Australian Story to return with ‘extraordinary conversation’ with Nick Cave
Australian Story will return to the ABC next Monday with what Leigh Sales dubs “an extraordinary conversation” with Nick Cave.
During the “wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation”, Cave “looks back over more than four decades as a performer and songwriter and explains how the death of his son in an accidental fall nine years ago changed the course of his life, bringing him closer to his fans and deepening a life-long interest in religion,” according to the ABC synopsis.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are set to release their 18th studio album — and first in five years — Wild God, on August 30.
Since September, 2018, Cave has operated a website and emailing list named The Red Hand Files where he answers questions from fans without outside editing or interruption.
“You can ask me anything,” Cave announced when launching the site. “There will be no moderator. This will be between you and me. Let’s see what happens.”
Since then, Cave has answered more than 300 questions, musing on subjects ranging from the death of a child, to why it’s not a good idea to hide tabs of acid in an unused Vegemite jar.
Cave also recently released a book named Faith, Hope and Carnage, a “profoundly thoughtful exploration” compiled from over 40 hours of conversations with writer Sean O’Hagan, which examines questions of faith, art, music, freedom, grief and love.
All of which is to say, if you’re an old Birthday Party fan, don’t expect the wary, prickly Cave of old to be present during this Australian Story episode.
Judging from his book, and The Red Hand Files, you’ll probably cry a bit, too.
Australian Story airs Monday, August 12, 8pm, on ABCTV, ABC iview and YouTube.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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