Mick Harvey

Mick Harvey (born Michael John Harvey, 1958 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia,) is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his life-long collaboration with the singer and songwriter

Mick Harvey (born Michael John Harvey, 1958 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia,) is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his life-long collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave. A multi-instrumentalist, Harvey plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums. He also sings.

Born in rural Victoria, Harvey moved to the suburbs of Melbourne in his childhood. His father was a Church of England Vicar and the family lived adjacent to the church, first in Ormond then later Ashburton. Harvey sang in the church choir from an early age. Harvey, his elder brother Philip and younger brother Sebastian all attended the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School. It was at school in the early 1970's that Harvey met fellow students Nick Cave, Phill Calvert and Tracy Pew. A rock group was formed with Cave (vocals), Harvey (guitar), Calvert (drums) and other students on guitar, bass and saxophone. The band played at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others. Harvey was also a member of the school choir (conducted by actor Norman Kaye), and took extra-curricular lessons from jazz guitarist Bruce Clarke.