Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds pianist Conway Savage dead at 58

(Image credit: Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns - Getty)

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds pianist Conway Savage has died.

The news was confirmed on the group’s Facebook page earlier today, with Cave and Savage’s bandmates paying tribute to to the 58 year old.

A statement reads: “Our beloved Conway passed away on Sunday evening. A member of Bad Seeds for nearly 30 years, Conway was the anarchic thread that ran through the band’s live performances. 

“He was much loved by everyone, band members and fans alike. Irascible, funny, terrifying, sentimental, warm-hearted, gentle, acerbic, honest, genuine – he was all of these things and quite literally ‘had the gift of a golden voice,’ high and sweet and drenched in soul. 

“On a drunken night, at four in the morning, in a hotel bar in Cologne, Conway sat at the piano and sang Streets Of Laredo to us, in his sweet, melancholy style and stopped the world for a moment. 

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Goodbye Conway, there isn’t a dry eye in the house. Love, Nick and the Bad Seeds.”

Savage joined Cave in 1990 after previously playing in bands including Happy Orphans, Scrap Museum and The Feral Dinosaurs.

He played on the albums Henry’s DreamLet Love InMurder BalladsThe Boatman’s CallNo More Shall We PartAbattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus and Push The Sky Away

He also released the solo albums Nothing Broken and Wrong Man’s Hands, along with EPs and live cuts.

In 2017, Savage was forced to take a step back from playing live with the band after undergoing brain surgery, with Pitchfork reporting that he passed away as a result of a brain tumour.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 36 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.