The Birthday Party

The band played their last show as the Boys Next Door on 28-Feb-80 in Melbourne,Australia at the Seaview Ballroom. They leave for London the next day and change their name to The Birthday Party. They live in poor circumstances and have to take day jobs to support themselves. They will end up playing only 10 shows (on borrowed equipment) in the UK in 1980.

Note: first concert as The Birthday Party, 4 months after arriving in the UK.

Ad: Taken from NME mag 28-Jun-80.

Note: 2nd concert as The Birthday Party.
Ivo Watts-Russel of 4AD records attends show. Shambolic performance due to the fact that the band had consumed their 'rider' of free alcohol only 10 minutes before taking the stage (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 28-Jun-80.

Jul-80
AU Release of 'Mr. Clarinet/Happy Birthday' 7"
on Missing Link records (Australia)

Note: These are in fact still Boys Next Door songs recorded in Melbourne in Jan/Feb-80

Ad: Taken from UK mag Aug-80

Ad: Taken from NME mag 23-Aug-80

Setlist: Cry/ Yard/ Figure Of Fun/ King Ink

Note: First broadcast by BBC Radio One on 25-Sep-80.
Also released on "The John Peel Sessions" CD(Strange Fruit UK-2001)

Note: Concert to celebrate their deal with of 4AD records.

Setlist: Amongst others: Figure Of Fun & The Friend Catcher.

11-Oct-80
UK Release of 'The Friend Catcher/Waving my arms/Catman'7"
on 4AD records (UK)

Note: These are in fact still Boys Next Door songs recorded in Melbourne in Jan/Feb-80

Ad: Taken from NME mag 25-Oct-80

Ad: Taken from NME mag 25-Oct-80

Flyer: Scan of flyer.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 18-Oct-80

Nov-80
AU Release of 'Boys Next Door/Birthday Party' compilation album
on Missing Link records (Australia)

Note: First concert after their return from London and start of their first Australian tour as The Birthday Party.

Poster: Original poster.

Setlist: King Ink/ Happy Birthday/ Guilt Parade/ Yard/ Mr. Clarinet/ Figure Of Fun/ The Friend Catcher/ Waving My Arms/ Nick The Stripper/ Safehouse/ Catman/ Cry/ The Hair Shirt/ Riddle House.

Note: Broadcast live to air by Australian radio.
"Cry" released on "Cremation" bootleg LP (listed as Melbourne,Hearts 9-Apr-81).

Poster: Taken from the inside cover of "Inner City Sound", a book by Clinton Walker

29-Nov-80
AU Sydney,Paris Theatre
[with Laughing Clowns & The Go-Betweens]

Poster: Photo of poster.

Note: One of the above shows was organised by 4ZZZ FM from QLD.

Poster: Original handwritten poster.

Note: Last date of the first Australian tour.

13-Dec-80
AU Melbourne,Crystal Ballroom

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ Happy Birthday/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Yard/ Mr. Clarinet/ Let's Talk About Art/ The Friend Catcher/ Waving My Arms/ King Ink/ Guilt Parade/ The Hair Shirt.

Note: without Phil. Only doing Stooges covers.

Note: One of the stage-divers was kicked off stage by Tracy Pew (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Setlist: Encore: Loose

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ Mr Clarinet/ Zoo Music Girl/ The Friend Catcher/ Happy Birthday/ Yard/ Guilt Parade/ Let's Talk About Art /King Ink/ Waving My Arms/ Cry/ Catman/ Hair Shirt/ Safehouse.

Photo: Credit Alison Lea.

Poster: Taken from the inside cover of "Inner City Sound" book by C.Walker

Poster: Scan of poster

Poster: Scan of poster

Setlist: Happy Birthday/ Nick The Stripper/ Guilt Parade/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Yard/ Mr. Clarinet/ The Friend Catcher/ Let's Talk About Art/ Waving My Arms/ King Ink/ Figure Of Fun/ The Hair Shirt/ Catman/ Cry/ Loose.

Note: Last concert before going back overseas. Nick invites audience member to sing "Loose". Tracy pushes him off stage.
Evan English & Paul Goldman (a.k.a. The Rich Kids) shoot the 'Nick The Stripper' promo video (edited by John Hillcoat) in Melbourne-Camberwell the same week, the day before the band return to London.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 07-Mar-81

Note: with Barry Adamson (later to become a Bad Seeds member) and Bleddyn Butcher (later to become the 'house' photographer) in the audience.

