Victoria-born Conway Savage of the Bad Seeds passes at 58

Melbourne musician Conway Savage, best known as pianist with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, passed away aged 58.

He had an operation for brain tumour a year ago.

Like Cave, with whom he shared a dry self-deprecating wit, Conway too was born in country Victoria. His parents owned a number of pubs, and in his early teens, he’d spend hours playing the piano in one of their establishments.

“I could just sit down and play it and play it – it’s a beautiful relaxation, until this day,” he told one interviewer.

He had two philosophies about his solo work: “Sing like you don’t need the money” and “Talk quietly and make people draw in to listen.”

Growing up with a penchant for swamp blues-rock, Savage emerged in a series of bands including Happy Orphans, Scrap Museum, The Feral Dinosaurs and Dust on the Bible until he got a call from Cave in 1990.

He joined them for The Good Son, released that year, as well as Henry’s Dream (April 1992), Let Love In (April 1994), Murder Ballads (February 1996), The Boatman’s Call (March 1997), No More Shall We Part (April 2001) and Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus (September 2004).

He gave up touring with them after his tumour diagnosis, returning to Australia for follow up treatment after an operation.

Conway also guested on records by Kim Salmon, Dave Graney, Spencer P. Jones, David McComb and Robert Forster.

His first EP (1992) featured Martyn P. Casey and Mick Harvey of The Bad Seeds.

Through his own label, Beheaded Communications, he followed up with albums including Nothing Broken (2000), Wrong Man’s Hands (2004) and Rare Songs & Performances 1989–2004.

His last release was the Pussy’s Bow EP in 2010, recorded in Ireland with Melbourne musicians Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner, with whom he released Quickie for Duckie three years before.

Another standout collaboration was with singer-songwriter-guitarist, Suzie Higgie (of Falling Joys) Soon Will Be Tomorrow. (1998).

Savage is the uncle of Melbourne singer Cash Savage from Cash Savage and The Last Drinks.