The Birthday Party (originally known as The Boys Next Door) 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. Though often indirect, their influence has been far-reaching, and have been called one of "the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups to emerge in the early '80s."
Their music was classified by critic Simon Reynolds as gothic rock. In his lyrics, Nick Cave combined "sacred and profane" things, using old testament imagery, with stories about sin, curses and damnation. Their 1981 single "Release the Bats" was particularly influential in the gothic scene. Some of their material was also qualified as no wave.
Despite their limited commercial success, the creative core of the Birthday Party have gone on to acclaimed careers: singer and songwriter Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mick Harvey, and singer, songwriter and guitarist Rowland S. Howard.
Discography
Albums
The Boys Next Door
Door, Door (LP, 1979)
The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (LP 1980). Originally credited to the Boys Next Door. Later re-released and attributed to The Birthday Party. Re-released on CD in 1988 with the band's early recordings, under the title "Hee Haw" (see below; not to be confused with the "Hee Haw" EP of 1979).
The Birthday Party
Prayers on Fire (LP, 1981)
Junkyard (LP, 1982) (UK #73)[14]
A Collection ... (CD, after Junkyard)
It's Still Living (LP, 1985)
Best and Rarest (LP, 1985)
Hee Haw (CD, 1988)
Mutiny/The Bad Seed (CD, 1989)
Hits (CD, 1992)
Live 1981–82 (CD, 1999)
The John Peel Sessions (CD, 2001)
Singles and EPs
The Boys Next Door
"These Boots Are Made For Walking/Boy Hero" (7" single, 1978)
"Shivers/Dive Position" (7" single, 1978)
Hee Haw (EP, 1979)
The Birthday Party
"Mr Clarinet" (7" single, 1980)
"The Friend Catcher" (7" single, 1980)
Hee Haw re-edition The Boys Next Door single as The Birthday Party (EP, 1980)
"Nick the Stripper" (12" EP, 1981)
"Release the Bats/Blast Off!" (7" single, 1981)
Drunk on the Pope's Blood/The Agony Is The Ecstasy (12" EP; music by Lydia Lunch on one side)
The Bad Seed (12" EP, 1983)
Mutiny (12" EP, 1983)
The Peel Sessions (12" EP, 1987)
The Peel Sessions (12" EP, 1988)
Video and DVD
Pleasure Heads Must Burn (VHS, 1984)(DVD, 2003)
Mutiny! The Last Birthday Party (Directed by Heiner Muhlenbrock, DVD release 2008)