Flyer: Original flyer.

30-Mar-81
UK Release of "Prayers on Fire" album on 4AD records

Photo: Credit Harry Papadopoulos

Setlist: Release The Bats/ Rowland Around In That Stuff/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Loose

Note: First broadcast by BBC Radio One on 28-Apr-81.
Also released on "The John Peel Sessions" CD(Strange Fruit UK-2001)

Ad: Taken from UK mag Apr-81

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ Happy Birthday/ Release The Bats/ Yard/ Waving My Arms/ Figure Of Fun/ The Friend Catcher.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 25-Apr-81

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ Happy Birthday/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ The Friend Catcher/ Figure Of Fun/ Yard/ Rowland Around In That Stuff/ A Dead Song/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Cry/ Catman.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 02-May-81

Setlist: A Dead Song/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Nick The Stripper/ Cry/ Release The Bats.

Note: Their second UK gig outside of London. They only played a really short set because of the 2 other (local) bands on the bill, who played before them, and because they had to get back to London to catch the last tube. Which meant they must have been playing largely on borrowed equipment.

Jun-81
AU Release of 'Nick the stripper/Kathy's Kisses/Blundertown' 12" on Missing Link records

Setlist: Blast Off/ A Dead Song/ The Friend Catcher/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Rowland Around In That Stuff/ Nick The Stripper/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Happy Birthday/ King Ink/ Figure Of Fun/ Cry/ Release The Bats/ Catman.

Note: Start of first (8 date) tour of the UK.

Setlist: King Ink/ Blast Off/ Happy Birthday/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Cry/ Catman.

Setlist: (not in this order:) Figure Of Fun/ Cry/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ Zoo-Music Girl/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ King Ink/ A Dead Song/ Release The Bats.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 20-Jun-81

Setlist: Cry/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Friend Catcher/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ King Ink/ A Dead Song/ Catman/ Release The Bats/ Loose.

Setlist: King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Friend Catcher/ Blast Off/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ Catman/ Cry.

Note: "Release The Bats" released on "Devil In A Bottle" bootleg LP

Ad: Taken from UK mag 13-Jun-81

Setlist: Release The Bats/ Nick The Stripper/ Happy Birthday/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Friend Catcher/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ King Ink/ A Dead Song/ Catman/ Cry.

Note: Birthday Party joins Bauhaus for their final encore- "Fever"

Note: Day of the Charles & Dianna wedding.

31-Jul-81
UK Release of 'Release the Bats/Blast Off' 7" on 4AD records

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag Jul-81

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Catman/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink/ A Dead Song/ Cry/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Figure Of Fun.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Aug-81

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Catman/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink/ A Dead Song/ Figure Of Fun/ Release The Bats/ Cry/ Loose.

Ad: Taken from NME mag 15-Aug-81

Ad: Taken from UK mag Aug-81

Ad: Taken from UK mag Sep-81

Setlist: Junkyard King/ Nick The Stripper/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Blast Off/ Dangerzone/ Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ King Ink/ Cry/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Figure Of Fun/ Loose.

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Cry/ Dim Locator/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ Junkyard King/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats/ A Dead Song/ Loose.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Sep-81

1981
US Release of "Prayers on Fire" album on Thermidor records

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink.

Note: Start of first -10 date- tour of the USA. For their stay in New York City the band resides at the Iroquois Hotel.

The concert starts around midnight at this upmarket rock disco. The audience consists out of the disco's clientele and only 8 fans, four from Chicago. Nick Cave is wearing gold lame trousers. Tracy Pew sports a big black cowboy hat. Mick Harvey -who's screaming drunk- shouts insults at the audience, which does not want the band to be there. During the 15 minute version of "King Ink" Nick walks into the audience, wraps the mic lead around the throat of a woman and screams ' Express yourself!'. The 10 remaining people start leaving. The concert is then stopped by the management of the club (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

They performed as The Birthday Boys because Ritz management didn't allow any shows prior the gig on 25-Sep-81. NME writer Barney Hoskins' article about the show, published on 17-Oct-81, triggered the whole image of The Birthday Party as a wild and dangerous band for which violence at gigs was the standard.

