The Birthday Party (Australia)

The Birthday Party is a Melbourne, Australia-based outfit that rose to recognition in the later 1970s as one of the darkest post punk groups of its time. Fronted by singer/songwriter and artist Nick Cave, the band emerged in 1977 wielding erratic soundscapes and disturbing, often violent lyrics under the name The Boys Next Door. After releasing a single album, the group relocated to London and changed its name to The Brithday Party before dropping its official debut LP, Prayers On Fire, in 1981. The record earned the band an international following, but despite early success, The Birthday Party disbanded in 1983 after releasing only one more album, 1982's Junkyard.