1. Nick Cave-The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Grinderman
…It’s a cliche to call this man “Rock’n’Roll’s Prince of Darkness”. Especially since Cave is no mean rock’n’roller. He began as a wild-haired goth-punk with The Boys Next Door and The Birthday Party, screaming and wailing into the mic while a musical storm raged behind him. The Birthday Party exploded in a mess of squabbling, drugs and a burgeoning Goth scene they had helped create, but hated deeply. Cave formed The Bad Seeds and his style changed. He has gone from Goth howler, to apocalyptic priest whooping hosannas of death and mayhem, to a sleazy, heroin-ravaged barfly, then to a soulful crooner. His extraordinary, rich voice coupled with his indomitable flair and lyrical genius has brought him fame, notoriety and adulation in equal measure.
And that’s why he is Number One on our list of the 10 Best Performers of All Time.
Words by Gabriel Rutherford