Photo: Credit Helena Glass (one of the Missing Link Records label owners). Used with kind permission.

24-Sep-81
US NY,New York City,Chase Park Lounge

Note: as The Birthday Boys. Due to weather conditions only 1 woman shows up. Gig cancelled.

Note: During "King Ink" Nick beat his head on the snare drum so hard it started bleeding upon which the club management decided to stop the concert (after only 35 min!!) (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Note: Gig cancelled by the club management due to Nick's behaviour on 25-Sep-81.

Note: About 30 people show up including Lydia Lunch.

Note: The club is at 930 F St. in an apartment transformed into a club. The gig starts at midnight. Tracy Pew grabs a guy (a diplomat's son) in the front of the audience by his necktie and kicks him. The cops come in and most likely end the show.

Note: Last date of tour. Money and a bottle of drugs are thrown on stage. Nick & Rowland sample some pills from the bottle on the flight from Chicago to London. Read more in Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed".

Oct-81
UK Release of 'Mr. Clarinet/Happy Birthday' 7" in U.K. on 4AD records

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Cry/ Bully Bones/ Junkyard / Nick The Stripper/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ King Ink.

Note: In front of an audience of over 1,000. Their largest so far in the UK.

Photo: Credit by Steve Makin

Note: with James Johnston (now in Gallon Drunk and also The Bad Seeds) in the audience

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ Dim Locator/ King Ink/ Bully Bones/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Little Doll.

Note: with Jessamy Calkin (Neubauten tour manager/fan club 1985-1990) in the audience. First time "She's Hit" is performed.

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Nick The Stripper/ Release The Bats(*)/ Junkyard/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Cry(*)/ Little Doll(*).

Note: first ever concert on the continent. (*):released on "Devil In A Bottle" Bootleg LP

Setlist: amongst others: Release The Bats.

Note: first concert in the Netherlands.

Setlist: Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Bully Bones/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Bully Bones/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ Blast Off/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats.

Note: Broadcast by Dutch VPRO radio. "Nick The Stripper", A Dead Song" & "Big Jesus Trash Can" released on Cremation" bootleg LP.

Photo: Credit Laboratori!Kooos.

Setlist: Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Bully Bones/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ Blast Off/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats.

Note: At a disco. The PA was unearthed which resulted in both band and audience getting electrical shocks.

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Cry/ Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats.

Note: Free concert in a tent organized by communist party. Chaos erupts after Tracy hits audience member. People throw everyting on stage and try to get on it, but security beats the shit out of them (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Setlist: Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Nick The Stripper/ She's Hit/ Blast Off/ Junkyard/ Bully Bones/ King Ink/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Loose/ Cry.

Setlist: Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Nick The Stripper/ She's Hit/ Blast Off/ Junkyard/ Bully Bones/ King Ink/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Figure Of Fun/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Loose.

Note: They were advertised as 'The hardest live band from London'.

Poster: Photo of poster.

Setlist: Junkyard/ A Dead Song/ Dim Locator/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Nick The Stripper/ Blast Off/ Release The Bats/ Bully Bones/ King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Loose /She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Note: Lydia's first concert with The Birthday Party. Lydia Lunch was touring the UK with 13.13 (as support for The Cure). All but last 3 songs released on "Live 81-82" CD (4AD records 1999). "Loose" available on "Drunk On The Pope's Blood" 12" (4AD records 1982).

Ad: Taken from UK mag 28-Nov-81

Setlist: Nick The Stripper/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Bully Bones/ Junkyard/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Dim Locator/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Jackson.

Note: Lydia joins on "Jackson" (Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood).

Setlist: (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Nick The Stripper/ Cry/ Junkyard/ Bully Bones/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Dim Locator/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Loose.

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ She's Hit/ Bully Bones/ Six Inch Gold Blade.

Note: First broadcast by BBC Radio One on 10-Dec-81.
Also released on "The John Peel Sessions" CD (Strange Fruit UK-2001).

Dec-81
UK London, Nick Cave writes with Lydia Lunch about 10 of "50 one-page-plays"

Setlist: Junkyard/ A Dead Song/ Six Inch Gold Blade/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ She's Hit/ Nick The Stripper/ Dim Locator/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink/ Release The Bats.

