. He shut down his office and paused his creative endeavors. Reflecting on this period, Cave noted that he used to "work away… sort of, you know, in awe of my own creative potential," but that changed drastically.
"I was just repelled by it in some way. It seems so indulgent," – Nick Cave.
Cave's grief over losing his sons has been a poignant subject he has openly discussed. He articulated the depth of his sorrow and its inevitable connection to love.
"Grief is the terrible reminder of the depths of our love and, like love, grief is non-negotiable," – Nick Cave.
However, Cave's journey through grief led him to discover a world beyond it. He aims to convey this possibility to others who suffer from similar losses.
"What I really want to try and do is let people know in some way that it doesn't have to be thus, and that there is a world beyond the grief that they feel," – Nick Cave.
In the aftermath of these personal tragedies, Cave relocated his family from Brighton to Los Angeles. This move signifies a fresh start and a renewed focus on finding joy and creativity within his family. He has expressed how his responsibilities as a husband and father now fuel his artistic drive.
"I find my responsibility towards my children and my wife, and to be a citizen, a husband, these things are the actual animating force behind, or should be the animating force behind our creativeness," – Nick Cave.
The birth of his grandson has brought an additional layer of joy into Cave's life.
"From my family and from my wife, one aspect of my family that it's difficult to exaggerate how beautiful this is that I have a little grandson who's like, seven months old," – Nick Cave.
Cave is preparing for a North American tour this spring, signaling a return to music performance. He humorously notes that while he can still perform knee drops on stage, it's "getting up" that's become more challenging with age.
"I could do (them), I can get down. It's getting up. It's a little bit harder," – Nick Cave.
Looking ahead, Cave contemplates retirement from music when physical limitations prevent him from performing with the same energy. Yet, he continues to find solace and purpose in his art, which remains closely tied to memories of Arthur and Jethro.
"It has a lot to do with Arthur and Jethro… I always just thought art was, kind of at the end of the day, everything," – Nick Cave.
"I mean, it's a terrible thing to say, but it was, it was always there. It was always reliable," – Nick Cave.
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