Former Wangaratta boy and international artist Nick Cave is returning to the town he once described as “a horrible town” where police “made everyone’s life a f---ing misery”.
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In the only regional stop on his Conversation with Nick Cave tour, Cave will take to the stage at the Performing Arts Centre in Wangaratta on January 5.
The speaking event format kicked off in the US and Ireland and combined music with open discussions with the audience.
Cave came under fire in 2014 for his less-than generous description of Wangaratta in the musical documentary 20,000 Days on Earth, which caused outrage and backlash in the North East.
He lived in the town until aged 13 and was expelled from high school.
“[Wangaratta] definitely had a huge impact on the kind of environments in my songs,” Cave said.
“The idea of a river and open space and a small town... this invariably comes from living in that horrible town. It was a difficult place to grow up, there, because it had a very robust police force and they kind of made everyone's life f---ing misery.”
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However, current mayor Ken Clarke welcomed news Cave would perform in Wangaratta saying there was no bad blood.
“We’d love to see him back,” Cr Clarke said.
“We welcome any entertainer with open arms and certainly love to have him back.”
Cr Clarke said Wangaratta had changed significantly since Cave left in the 1970s and he was glad Cave could see how it had developed.
“The town certainly has gotten bigger since Nick grew up here,” he said.
“Nick has been recognised for his service to music with Australian awards and we’ll be very happy to have him back to perform to what I’m sure will be an excellent crowd in Wangaratta.”
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Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