Note: last concert before returning to Melbourne. The band is in total shambles. Nick attempts to climb the P.A. on numerous occasions and Tracy keeps falling over backwards. Fights erupt on and off stage. Nick beats up a heckler during "She's Hit" and subsequently forgets the song for which Mick punches him in the mouth. Tracy overdoses before the concert, Nick after (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Ad: Taken from NME mag 12-Dec-81

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Blast Off/ Nick The Stripper/ A Dead Song/ Bully Bones/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Six Inch Gold Blade/ Cry.

Note: Filmed by Evan English & Paul Goldman (a.k.a. The Rich Kids).

Poster: Taken from "Inner City Sound", a book by C.Walker

Note: Both dates cancelled and moved to 04/05-Jan-82.

Setlist: (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Junkyard/ A Dead Song/ Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Nick The Stripper/ Release The Bats/ King Ink/ Six Inch Gold Blade/ Blast Off/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Loose.

Note: Either late 1981 or early 1982.

Poster: Photo of poster.

Setlist: Cry/ She's Hit/ The Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Nick The Stripper/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Bully Bones/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ (Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Loose.

Note: In front of 1,600 people. Tracks from "Nick The Stripper" to "Pleasure Heads" were broadcast by 2JJJ FM

Ticket: Reproduction taken from "Fanatic!", a book by Henry Rollins.

Setlist: King Ink/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Junkyard/ Blast Off/ Release The Bats/ Nick The Stripper/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Dead Joe.

Note: All but "6" Gold Blade" released -without consent of the band- on "It's Still Living" album on Missing Link records. Filmed by Evan English & Paul Goldman (a.k.a. The Rich Kids).

Flyer: Original flyer

Setlist: New Age/ Downtown Swinging Town/ I Don't Care, Yeah/ Dead Joe/ Ring Of Fire.

Note: A private Missing Link Records party. The Birthday Party (without Phill Calvert) with members of The Go-Betweens and others. They perform as The Cavemen.

Setlist: Encore: Jackson (with Lindy Morrison from The Go-Betweens drumming and Jade Adrenalin from Adelaide band The Bad Poets as guest vocalist,duetting with Nick).

23-Jan-82
AU Adelaide,The Stagedoor
[with The Go-Betweens]

Setlist: King Ink/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Zoo-Music Girl/ 6" Gold Blade/ The Dim Locator/ Junkyard/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Release The Bats/ Nick The Stripper/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Loose.

Note: Despite the worst heat wave in 30 years they put on 3 manic shows in Adelaide.

Setlist: The Dim Locator/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ King Ink/ Loose/ The Friend Catcher.

Flyer: Taken from Definitive Missing Link Recordings 1979-1982 CD box set booklet.

18-Feb-82
UK Release of 'Drunk On The Pope's Blood' 12" EP on 4AD records

Setlist: She's Hit/ The Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard(*)/ Release The Bats/ Nick The Stripper/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse/ The Hair Shirt.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Chris Walsh (then of The Moodists).
(*) released on "Composite Signals" VHS video compilation.

Setlist: Junkyard/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Nick The Stripper/ Release The Bats/ A Dead Song/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ King Ink/ Funhouse/ Catman.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Chris Walsh (then of The Moodists).

Note: Cancelled.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Junkyard/ Zoo-Music Girl/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ 6" Gold Blade/ Release The Bats/ King Ink/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse/ Nick The Stripper.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Barry Adamson (then of Magazine).

Flyer: Scan of flyer.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Barry Adamson (then of Magazine).

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 03-Mar-82

Note: All 3 were cancelled.

Setlist: (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Dead Joe/ Junkyard/ Kewpie Doll/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ The Dim Locator/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Release The Bats/ King Ink/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Barry Adamson (then of Magazine).
No.1 fan 'Bingo' is breathing fire at the band.

Ad: Taken from UK mag 20-Mar-82

Setlist: Dead Joe/ King Ink/ Zoo-Music Girl/ 6" Gold Blade/ The Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ She's Hit/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ (Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Barry Adamson (then of Magazine, later The Bad Seeds).

