embryonic version formed in London

An embryonic version of what became Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was formed in the Birthday Party’s then-home of London in September 1983, with Cave, Harvey (acting primarily as drummer), Einstürzende Neubauten frontman Blixa Bargeld, Magazine bassist Barry Adamson , and JG Thirlwell , known for his solo project Foetus . The band was initially formed as a backing band for Cave’s intended solo project Man or Myth? , which had been approved by the record label Mute Records . During September and October 1983, they recorded material with producer Flood , although the sessions were cut short due to Cave’s touring with the Immaculate Consumptive , another project formed with Thirlwell, Lydia Lunch and Marc Almond . In December 1983 Cave returned to Melbourne, Australia , where he formed a temporary line-up of his backing band, due to Bargeld’s absence, that included Pew and guitarist Hugo Race . The band performed their first live show at the Crystal Ballroom in St Kilda on 31 December 1983.