Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey (born 29 August 1958 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia)… Read Full Bio ↴Michael John Harvey (born 29 August 1958 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia), is a rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer best known for his long collaboration with singer-songwriter Nick Cave. A multi-instrumentalist, Harvey plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums.
Born in rural Victoria, Harvey moved to the suburbs of Melbourne in his childhood. His father was a Church of England Vicar and the family lived adjacent to the church, first in Ormond then later Ashburton. Harvey sang in the church choir from an early age. Harvey, his elder brother Philip and younger brother Sebastian all attended the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School. It was at school in the early 1970s that Harvey met fellow students Nick Cave, Phill Calvert and Tracy Pew. A rock group was formed with Cave (vocals), Harvey (guitar), Calvert (drums) and other students on guitar, bass and saxophone. The band played at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others. Harvey was also a member of the school choir (conducted by actor Norman Kaye), and took extra-curricular lessons from jazz guitarist Bruce Clarke.
After their final school year in 1975 the band decided to continue with friend Tracy Pew picking up the bass. Greatly affected by the punk explosion of 1976 which saw Australian bands The Saints and Radio Birdman making their first recordings and tours, The Boys Next Door, as Harvey's band were now called, began performing fast original New Wave material, with Harvey's guitar style influenced by James Williamson of The Stooges and Paul Weller of The Jam and regularly playing pubs from 1977-1980. Rowland S. Howard joined in 1978, bringing a chaotic feedback guitar style to the band.
After recordings and moderate success in Australia (including hundreds of live performances) they headed for London in 1980, changing their name to The Birthday Party and launching into a period of innovative and aggressive music-making, underpinned by Harvey's concise guitar playing.
Harvey's girlfriend Katy Beale followed to London, then the band moved to West Berlin, minus Calvert. Harvey moved from guitar to drums. After the break up of The Birthday Party, Harvey stayed in Berlin and contacted his friend Simon Bonney. Together they reformed Bonney's old Australian band Crime and the City Solution. Howard formed These Immortal Souls, and Harvey played guitar and piano in an early version of that group. Subsequently Harvey and Cave formed Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, who survive to this day.
After Bonney left Crime and the City Solution for a solo career in the USA, Harvey recorded two solo CDs of Serge Gainsbourg songs, translated from French into English: Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants. He has also collaborated with UK rock musician PJ Harvey (no relation), and produced other Australian artists including Anita Lane, Robert Forster, Conway Savage and Rowland S. Howard. Harvey's third solo release One Man's Treasure was issued in September 2005.
Harvey now splits his time between Europe and Melbourne. He has one son with his partner, painter Katrina (Katy) Beale.
Born in rural Victoria, Harvey moved to the suburbs of Melbourne in his childhood. His father was a Church of England Vicar and the family lived adjacent to the church, first in Ormond then later Ashburton. Harvey sang in the church choir from an early age. Harvey, his elder brother Philip and younger brother Sebastian all attended the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School. It was at school in the early 1970s that Harvey met fellow students Nick Cave, Phill Calvert and Tracy Pew. A rock group was formed with Cave (vocals), Harvey (guitar), Calvert (drums) and other students on guitar, bass and saxophone. The band played at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others. Harvey was also a member of the school choir (conducted by actor Norman Kaye), and took extra-curricular lessons from jazz guitarist Bruce Clarke.
After their final school year in 1975 the band decided to continue with friend Tracy Pew picking up the bass. Greatly affected by the punk explosion of 1976 which saw Australian bands The Saints and Radio Birdman making their first recordings and tours, The Boys Next Door, as Harvey's band were now called, began performing fast original New Wave material, with Harvey's guitar style influenced by James Williamson of The Stooges and Paul Weller of The Jam and regularly playing pubs from 1977-1980. Rowland S. Howard joined in 1978, bringing a chaotic feedback guitar style to the band.
After recordings and moderate success in Australia (including hundreds of live performances) they headed for London in 1980, changing their name to The Birthday Party and launching into a period of innovative and aggressive music-making, underpinned by Harvey's concise guitar playing.
Harvey's girlfriend Katy Beale followed to London, then the band moved to West Berlin, minus Calvert. Harvey moved from guitar to drums. After the break up of The Birthday Party, Harvey stayed in Berlin and contacted his friend Simon Bonney. Together they reformed Bonney's old Australian band Crime and the City Solution. Howard formed These Immortal Souls, and Harvey played guitar and piano in an early version of that group. Subsequently Harvey and Cave formed Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, who survive to this day.