Setlist: King Ink/ Dead Joe/ The Dim Locator/ 6" Gold Blade/ Zoo-Music Girl/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard (Rowland's brother).

Poster: Reproduction taken from "Beats Working For A Living - Sheffield popular music 1973-1984", a book by Martin Lilleker.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ Junkyard/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard.

Setlist: Photo of setlist.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ King Ink/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Zoo-Music Girl/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Junkyard/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit/ Zoo-Music Girl/ 6" Gold Blade/ A Dead Song/ King Ink/ Release The Bats/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard.

Ad: Taken from Sounds mag 24-Apr-82

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ She's Hit/ Zoo-Music Girl/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard.

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Several Sins/ Zoo-Music Girl/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Release The Bats/ Funhouse/ Sad Dark Eyes/ A Dead Song.

Note: Tracy Pew is replaced by Harry Howard.

Ad: Taken from UK mag 08-May-82

Setlist: The Friend Catcher/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ 6" Gold Blade/ Dead Joe/ Sad Dark Eyes/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Nick The Stripper.


Note: Tracy Pew is back! (from 2.5 months in an Australian labour camp)


Ad: Taken from MM mag 15-May-82

Setlist: The Friend Catcher/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ Sad Dark Eyes/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ 6" Gold Blade/ Kewpie Doll/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink.

Ad: Taken from UK mag May-82

Note: start of the 'This is the last day of the rest of your life'-tour.
Lydia's & Rowland's 10 minute set uses a specially prepared backing tape by Einstürzende Neubauten. Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head". Die Haut and The Birthday Party meet for the first time.

Poster: Photo of poster.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head".
That day Nick is introduced by Gudrun Gut (of Malaria!) to Blixa Bargeld (of Einstürzende Neubauten) who are in Amsterdam for their concert at the Meervaart on 06-Jun-82.

Poster: Photo of a Martyn Kaye poster.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ Junkyard(*)/ The Friend Catcher(*)/ Big Jesus Trash Can(*)/ Sad Dark Eyes/ A Dead Song(*)/ Dead In The Head(*)/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)(*)/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn(*)/ She's Hit(*)/ Release The Bats/ Catman/ Loose.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head".
(*): Broadcast by Dutch VARA FM radio. All but the last 4 tracks also available on the (fair quality) "The Front Row Is Not For The Fragile" bootleg LP.

Setlist: The Friend Catcher/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Sad Dark Eyes/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Dead In The Head/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ Dead Joe/ Funhouse/ Nick The Stripper.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head". Rowland vocals on " A Dead Song".

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head".

Setlist: Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Sad Dark Eyes/ Release The Bats/ Dead In The Head/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ She's Hit.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head". Fights erupt on and off stage. Their only concert ever in France.

Setlist: Dead In The Head/ 99 Ways/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Release The Bats/ Sad Dark Eyes/ Zoo-Music Girl/ Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ She's Hit.

Note: start of the by Rowland christened 'Oops!, I've got blood on the end of my boot'-tour. All tracks available on "Live In Berlin" bootleg tape.
Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head" and "99 Ways".

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Dead Joe/ The Friend Catcher/ Release The Bats/ 6" Gold Blade/ Sad Dark Eyes/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Dead In The Head".

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Funhouse".

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Funhouse".

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can(*)/ Dead Joe(*)/ The Friend Catcher(*)/ A Dead Song/ 6" Gold Blade(*)/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)(*)/ She's Hit(*)/ (Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Funhouse.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Funhouse".
Broadcast by Radio Bremen FM. All but "Release The Bats" & "She's Hit" released on bootleg LP "A Social Gathering For the Celebration Of The Anniversary Of Someones Birth". (*)Released on "Live 81-82" CD on 4AD records. Complete concert also available on the "Funhouse" bootleg LP.

Jul-82
UK Release of 'Junkyard' album on 4AD records.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ The Friend Catcher/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ Kiss Me Black/ 6" Gold Blade/ Dead Joe/ (Sometimes)Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Funhouse".
"Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)" and "Funhouse" released on "Kino Aus Der Kassette" German cassette-zine(1982). During "Kiss Me Black" Nick inavertedly kicks a girl in the face. Bingo saves Nick from being hit by a skinhead with an iron bar. Bedlam with bouncers and audience erupts. A drunken audience member pisses on stage. Tracy punches the guy in the face (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed).

