The Daily Tonic: Cave Of Wonders

Because we won’t be around for Halloween tomorrow, we’re bringing our celebrations forward a day and giving most of today’s issue over to stories of everyone’s favourite goth dad, Nick Cave.

However, as the next week will be engulfed by the US election, we thought we should also ask for the most memorable moments of Trump’s first term. We realise there have been a million different scandals of all shapes and size – but if there are any stand-out quotes, incidents or memories you have, we’re keen to learn just how much of the last four years we’ve already forgotten…

Send your tales of the Trump administration’s greatest hits to hello@popbitch.com and we’ll dish out a digital goody bag to the best.

Before we bombard you with a bunch of Nick Cave stories, some of you might appreciate a quick reminder of who it is we’re talking about. So here are some of our favourite pictures of the man to jog your memory.

Nick Cave, receiving an honorary degree
[See on Watford Observer]

Nick Cave, singing Bootylicious at karaoke
[See at HeadFi]

Nick Cave, assisting a fire juggling unicyclist
[See on Twitter]

Nick Cave, helping children with in-flight entertainment
[See on Twitter]

HC writes:
“I live in Brighton round the corner from Nick Cave and see him every now and then. The first time I ever saw him he was doing a slalom around some tiny orange traffic cones on a mini-Segway with his kids. The memory still brings me joy.”

CW writes:
“I was on a flight to Copenhagen with Nick Cave. His carry-on bag was a black velvet tote with his initials on in gold sequins, surrounded by a starburst. It was very cool, as is he. Also, he had a surprising amount on his plate in the lounge. I didn’t have him down as a mini muffin man.”

GS writes:
“Back in 2007, my wife and I decided to take our daughter to her first festival. We settled on All Tomorrow’s Parties at Butlins in Minehead, mainly because we loved the line up. It was great fun seeing loads of indie musicians in incongruous situations: Alan from Low buying a 99 from Mr Whippy. Josh T Pearson, rocking a neckerchief and speedos, orchestrating Mexican waves in the swimming pool.

“But the highlight of the weekend was being behind Nick and several Bad Seeds in the queue for the salad bar at the holiday camp’s Pizza Hut. Our 12 year old daughter was absolutely fascinated, remarking that Nick’s barnet was ‘so black it was blue, like a magpie’s wing’.”

Neighbours of Nick Cave can always tell whenever he’s got new music in the pipeline. How? Because they’ll see him come out of his front door, get into the car parked outside and watch him as he listens to his latest demos loudly through his car stereo.

The test is apparently very common with musicians. The thought behind it is that if a mix sounds good through the speakers of a car stereo then it’ll sound good through pretty much anything.

However, the neighbours are convinced it’s for another reason. They’re under the impression his wife won’t let him play them in the house.

slackhack writes:
“I once interviewed Nick Cave and asked him what his favourite joke was. Now, imagine this in his baritone drawl, told very deadpan, and at great length.

“‘There’s this junkie and he’s bought some smack, but he can’t remember where he’s put it. He ransacks his flat, turns it upside down, but no joy. Finally, going through cupboards in the kitchen, he finds his prized little baggie of brown. He ties a scarf around his arm to try and find a vein [this is all acted out by Cave, FYI], cooks it up and injects his hit. Sadly, it wasn’t heroin, it was curry powder. And now he’s in a korma.'”

In keeping with the evil spirit of the season, we’ve put together an audio round of songs practically guaranteed to make you scream in horror. Each of the ten tracks has been considered – at some point, or in some poll – to be one of the worst songs ever recorded.

You get one point for knowing who did it and a second for knowing what it’s called.

[Ten songs, twenty points]

The hyper-local chip shop specialities of Britain
[Read on Vittles]

Cocaine ads of the 70s
[See on Imgur]

Elephants smashing pumpkins
[Watch on YouTube]