Nick Cave: I wanted to be like Alex...sensational

Oct 26 2008 Billy Sloan

NICK CAVE never needs to be asked twice to play in Scotland as it was one of our biggest stars who inspired the Aussie wildman to become a singer.

He idolised music legend Alex Harvey and learned to perform by listening to his records.

Nick and The Bad Seeds appear at Edinburgh Corn Exchange on November 26 where they will preview new songs from the follow-up to their Mojo award winning 2008 album, Dig Lazarus Dig.

And Nick says he'd like to pay a musical tribute to Harvey.

He said: "At school in Australia a guy in the class above me turned me on to The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

"It was almost like a bit of secret information he'd given me - a great band nobody else knew anything about."

Nick began buying classic SAHB albums such as Framed and Next and their songs helped shape his own music.

He said: "When I started off in a band I'd perform 80 per cent Alex Harvey material.

"We were basically a Harvey covers band but nobody in Australia knew the songs."

Nick is busy working on songs for a new album and he can't wait to play in Scotland again.

His offshoot music project Grinderman were one of the smash hits of this summer's Hydro Connect Festival at Inveraray Castle.

He said: "Every time I play Scotland it gets my creative juices flowing."

Nick is determined to continue recording and touring with Grinderman as it's a rare opportunity to be let off the leash musically.

He said: "You don't need to have a lot of brain cells left to enjoy Grinderman.

"It's very energetic and people seem to appreciate that."