Photo: Credit Tom Sheehan

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ Junkyard/ Dead Joe/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ The Friend Catcher/ Release The Bats/ 6" Gold Blade/ Zoo-Music Girl/ She's Hit/ (Sometimes) Pleasure Heads Must Burn/ Funhouse/ Nick The Stripper.

Note: Lydia joins The Birthday Party on "Funhouse".

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Dead Joe/ The Friend Catcher/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ 6" Gold Blade/ Release The Bats/ Kiss Me Black/ She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse/ Nick The Stripper.

Flyer: Scan of flyer

Setlist: Junkyard/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Note: Due to complaints from viewers after the broadcast of "Junkyard", "Big Jesus Trash Can" is not shown on Dutch TV.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Dead Joe(*)/ 6" Gold Blade/ A Dead Song(*)/ The Dim Locator/ Junkyard(*)/ Release The Bats(*)/ She's Hit/ (Sometimes) Pleasure heads Must Burn(*)/ Big Jesus Trash Can(*)/ Funhouse.

Note: (*)Released on "Pleasure Heads Must Burn" video (Icon F.C.L. UK 1983)/DVD (Cherry Red UK 2003).

Ad: Taken from NME mag 10-Jul-82

Setlist: Big Jesus Trash Can/ The Friend Catcher/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ 6" Gold Blade/ The Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ (Sometimes) Pleasure heads Must Burn/ Nick The Stripper.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Dead Joe/ The Friend Catcher/ Release The Bats/ Junkyard/ The Dim Locator/ 6" Gold Blade/ (Sometimes) Pleasure heads Must Burn/ She's Hit/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Funhouse.

Note: Next to last concert with Phill Calvert.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Jul-82

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ (Sometimes) Pleasure heads Must Burn/ 6" Gold Blade/ Junkyard/ Release The Bats/ The Friend Catcher/ The Dim Locator/ A Dead Song/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Zoo-Music Girl/ King Ink.

Note: Last concert with Phill Calvert.

Ad: Taken from NME mag 07-Aug-82

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Sonny's Burning/ 6" Gold Blade/ Deep In The Woods/ The Dim Locator/ Fears Of Gun/ Still Burning/ Release The Bats/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Funhouse/ Junkyard/ Loose.

Note: With Jim Thirlwell on sax during last 3 songs. First concert with Line-up#2. Nick pushes the 6 bouncers off stage. Audience storms stage (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed"). "Funhouse" released on "Live 81-82" CD on 4AD records.

Photo: Taken from Greek Hi-Fi mag Oct-82

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ 6" Gold Blade/ Dead Joe/ Deep In The Woods/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/She's Hit.

Note: Weeks in advance both bands had been offered unlimited supply of free drinks to attract customers to this new club. The concert was cancelled by the club owners (2 Turkish arms dealers) when they found out they would never be able to recoup these expenses and certainly after they saw the flyer -with a photo of Nick & Rowland- to advertise the concert. The club closed soon after.(From Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Photo: Credit Rainer Berson

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ 6" Gold Blade/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Release The Bats/ Sonny's Burning.

Photo: Credit John Groot.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ 6" Gold Blade/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ The Dim Locator/ She's Hit/ Release The Bats/ Sonny's Burning/ 16 Tons/ Funhouse.

Poster: Courtesy of Etienne Vernaeve (of Isolation Ward).

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ 6" Gold Blade/ Wild World/ Dead Joe/ The Dim Locator/ Deep In The Woods/ Fears Of Gun/ Release The Bats/ She's Hit/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Photo: Credit Erik L. (Drone Chapparal). Used with kind permission.

Setlist: Deep In The Woods/ Marry Me(Lie!Lie!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Sonny's Burning.

Note: First broadcast by BBC Radio One on 22-Nov-82.
Also released on "The John Peel Sessions" CD(Strange Fruit UK-2001)

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Deep In The Woods/ 6" Gold Blade/ Dead Joe/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Sonny's Burning/ Loose.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Nov-82

Note: The gig descended into chaos with Nick Cave jumping from the low stage to fight with a member of the audience. The concert was filmed by the venue.

