The Birthday Party

(London 1st March 1980 - August 1983)

Bibliography (I)

Bibliography (II)
("50 One Act" plays typoscript)


Bibliography: a chronological overview of all books, magazines and (selected) articles
containing substantial sections on the Australian band The Birthday Party.
-Information in grey italics is uncertain-

Books: Biography
BAD SEED - by Ian Johnston (1995)
Bad Seed book-front BAD SEED (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. About half of it is covering The Birthday Party. Contains 29 b/w (11 Birthday Party) photos. Including a detailed discography up to end 1994.

Format: Hardback. 344 pages.

Note: First edition. Ian is the brother of James Johnston [Gallon Drunk/Bad Seeds/Retrovirus].

  • Little, Brown and Company -ISBN 0 316 90889 4 (UK,1995)

 Bad Seed book-back
Bad Seed Paperback-front BAD SEED (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. About half of it is covering The Birthday Party. Contains 29 b/w (11 Birthday Party) photos. Including a detailed discography up to end 1994.

Format: Paperback. 344 pages.

  • Abacus -ISBN 0 349 10778 5 (UK,1996)
  • Trafalgar Square Books -ISBN 0 349 10778 5 (US,1996)

 Bad Seed Paperback-back
Bad Seed Czech-front BAD SEED-ZLE SEME (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. About half of it is covering The Birthday Party. 1 b/w photo. Including detailed discography up to end 1994.

Format: Hardback. 299 pages.

Note: Translation of Ian Johnston's book into Czech by Tomás Hrách.

  • Argo -ISBN 80-7203-037-X (CZ,1996)

 Bad Seed Czech-back
Bad Seed Italian-front NICK CAVE-IL SEME DEL MALE (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. About half of it is covering The Birthday Party. 9 b/w photos (all taken @ Milano - Sonoria festival 30-Jun-96). Including detailed discography up to end 1994.

Format: Paperback. 260 pages.

Note: Translation of Ian Johnston's book into Italian by Stefano Focacci. Adds 1 page on the Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" album.

  • Tarab Edizioni -ISBN 88-86675-11-9 (IT,Oct-96)

 Bad Seed Italian-back
Bad Seed Polish-front NICK CAVE (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. About half of it is covering The Birthday Party. 14 b/w (7 Birthday Party) photos. Including detailed discography up to end 1994.

Format: Hardback. 303 pages.

Note: Translation of Ian Johnston's book into Polish by Maciej Majchrzak. Adds a small chapter for period 1995-97.

  • C&T -ISBN 83-85318-86-0 (PL,1997)

 Bad Seed Polish-back
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY & OTHER EPIC ADVENTURES - by Robert Brokenmouth (19-Jul-96)
BPAOEA book-front THE BIRTHDAY PARTY & OTHER EPIC ADVENTURES (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. All but last chapter covers The Boys Next Door and The Birthday Party. 27 b/w (10 Birthday Party) photos. Highly entertaining!

Format: Paperback. 222 pages.

Note: First edition.

  • Omnibus Press -ISBN 0.7119.5601.4 (UK,19-Jul-96)

 BPAOEA book-back
BPAOEA Czech book-front THE BIRTHDAY PARTY & OTHER EPIC ADVENTURES (Book)

Content: A biography of Nick Cave. All but last chapter covers The Boys Next Door and The Birthday Party. 27 b/w (10 Birthday Party) photos.

Format: Paperback. 282 pages.

Note: Translation of Robert Brokenmouth's book into Czech by Jana Hájková.

  • Votobia -ISBN 80-7198-215-6 (CZ,1997)

 BPAOEA Czech book-back
NICK CAVE - by Andrea Cangioli & Maria Alessandra Scalise (Jun-95)
Stampa book-front NICK CAVE (Book)

Content: Short biography of Nick Cave and a detailed discography up to end 1994 (both with several factual mistakes). Transcription of interviews conducted on 23-May-92, 22-Sep-94 & 10-Mar-95. 40 b/w & color (5 Birthday Party) photos.

Format: 7"-sized paperback. 95 pages.

Note: First edition. Italian & English. Comes with 3" CD (N.Cave reads 4 excerpts from ATASTSA. Same as free 12" with Nick Cave's "Tender Prey" album).

  • Stampa Alternativa -ISBN 88-7226-237-2 (IT,Jun-95)

 Stampa book-back
Story book-front NICK CAVE - THE STORY (Book)

Content: Short biography of Nick Cave and a detailed discography up to end 1998 (both with several factual mistakes). Transcription of interviews conducted on 23-May-92, Jan-96 & May-98. 16 different from first edition b/w (5 Birthday Party) photos.

Format: CD-sized paperback. 107 pages.

