Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of Rock music's most angry and hate-fueled bands. But after more than 30 years spent atop the charts, Nick's anger is starting to wane.
The lead singer/frontman has come forward to say that hate has lost all its appeal, and that his newfound philosophy and way of looking at the world stems from the tragic deaths of his two sons.
Back in 2015, Nick's 15-year-old son, Arthur, fell off a cliff to his death near their home in Brighton, England, UK.
Jethro Lazenby, aka Jethro Cave, was a troubled child who spent the majority of his adult life in and out of prison. He had a well-documented history of drug abuse and a tendency to turn violent.
The former model had been bailed out of jail the day prior. At the time, Jethro was facing an assault charge brought against him by his own mother, after the two had allegedly gotten into an argument over cigarettes.
Gone was the rage-filled angry rocker, and in his place a rose began to blossom from the concrete — one that opted to focus on the beauty and sanctity of life.
"When did you become a Hallmark card hippie?" a fan asked via Nick's personal newsletter, The Red Hand Files. "Joy, love, peace. Puke! Where’s the rage, anger, hatred?"
Instead of fighting fire with fire, Nick opted to instead respond with understanding and even sought to educate his fans further on the matter.
"For better or for worse, the rage you speak of lost its allure and, yes, perhaps I became a 'Hallmark card hippie.'"
"When my son died, I was faced with an actual devastation, and with no real effort of my own that posture of disgust toward the world began to wobble and collapse underneath me," Nick said.
Nick conveyed how he felt it was his responsibility to extend a helping hand to the world around him, as opposed to simply sitting in judgment of it. For better or for worse, he simply is no longer the man he once was.