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ Deep In The Woods/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ 6" Gold Blade/ Pleasure Avalanche/ She's Hit/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Note: Recorded by Channel 4 TV. Last 2 songs broadcast by BBC TV on "Whatever You Want" and later released on "Pleasure Heads Must Burn" DVD (Cherry Red UK 2003).

Photo: Credit David Corio

Dec-82
NL Eindhoven,Effenaar (Die Haut with Nick Cave)

Note: Nick Cave's first live guest appearance with Die Haut. They perform songs from the "Burnin' The Ice" album.

Note: Nick and Tracy host the program and are interviewed by Bram Van Splunteren. Their selection includes songs by The Stooges/ Archie Shepp/ Hank Williams/ Tennessee E. Ford/ Kris Kristofferson/ Captain Beefheart/ The Walker Brothers/ Van Morrison/ Alex Harvey/ The Saints/ Red Crayola, etc..
"That drunken interview ... it wound up in excess": Mick Harvey quoted in Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed".

Ad: Taken from Oor mag 12-Jan-83

Note: Jeffrey Wegener (ex- Laughing Clowns) joins for Dutch 5 dates tour only. Plays drums half of set.

Setlist: Six String That Drew Blood/ Sonny's Burning/ She's Hit/ 6" Gold Blade/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Big Jesus Trash Can.

Photo: Credit unknown.

Note: With Jeffrey Wegener on drums for half of set. All except last 2 tracks available on the fair quality "Fuckin' Rotten Business This! bootleg LP.

Note: With Jeffrey Wegener on drums for half of set.

Photo: Credit John Groot.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Fears Of Gun/ Deep In The Woods/ Wild World/ Dead Joe/ She's Hit/ Sonny's Burning/ The Friend Catcher/ Six Strings That Drew Blood.

Note: With Jeffrey Wegener on drums for half of set.

Ad: Taken from Oor mag 12-Jan-83

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Fears Of Gun/ Deep In The Woods/ 6" Gold Blade/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ She's Hit/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Sonny's Burning/ The Friend Catcher.

Note: Last show with Jeffrey Wegener on drums for half of set..

Feb-83
UK Release of "The Bad Seed" 12" EP on 4AD records.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)(*)/ Say A Spell/ Fears Of Gun/ Pleasure Avalanche(*)/ 6" Gold Blade(*)/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World(*)/ Six Strings That Drew Blood(*)/ Sonny's Burning(*)/ Swampland/ She's Hit(*).

Note: (*)Released on "Pleasure Heads Must Burn" video (Icon F.C.L. UK 1983)/DVD (Cherry Red UK 2003).

Ad: Taken from NME 19-Feb-83

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Say A Spell/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Deep In The Woods/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ 6" Gold Blade/ Sonny's Burning/ Swampland.

Poster: Photo of poster.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Feb-83

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Say A Spell/ Fears Of Gun/ Pleasure Avalanche/ 6" Gold Blade/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Sonny's Burning.

Ad: Taken from UK mag Feb-83

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Say A Spell/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ Fears Of Gun/ Deep In The Woods/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Swampland/ Sonny's Burning/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ She's Hit.

Ad: Taken from NME mag 19-Feb-83

Mar-83
Band changes labels (from 4AD) to Mute.

Note: Start of 2nd tour of the U.S.A

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Say A Spell/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Sonny's Burning.

Photo: Credit Catherine Ceresole

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ Swampland/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Say A Spell/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ Swampland/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Sonny's Burning.

Photo: Credit David Arnoff

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Deep In The Woods/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ 6" Gold Blade/ Swampland/ Wild World/ Pleasure Avalanche/ She's Hit.

Flyer: Scan of flyer

Note: Henry Rollins attends the show.

Note: Nick Cave and Henry Rollins attend this concert by the Minutemen and meet for the first time.

Setlist: Sonny's Burning/ Swampland/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ 6" Gold Blade/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ She's Hit/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Photo: Credit Duane Davis

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Swampland/ Fears Of Gun/ Wild World/ Big Jesus Trash Can/ Sonny's Burning/ She's Hit/ 6" Inch Gold Blade/ Pleasure Avalanche.

Photo: Credit Catherine Ceresole

Setlist: Swampland/ Sonny's Burning/ 6" Gold Blade/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit.

Flyer: Photo of back of flyer.