Note: Revised edition. Italian & English. Comes with CD single (Nick Cave reads 4 excerpts from ATASTSA. Same as free 12" with Nick Cave's "Tender Prey" album).

  • Stampa Alternativa -ISBN 88-7226-442-1 (IT,Jul-98)

 Story book-back




Books: Photo
THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF NICK CAVE - by Maximilian Dax & Johannes Beck (1999)
Life book-front THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF NICK CAVE (Book)

Content: Over 100 rare and wonderfully reproduced b/w & color photos (including a few Birthday Party), a factual overview of Nick Cave's career and a short discography up to end 1999.

Format: Coffee table book. Paperback. 174 pages.

  • Die Gestalten Verlag -ISBN 3-931126-27-7 (GE,1999)
    • English language edition.
  • Die Gestalten Verlag -ISBN 3-931126-29-3 (GE,1999)
    • German language edition.

Life book-back
SOMETIMES PLEASUREHEADS MUST BURN: The Birthday Party and beyond 1982-89 - by Innes Reekie (12-Nov-18)
Sometimes Pleasure Heads book-front SOMETIMES PLEASUREHEADS MUST BURN (Booklet)

Content: 24 b/w photos, taken by Innes Reekie. Birthday Party: Edinburgh,The Nite Club on 23-Apr-82 (23 colour/bw photos); These Immortal Souls: London-Queens Park,Kingswood Avenue on xx-Jul-88 (9 b/w photos), London-Fulham,Greyhound on 07-Oct-88 (2 b/w/ photos); Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: London, Town and Country Club on 26/27-Oct-88 (4 b/w photos); Nick Cave: London-Soho,Groucho Club on xx-Jul-89 (2 b/w photos).

Format: A5 paperback photozine. 40 pages.

  • Stereogram Recordings -No.1 (UK,12-Nov-18)

Sometimes Pleasure Heads book-back
AUSTRALIAN GOTHIC - by David Corio (30-Sep-20)
Australian Gothic book-front AUSTRALIAN GOTHIC (Booklet)

Content: 24 b/w photos, taken by David Corio in London, between 17-May-81 and 25-Nov-82.

Format: A5 paperback photozine. 36 pages.

  • Hanging Around Books -HA041 (UK,30-Sep-20) Ltd to 250.

 Australian Gothic book-back
KING INK STROLLS INTO TOWN - by Alison Lea (13-Nov-21)
King Ink strolls into Town book-front KING INK STROLLS INTO TOWN (Book)

Content: 43 b/w photos, taken by Alison Lea in Adelaide on 24/25 January 1981 at the Tivoli Hotel. With memoirs by Mick Harvey and Phill Calvert and several who attended the shows.

Format: Hardcover, dust Jacket. 58 pages.

  • Blurb -9781006286346 (13-Nov-21) Printed on demand.

 King Ink strolls into Town book -back
6" GOLD BLADE: The Birthday Party 1981 - Bauhaus Tour (April 2022)
Six inch gold blade book-front 6" GOLD BLADE (Booklet)

Content: 16 b/w photos, taken by Bleddyn Butcher on 23-Aug-81 @ the Africa Center in Covent Garden, London.

Format: A5 paperback photozine. 20 pages.

  • Walk On Press (US,April 2022) Ltd to 81.

 Six inch gold blade book-back




Books: Lyrics/Writings
KING INK - by Nick Cave (1988)
King Ink book-front KING INK (Book)

Content: Lovely book containing all Nick Cave's lyrics covering the period from the Birthday Party's "Prayers On Fire" album (1981), Die Haut's "Burning The Ice" album (1983) up to Nick Cave's "Your Funeral..My Trial" album (1986); 13 one-act-plays (1981); "Thistles in the Soul" (1982,about meeting Neubauten/Blixa); "Bline Lemmon Jefferson" (reading Los Angeles 31-Aug-84); "Vixo" (for Annie Hogan's "Plays Kickabye" album 1985); (at the time) unrecorded songs ("Just A Closer Walk With Thee", The Million Dollar Hands Of Roberto Duran", "Crow Jane", "God's Hotel" and texts/poems ("The Black Pearl", "Oh I Love You Much Too Much", "H.M.S. Britain 1982"); as well as reproductions from Nick Cave's notebooks ("Scum", "Blue Weeds", "Sunday's Slave", "Crooked river", "When The Sun Goes Down", "Necropolis Ho!", "Sad Waters", "The Sad Waters", "The Carny", "Your Funeral My Trial" and "Hard On For Love").

Format: Hardback. 158 pages.