After Bonney left Crime and the City Solution for a solo career in the USA, Harvey recorded two solo CDs of Serge Gainsbourg songs, translated from French into English: Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants. He has also collaborated with UK rock musician PJ Harvey (no relation), and produced other Australian artists including Anita Lane, Robert Forster, Conway Savage and Rowland S. Howard. Harvey's third solo release One Man's Treasure was issued in September 2005.
Harvey now splits his time between Europe and Melbourne. He has one son with his partner, painter Katrina (Katy) Beale.
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Mick Harvey Lyrics
A Walk on the Wild Side Sinner, hear what I'm sayin' Sinner, you've been swingin', n…
Anthracite Les pensées que je médite Sont plus noires que l'anthracite …
Black Seaweed Algues brunes ou rouges Dessous la vague bougent Les goémo…
Bonnie And Clyde You've heard the story of Jesse James Of how he lived…
Coffee Colour I love your color, it's coffee Your coiffure of coffee Your …
Everything Is Fixed I saw Jesus in my cell, overnight where he was…
Ford Mustang On se fait des langues En Ford Mustang Et bang! On embras…
Hank Williams Said It Best Ah, one man hawk is another man dove One hug is…
Here I Am I am standing by the river I will be standing here…
I Don't Want You On My Mind I don't want you on my mind all the time I…
Initials B.B. One night as I was just moping around In some English…
Lemon Incest Incest de Citron Lemon Incest I love you, I love you above…
Little Star You came down like a meteor and stole my heart one…
Louise louise when i first saw you all my dreams use to…
Manon Manon Manon Non tu ne sais sur'ment pas Manon A…
Out of Time Man I'm walking out for love I'm walking bad really down Like a…
Photograph There's a photograph in a haunted room filled with memories …
Planetarium Take this drop of time Embalm it in memory One day to…
Sad Dark Eyes I look at you in your sad dark eyes And your…
Scenic Railway Ouais Je t’emmènerai sur le Scénic railway Si c’est ce que…
Sex Shop Come, you little harlot Tell to me, how it was between…
SS C'est Bon So these are senseless assassins An assassin's association S…
The Ballad Of Melody Nelson Pour l'amitié, L'amitié entre hommes et femmes Impensable …
The Javanaise J'avoue j'en ai bavé pas vous mon amour Avant d'avoir eu…
The Song Of Slurs Tu es faible tu es fourbe tu es fou Tu es…
Torrey Canyon Je suis né dans les chantiers japonais En vérité, j'apparti…
Elian
on Ford Mustang
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines [double entendre] (On s' fait des "lines")
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in (double entendre)
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A windshield wiper
A pack of Kool
A badge with the inscription
"Keep Cool"
A bar of
Chocolate
A Coca-Cola
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A bottle
Of make-up fluid
A flashgun
A Browning (automatic pistol)
A phonograph
A volume
Of Edgar Poe
And a plain brass ZIPPO
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
An edition
Of Superman
A nut from
Paco
Rabanne
A pic of
Marilyn
A tube of aspirin
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
Elian
on Ford Mustang
We swap spits / We snort coke lines (double entendre)
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang!"
We bang into / We bang in (double entendre)
The plane trees / The [strip of] plane trees
[Lining the road]
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A windshield wiper
A pack of Kool
A badge with the inscription
"Keep Cool"
A bar of
Chocolate
A Coca-Cola
We swap spits / We snort coke lines (double entendre)
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang!"
We bang into / We bang in (double entendre)
The plane trees / The [strip of] plane trees
[Lining the road]
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A bottle
Of make-up fluid
A flashgun
A Browning (automatic pistol)
A phonograph
A volume
Of Edgar A. Poe
And a plain brass ZIPPO
We swap spits / We snort coke lines (double entendre)
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang!"
We bang into / We bang in (double entendre)
The plane trees / The [strip of] plane trees
[Lining the road]
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
An edition (copy)
Of Superman
A nut from
Paco
Rabanne
A pic of
Marilyn
A tube of aspirin
We swap spits/ We snort coke lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang!"
We bang into / We bang in (double entendre)
The plane trees / The [strip of] plane trees
[Lining the road]
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
Elian
on Ford Mustang
A pic of
Marilyn (Monroe)
Elian
on Ford Mustang
We swap spits / suck face
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang!"
We bang into
The plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A windshield wiper
A pack of Kool
A badge
With "Keep Cool"
Written on it
A bar of
Chocolate
A Coca-Cola
A bottle
Of make-up fluid
A flashgun
A Browning (automatic pistol)
And a phonograph
A volume
Of Allan Poe
A Zippo lighter
A copy
Of Superman (comic book)
A nut from
Paco Rabanne
A pic of
Marilyn Monroe
A tube of aspirin