Note: Last ever concert in the U.S.A.
Girl in the audience: "They're evil!", boy in the audience: "Yeah, they're really evil!"

Note: Footage from these sessions was used by Heiner Mühlenbrock for his film "Die Stadt" ("The City").

Setlist: Swampland/ 6" Gold Blade/ Sonny's Burning/ Pleasure Avalanche/ Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Jennifer's Veil.

Note: Last concert with Mick Harvey who had announced his departure from the band earlier that month.

Ad: Taken from NME mag 16-Apr-83

Note: Start of last tour, arranged by concert promoter Ken West (now Big Day Out organizer). With Des Heffner (from Marching Girls) replacing Mick on drums.

Flyer: Scan of flyer

Setlist: Deep In The Woods/ Sonny's Burning/ Jennifer's Veil/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit.

Note: "Sonny's Burning" released on "Cremation" bootleg LP. "Fears Of Gun" released on "Devil In A Bottle" bootleg LP.

Poster: Scan of poster.

Setlist: Dead Joe/ Deep In The Woods/ Sonny's Burning/ Jennifer's Veil/ Wild World/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit.

Note: "Hamlet" and "She's Hit" released on "Cremation" bootleg LP. "Jennifer's Veil" released on "Devil In A Bottle" bootleg LP.

Setlist: Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Jennifer's Veil/ Sonny's Burning/ She's Hit/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Note: Concert was recorded by Radio Active, but it's uncertain whether it was also broadcast.

Setlist: Deep In The Woods/ Dead Joe/ Wild World/ Jennifer's Veil/ Sonny's Burning/ She's Hit/ Fears Of Gun/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!).

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Wild World/ Junkyard/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Deep In The Woods/ Sonny's Burning/ Jennifer's Veil/ Dead Joe/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit.

Flyer: Scan of flyer.

Setlist: Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Deep In The Woods/ Wild World/ Sonny's Burning/ Junkyard/ She's Hit.

Note: Above tracks were recorded and broadcast by 2JJJ-FM. All tracks available on "God Gave Them Sex Appeal" bootleg tape. All but "Sonny's Burning" and "She's Hit" released on "Devil In A Bottle" bootleg LP.
Filmed by Glen Auchinachie. "Deep In The Woods" from his footage is still regularly broadcast on Australian TV and also released on the "Pleasure Heads Must Burn" DVD (Cherry Red UK 2003). The audio section from his clip is taken from another concert (T.U.C. 01-May-83?).

Note: Nick was bitten on the leg by a hospital clerk named Sarah, and knocked to the ground by the former lead singer of The Shuffling Hungarians (from Ian Johnston's biography "Bad Seed").

Flyer: Scan of flyer

Setlist: Hamlet (Pow! Pow! Pow!)/ Fears of Gun/ Deep In The Woods(*)/ Dead Joe/ Jennifer's Veil(*)/ Junkyard(*)/ Six Strings That Drew Blood(*)/ Sonny's Burning(*)/ She's Hit(*)/ Wild World(*).

Note: (*) were recorded and broadcast by 3RRR-FM.

Setlist: Junkyard/ Sonny's Burning/ Wild World/ Six Strings That Drew Blood/ Deep In The Woods/ Fears Of Gun/ Dead Joe/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ She's Hit/ Jennifer's Veil.

Note: Next to last concert!

Flyer: Scan of flyer

Setlist: Junkyard/ Sonny's Burning/ Wild World/ Six Strings That Drew Blood(*)/ Deep In The Woods(*)/ Dead Joe/ Fears Of Gun/ She's Hit/ Hamlet(Pow!Pow!Pow!)/ Jennifer's Veil.

Note: Last ever Birthday Party concert! Done to get some money to return to the UK. (*) released on "Composite Signals" VHS video V/A compilation.
In August Nick, Rowland and Tracy return to London to recommence work on the "Mutiny!" EP.

Photo: Credit unknown

Note: Towards the end of the sessions Blixa Bargeld (of Einstürzende Neubauten) replaces Rowland S.Howard on "Mutiny In Heaven". Mick Harvey also participates.

Nov-83
UK Release of the "Mutiny!" 12" EP on Mute records.

Made by Hans (don't forget to remove the anti spam section).
Last modified 19th of April, 2008