Anita Lane
Encyclopedia
Anita Lane is an Australian singer and songwriter
who directly influenced the early 1980s Europe
an post-punk
landscape.
, Australia
in the late 1950s. Lane began singing and writing songs at age 16. She was a classmate with Rowland S. Howard
who would later form The Boys Next Door and The Birthday Party
with Nick Cave
. Lane became Cave's girlfriend and moved to London
with the band in 1980. She co-wrote the lyrics of three songs for The Birthday Party ("Dead Joe", "Kiss Me Black" and "A Dead Song") before they imploded in 1983.
, which was forged from the debris left behind by The Birthday Party's demise. She had an undeniably strong influence upon Nick Cave and his work, often cited as his "muse
", although her only recorded performance with the band is a verse on the Bob Dylan
cover "Death Is Not The End" from the much later recorded album Murder Ballads
in 1996. Lane and Cave duet on a cover of Peter Cook
and Dudley Moore
's "Bedazzled
" on the B-side of her 1995 single, The World's a Girl. She co-wrote the lyrics of the title track to the band's 1984 LP, From Her to Eternity
, as well as the lyrics of the song "Stranger Than Kindness" from Your Funeral, My Trial. She also began to perform and record her own songs. She worked with the German
band Die Haut
before recording Dirty Pearl under her own name. She was joined on the record by Nick Cave, and Bad Seeds Barry Adamson
, Thomas Wydler
, and Mick Harvey
, who produced.
longing of her lyrics. These include a pair of albums of Serge Gainsbourg
's covers, 1995's The Intoxicated Man and 1997's Pink Elephants. Harvey also produced Lane's 1993 collection, Dirty Pearl, which compiled tracks from Lane's work with Einstürzende Neubauten
, Die Haut, as well as exclusive album tracks. Harvey co-wrote several songs, including the UK hit single, "The World's A Girl". Lane's most recent collaboration with Harvey is 2001's Sex O' Clock.
Lane and Cave separated in the 1980s. She was last known (as of 2005) to live in Byron Bay, Australia with her children.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who directly influenced the early 1980s Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
landscape.
Birthday Party
Lane was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the late 1950s. Lane began singing and writing songs at age 16. She was a classmate with Rowland S. Howard
Rowland S. Howard
Rowland Stuart Howard was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, he played electric guitar in the post-punk group The Birthday Party. Howard died of liver cancer in December 2009, aged 50 years....
who would later form The Boys Next Door and The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
with Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
. Lane became Cave's girlfriend and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with the band in 1980. She co-wrote the lyrics of three songs for The Birthday Party ("Dead Joe", "Kiss Me Black" and "A Dead Song") before they imploded in 1983.
Bad Seeds
Lane is sometimes credited as a founding member of Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
, which was forged from the debris left behind by The Birthday Party's demise. She had an undeniably strong influence upon Nick Cave and his work, often cited as his "muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
", although her only recorded performance with the band is a verse on the Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
cover "Death Is Not The End" from the much later recorded album Murder Ballads
Murder Ballads
Murder Ballads is the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1996 on Mute Records. As its title suggests, the album consists of new and traditional murder ballads, a genre of songs that relays the details of crimes of passion."Where the Wild Roses Grow," a duet featuring...
in 1996. Lane and Cave duet on a cover of Peter Cook
Peter Cook
Peter Edward Cook was an English satirist, writer and comedian. An extremely influential figure in modern British comedy, he is regarded as the leading light of the British satire boom of the 1960s. He has been described by Stephen Fry as "the funniest man who ever drew breath," although Cook's...
and Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
's "Bedazzled
Bedazzled
Bedazzled is the title of two comic films:*Bedazzled *Bedazzled , a remake of the 1967 filmOther uses:* Bedazzled Records, a record label...
" on the B-side of her 1995 single, The World's a Girl. She co-wrote the lyrics of the title track to the band's 1984 LP, From Her to Eternity
From Her to Eternity
From Her to Eternity is the debut album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984. The title is a pun on the book/movie From Here to Eternity.-Background and production:...
, as well as the lyrics of the song "Stranger Than Kindness" from Your Funeral, My Trial. She also began to perform and record her own songs. She worked with the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
band Die Haut
Die haut
Die Haut were an experimental German post-punk post-rock band, who enjoyed some local success in the Berlin of the 1980s and 1990s, with one record where Nick Cave was involved in the mixdown, Burnin' The Ice...
before recording Dirty Pearl under her own name. She was joined on the record by Nick Cave, and Bad Seeds Barry Adamson
Barry Adamson
Barry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
, Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler
Thomas Wydler , is a Swiss musician best known for being a core member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, of which he has been a drummer since 1985. Prior to joining them, he was a member of the experimental German band Die Haut. Wydler has been present on almost every Bad Seeds album, making his...
, and Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
, who produced.
Anita Lane and Mick Harvey
With Harvey, Lane has recorded a series of albums that showcased the dichotomy between her baby doll voice and the sexualHuman sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
longing of her lyrics. These include a pair of albums of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
's covers, 1995's The Intoxicated Man and 1997's Pink Elephants. Harvey also produced Lane's 1993 collection, Dirty Pearl, which compiled tracks from Lane's work with Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, Die Haut, as well as exclusive album tracks. Harvey co-wrote several songs, including the UK hit single, "The World's A Girl". Lane's most recent collaboration with Harvey is 2001's Sex O' Clock.