  • Black Spring Press -ISBN 0-948238-04-6 (UK,19-May-88)
    • Hardback. First edition.
  • Black Spring Press -ISBN 0-948238-04-6 (UK,1989)
    • Hardback. Second edition.
  • Black Spring Press -ISBN 0-948238-04-6 (UK,1989)
    • Hardback. Third edition.
  • ? -ISBN 4-7837-2413-X (JP,1989?)
    • Hardback. Japanese only.
  • Arcana Editrice -ISBN 88-85859-44-5 (IT,1989)
    • Paperback. English/Italian.
  • Espiral-Editorial Fundamentos -ISBN 84-245-0560-3 (ES,1990)
    • Paperback. English/Spanish.
  • Nea Cynopa -ISBN 960-236-093-3 (GR,1990)
    • Paperback. Greek only.
  • Black Spring Press -ISBN 0-948238-04-6 (UK,1991)
    • Hardback. Fourth edition.
  • Verlag Peter Selinka -ISBN 3 926532 32 7 (GE,1991)
    • Paperback. English/German.
  • 2.13.61 -ISBN 1-880985-08-X (US,1993)
    • Paperback.
  • Black Spring Press -ISBN 0-948238-04-6 (UK,1994)
    • Hardback. Fifth edition.
  • Mata -ISBN 80-901590-8-7 (CZ,1995)
    • Paperback. Czech only.
  • Le serpent A Plumes -ISBN 2-84261-068-7 (FR,1997)
    • Paperback. English/French.
  • Akia -ISBN 83-85952-34-9 (PL,1997)
    • Paperback. Polish only.

King Ink book-back
AS-FIX-E-8 - by Lydia Lunch, Nick Cave and Mike Matthews (1993)
As-Fix-E-8 comic-front AS-FIX-E-8 (Comic book)

Content: 1.Pit-Stop-Junk-Love[NC]/ 2.The Stoning Of Ruby Von Monster[LL & NC]/ 3.Garbage Hearts[LL & NC]/ 4.American-Speedway-Fever-Trash[NC]/ 5.The Five Fools Of The Father Foot[NC & LL]/ 6.Grease-Gun-Shooter[NC]/ 7.Fresh Cunt In The Can[LL & NC]/ 8.Dead Joe (in Home For The Holidays)[NC & LL] / 9.Bull (in Her Secret Beast)[NC & LL]/ 10.Portrait Of An American Princess[LL]/ 11.Dead Joe #2 (in A Living-Thing)[NC & LL]/ 12.The Curse Of Saint Dymphia[LL].

Format: Stiff cover. 36 pages.

Note: Texts by Nick Cave & Lydia Lunch (taken from the "50 One-Page plays"), black & white drawings by Mike Matthews. 2 and 7 were published (as text only) in Forced Exposure issue #7/8 (1985) and another one ("One Day On A Bus" by LL) was published in Forced Exposure issue #9 (1986). More about these plays can be found here.

  • Last Gasp -ISBN 0-86719-233-X (US,1993)

 As-Fix-E-8 comic-back
THE COMPLETE LYRICS 1978-2001 - by Nick Cave (2001)
Complete book-front THE COMPLETE LYRICS (Book)

Content: Simple lyrics book containing all Nick Cave's lyrics covering the period from the Birthday Party's "Prayers On Fire" album (1981), Die Haut's "Burning The Ice" album (1983), the Grinderman albums (2007/2010) up to Nick Cave's (then) latest album; as well as "The Secret Life Of The Love Song" (London 30-Mar-99). No lyrics from the Boys Next Door's songs (1978-1980) are included! Nor are the lyrics to "Stagger Lee" ("Murder Ballads" album). No reproductions of Cave's notebooks. The lyrics don't always exactly match those lyrics as sung on the albums.

Format: Paperback.

  • Penguin Books -ISBN 0-141-00515-7 (UK,2001)
    • 1978-2001. 343 pages.
  • Penguin Books -ISBN 978-0141027142 (UK,2007)
    • 1978-2007. 461 pages. Updated.
  • Penguin Books -ISBN 978-0241966587 (UK,12-Sep-01)
    • 1978-2013. 544 pages. Updated.
  • Penguin Books -ISBN 978-0241990155 (UK,04-Mar-21)
    • 1978-2020. 544 pages. Updated.

Complete book-back




Books: History/Encyclopedia
INNER CITY SOUND - by Clinton Walker (1982)
Inner City book-front INNER CITY SOUND (Book)

Content: (Punk-)music scene in Australia 1976-81 with sections on the Birthday Party. Also many (Birthday Party) photos. Including detailed discography.

Format: Paperback. 157 pages/190 pages (reprint).

  • Wild & Woolley (AU,December 1981)
  • Verse Chorus Press -ISBN 1-891241-18-4 (US,2005) reprint.

 Inner City book-back
THE NEXT THING - by Clinton Walker (1984)
Next Thing book-front THE NEXT THING (Book)

Content: Interview with 20 key Australian bands including the Birthday Party. Also (Birthday Party) photos.

