Nick Cave and his family are planning to leave their Brighton home for the “blank slate” of Los Angeles following the tragic death of his son Arthur.
The Australian rock star has lived in the city for the best part of two decades now, and his twin sons Arthur and Earl were born here in 2000.
In July 2015, Arthur fell from the cliffs at Ovingdean after an acid trip went badly wrong, and died in the Royal Sussex Hospital soon afterwards.
Since then, he has released a album, Skeleton Tree, some of which explored the loss, and a film, One More Time With Feeling, which documented both its recording and the aftermath of the accident.
In an interview with GQ, Cave said that the family has tried to continue living in Brighton, but has found it too intense. He said: “Mostly, we just find it too difficult to live here.
“I don’t know how to say this really. Everyone here has just been so great, and that’s in a way half the problem.
“When I go out in Brighton these days, there’s a sort of feeling that we’re all in this together. And it’s just a little bit too intense for me. It’s too many memories, really.
“We’ve really tried. But it’s just beyond us, in a way, to remain.”
He also spoke about the film, which he initially felt would be viewed as exploitative, and how after being forced to read the outpouring of supportive comments from fans, he rented a cinema in Brighton for a private viewing, accompanied only by his long-term musical collaborator Warren Ellis.
He said: “I saw the film much more for what it was, and that it was actually something that Andrew had done that was beyond … that Andrew had an agenda that was beyond anyone’s expectations, and that it actually was a gift, to me and Susie, but most importantly, to Arthur.
“It gave Arthur’s absence, his silence, a voice.”
To read the full interview, click here.
We all wish you well.
This is a bungee jump move and it is a tactic I used myself in 2003 to get over a huge blocking hump of exhausting & depressing anger & grief. The more unfamiliar the better. It works and I applaud their wisdom.
I wish them peace of mind and some measure of healing making their way fwd.
We can only sympathize. Love to you all.
Wish them all the very best. An incredibly tough decision to take, but fully understandable.
Whatever it takes…unimaginable grief …explore the world…x💕
Dear Nick and Familiy,
to get over a lost like that is a hero thing for me. I am full of respect for your power to go on and decision to change the place to be able going on living.
After loosing my parents a boy friend and some dogs and cats which may sound ridiculous I think to have an idea of whats going on into your hearts: sorry, but god is a fucking asshole to me. The very, very best to you and all the power from whereever to go on. simone p.s. hopefully someday we will understand the meaning of those horrible things.
There is no god Simone.