Lane and Cave separated in the 1980s. She was last known (as of 2005) to live in Byron Bay, Australia with her children.
Discography
| Year | Title | Under the name | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Prayers on Fire Prayers on Fire Prayers on Fire, by Australian rock group The Birthday Party, was released in April 1981 on the 4AD label. This was the band's first full length release on an international record label . After leaving Australia to broaden horizons in England, the band returned to Melbourne to record this album... |
The Birthday Party The Birthday Party (band) The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career... |
Lyrics |
| 1982 | Junkyard Junkyard (album) Junkyard is a 1982 album by Australian post-punk group The Birthday Party.The album was recorded with Tony Cohen at Armstrong's Audio Visual Studios in Melbourne in December 1981 and January 1982. Additional tracks were recorded in London's Matrix Studios with punk producer Richard Mazda in May... |
The Birthday Party The Birthday Party (band) The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career... |
Lyrics |
| 1984 | From Her to Eternity From Her to Eternity From Her to Eternity is the debut album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984. The title is a pun on the book/movie From Here to Eternity.-Background and production:... |
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :... |
Lyrics |
| 1986 | Your Funeral, My Trial | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :... |
Lyrics |
| 1988 | Headless Body in a Topless Bar | Die Haut Die haut Die Haut were an experimental German post-punk post-rock band, who enjoyed some local success in the Berlin of the 1980s and 1990s, with one record where Nick Cave was involved in the mixdown, Burnin' The Ice... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1988 | Dirty Sings (E.P.) | Anita Lane | 1st solo release |
| 1989 | Ghosts... of the Civil Dead Ghosts... of the Civil Dead Ghosts... of the Civil Dead is a 1988 Australian film directed by John Hillcoat. The script was written by Hillcoat, producer Evan English and the unflappable Gene Conkie, as well as musicians Nick Cave and Hugo Race. It is partly based on the true story of Jack Henry Abbott... |
Soundtrack | Guest vocalist |
| 1989 | Moss Side Story Moss Side Story Moss Side Story is an album by Barry Adamson released in 1989. The album is a concept album. The music is almost completely instrumental except for occasional screams, samples and a choir. The concept is the score to a fictitious film. To achieve the effect the song titles are descriptive of a film... |
Barry Adamson Barry Adamson Barry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1991 | "These Boots Are Made for Walking" (12") | Anita Lane and Barry Adamson Barry Adamson Barry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997... |
|
| 1991 | "Delusion" (12") | Anita Lane and Barry Adamson Barry Adamson Barry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997... |
|
| 1992 | Head On | Die Haut Die haut Die Haut were an experimental German post-punk post-rock band, who enjoyed some local success in the Berlin of the 1980s and 1990s, with one record where Nick Cave was involved in the mixdown, Burnin' The Ice... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1993 | Tabula Rasa | Einstürzende Neubauten Einstürzende Neubauten Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1993 | Dirty Pearl | Anita Lane | 1st solo album |
| 1995 | "The World's a Girl" (7" & CDs) | Anita Lane | |
| 1995 | Intoxicated Man Intoxicated Man Intoxicated Man is the first of two albums by Mick Harvey, presenting the songs of Serge Gainsbourg, sung in English. It is followed by Pink Elephants.-Track listing:#"69 Erotic Year " – 3:28... |
Mick Harvey Mick Harvey Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1995 | "Initials B.B." (7" & CDs) | Mick Harvey Mick Harvey Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1995 | Yadi Yadi | Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut is an electronic musical artist from Germany.She grew up on the Lüneburger Heide and moved to Berlin in 1975, where she studied visual arts at the Hochschule der Künste from 1978 to 1984. She was an early member of experimental act Einstürzende Neubauten and a founding member of Mania... and Anita Lane |
|
| 1996 | "Firething" (CDs) | Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut is an electronic musical artist from Germany.She grew up on the Lüneburger Heide and moved to Berlin in 1975, where she studied visual arts at the Hochschule der Künste from 1978 to 1984. She was an early member of experimental act Einstürzende Neubauten and a founding member of Mania... and Anita Lane |
|
| 1996 | Members of the Ocean Club | Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut Gudrun Gut is an electronic musical artist from Germany.She grew up on the Lüneburger Heide and moved to Berlin in 1975, where she studied visual arts at the Hochschule der Künste from 1978 to 1984. She was an early member of experimental act Einstürzende Neubauten and a founding member of Mania... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1996 | Murder Ballads Murder Ballads Murder Ballads is the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released in 1996 on Mute Records. As its title suggests, the album consists of new and traditional murder ballads, a genre of songs that relays the details of crimes of passion."Where the Wild Roses Grow," a duet featuring... |
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :... |
Guest vocalist |
| 1996 | "Harley Davidson" (7" & CDs) | Mick Harvey Mick Harvey Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave... and Anita Lane |
|
| 1997 | Pink Elephants Pink Elephants Pink Elephants is Mick Harvey's second collection of Serge Gainsbourg covers.-Track listing:#"Pink Elephants" – 2:90#"Requiem. . . " – 2:35#"The Javanaise " – 2:30#"Black Seaweed " – 2:21... |
Mick Harvey Mick Harvey Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave... |
Guest vocalist |
| 2000 | Objectif Pub | compilation | |
| 2000 | Der Krieger Und Die Kaiserin | Soundtrack by Pale 3 | Guest vocalist |
| 2001 | Sex O'Clock | Anita Lane | 2nd solo album |