Format: Paperback. 144 pages.

  • Kangaroo Press -ISBN 0 949924 81 4 (AU,1984)

 Next Thing book-back
STRANDED - by Clinton Walker (1996/2021)
Stranded book-front STRANDED (Book)

Content: The inside story of the emergence of the Saints, the Birthday Party, the Laughing Clowns, the Go-Betweens, Nick Cave, the Moodists, the Scientists, and many more great independent Australian bands, told by Clinton Wlaker, who witnessed it all first-hand. Covers the (Punk-) music scene in Australia 1976-92 with sections on the Birthday Party. Including many photos, with detailed (label) discography.

Format: Paperback. 346 pages.

  • Pan Macmillan -ISBN 0-7329-0883-3 (AU,1996)

 Stranded book-back
Stranded expanded book-front STRANDED - Expanded (Book)

Content: The inside story of the emergence of the Saints, the Birthday Party, the Laughing Clowns, the Go-Betweens, Nick Cave, the Moodists, the Scientists, and many more great independent Australian bands, told by Clinton Walker, who witnessed it all first-hand. Part memoir, part scrapbook, part history, part gossip. Covers the (Punk-) music scene in Australia 1976-92 with sections on the Birthday Party. Including 175 photos and reproductions of flyers. Expanded edition with many footnotes. THE bible on Australia's independent music scene, a must have.

Format: Paperback. 430 pages.

  • Visible Spectrum -ISBN 978-1-953835-08-6 (AU,26-Feb-21)

 Stranded expanded book-back
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN ROCK AND POP - by Ian McFarlane (1999)
Encyclopedia book-front THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN ROCK AND POP (Book)

Content: Encyclopedia containing over 800 Australian bands/artists.

Format: Hard-/Paperback. 717 pages.

  • Allen & Unwin -ISBN 1-86508-072-1 (AU,1999)
    • Hardback
  • Allen & Unwin -ISBN 1-86448-768-2 (AU,1999)
    • Paperback

Encyclopedia book-back




Zines
FAST FORWARD
Fast Forward #2-front FAST FORWARD - ISSUE #2 (Cassette Zine)

Content: Audio magazine (with booklet), including interview with Nick & Rowland of The Birthday Party and 2 tracks ("Figure Of Fun" & Yard") from their J.Peel session recorded @ BBC Maida Vale Studios,Studio 4, London on 10-Sep-80.

  • Fast Forward Productions (AU,Dec-80)
Fast Forward #10-front FAST FORWARD - ISSUE #10 (Cassette Zine)

Content: Audio magazine (with booklet), including interview with Nick,Mick & Rowland of The Birthday Party. Issue #10 in a series of 13.

  • Fast Forward Productions (AU,Mar-82)
PREHISTORIC SOUNDS - by Ian McFarlane (1995)
Prehistoric zine-front PREHISTORIC SOUNDS - VOL 1. Issue #2 (Zine)

Content: Articles, interviews & discographies on the (punk-)music scene in Australia 1976-90. Including The Birthday Party. Issue #2 in a series of 4.

Format: 56 pages.

  • Dark City Press (AU,1995)




Articles (selected)
SOUNDS - Night of the long macs SOUNDS - Night of the long macs

Content: Review of the UK,London-West Hamstead, Moonlight Club concert on 08-Oct-80. Written by Terri Sanai. One of the Birthday Party's first concert reviews in the UK press.

Format: Jpg (42KB)

  • Sounds 25-Oct-80 (UK music weekly)
NME - Portrait of the artist as a consumer NME - Portrait of the artist as a consumer

Content: Things that Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard (used to) like.

Format: Jpg (42KB)

  • New Musical Express 10-Apr-82 (UK music weekly)
BOSTON ROCK - The Birthday Party go bump in the night BOSTON ROCK - The Birthday Party go bump in the night

Content: Review of the U.S.A.,MA,Boston,Channel Club concert on 24-Mar-83.Written by Mr. B [Michel Bastarache].

Format: Jpg (87KB)

  • Boston Rock 27-Apr-83 (US music mag)
FORCED EXPOSURE FORCED EXPOSURE

Content: Interview with Nick Cave conducted by Jimmy Johnson in Boston on 24-Mar-83.

Format: Jpg (287KB)

  • Forced Exposure #6 (US music mag)
RIU - Portrait of the Artists Rip It Up - Portrait of the Artists And So On

Content: Interview conducted by Russel Brown @ the Auckland motel at the start of the 4-date New Zealand tour of 1983.

Format: Jpg (513KB)

  • Rip It Up May-83 (NZ music weekly)
NME - The party's over NME - The party's over

Content: Announcement of the Birthday Party break up.

Format: Jpg (36KB)

  • New Musical Express 04-Jun-83 (UK music weekly)
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