Singer and songwriter Nick Cave has revealed that the tragic loss of his two sons shifted his perspective, realizing that art is not all-encompassing, and that his responsibilities to his wife and family now propel him forward.
Reflecting on the profound impact of becoming a grandfather, he shared, "It's difficult to exaggerate how beautiful this is that I have a little grandson who's like seven months old," during the interview.
In 2015, Cave's 15-year-old son Arthur passed away in a cliff fall in Brighton, followed by the death of his eldest son Jethro at the age of 31 in Melbourne in 2022.
The 67-year-old frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds explained to host Lauren Laverne how his mindset has evolved, influenced by his sons' passing, stating, "It has a lot to do with Arthur and Jethro... I always just thought art was, kind of at the end of the day, everything." He described how he used to approach his work with a sense of awe at his own creative abilities but now finds it self-indulgent after the tragedies.
Despite still working "very, very hard," Cave no longer views art as the sole purpose of his existence. He emphasized, "I find my responsibility towards my children and my wife, and to be a citizen, a husband, these things are the actual animating force behind our creativeness."
The move to Los Angeles from Brighton, where one of his sons passed away, was a necessary change for Cave and his family, including his son Earl and wife Susie, to cope with their loss.
Offering support to others experiencing grief and hardship, Cave created the Red Hand Files in 2018, a platform where he responds to fans' questions, aiming to show that there is a world beyond the sorrow they feel.
Looking ahead, Cave is scheduled to tour North America this spring with plans to retire from music only once he is unable to perform his signature knee drops on stage, jokingly acknowledging the challenge of getting back up afterward.