Conway Savage Australian rock musician Date of Birth: 27.07.1960 Country: Australia

1. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
2. Collaborations with The Feral Dinosaurs and Dust on the Bible
3. Joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
4. Solo Career
5. Later Albums and Collaborations
6. Final Projects and Legacy

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Conway Victor Savage (27 July 1960 - 2 September 2018), an Australian rock musician, was born in Victoria, a son of republican parents. His brother, Frank Savage, is a builder and rock musician, while their niece Cash Savage is the lead singer of Cash Savage and the Last Drinks.

As a teenager, Savage began playing piano in the public bar of his parents' hotel. In 1980-81, he played and sang backing vocals in Happy Orphans with Jim White on drums. Around this time, he was also a member of Scrap Museum.

Collaborations with The Feral Dinosaurs and Dust on the Bible

From 1982 to 1986, Savage played in the country band The Feral Dinosaurs with Jim White. They released the track "Blue Day" on the compilation album "Asleep at the Wheel" (1984) and an EP, "You've All Got a Home to Go To" (1985).

In the 1980s, Savage also worked with the Melbourne rock band Dust on the Bible, which featured his sister-in-law Jane as lead singer.

Joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

In 1990, Savage joined Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, contributing piano, organ, and backing vocals to their seventh album, "The Good Son." He subsequently played on subsequent studio albums, including "Henry's Dream," "Let Love In," "Murder Ballads," "The Boatman's Call," "No More Shall We Part," and "Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus." Savage sang lead vocals on "The Willow Garden," which appeared as the B-side to the "Where the Wild Roses Grow" single in October 1995.

Solo Career

Beginning in the late 1980s and 1990s, Savage recorded albums and singles with other Australian musicians, such as Kim Salmon, Robert Forster, and David McComb. In 1992, he began recording his own material, releasing a self-titled four-track EP in 1992.

In 1995, Savage teamed with singer-guitarist Suzie Higgie of Falling Joys to record an album, "Soon Will Be Tomorrow." The release was delayed until 1998 after Falling Joys disbanded. Liz Armitage of The Canberra Times described the album as "almost medieval country." Savage and Higgie toured in support of "Soon Will Be Tomorrow."

In 2000, Savage released his debut full-length album, "Nothing Broken," on his own label, Beheaded Communications. A reviewer for 16horsepower wrote: "There is an undeniable sense of freshness and spontaneity in the songs from this grand, meditative album. Spontaneity has always been a significant factor in Savage's recording method, and once again it has paid off."

Later Albums and Collaborations

Savage's next solo album, "Wrong Man's Hand," was recorded in Fitzroy, Melbourne, with The Stream members Amanda Fox and Robert Tickner. Savage admitted to "borrowing liberally" from Irish writer James Joyce's work while writing the lyrics for one of the songs. He stated: "Some of his words just fell into some of the imagery I had when I was writing the songs, and they fitted so well that I just went with it."

In 2005, Savage released "Rare Songs & Performances 1989-2004," a compilation featuring various studio and live recordings from Australia and Europe. Guest musicians included Martyn P. Casey, Amanda Fox, Mick Harvey, Spencer P. Jones, Robert Tickner, and Jim White.

In 2007, Savage, Fox, and Tickner released a collaborative album, "Quickie for Duckie." Savage followed this with a solo live album, "Live in Ireland," in 2008. The live album was recorded at The Glens Centre in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland on 18 October 2008.

Edwin McFee of British music website NME noted that Savage's vocals have "a certain sandy tang." McFee also said: "He may not be the most blessed of vocalists, but his croaky delivery, set against the prominent piano he's favored on his last four releases, has served his whiskey-soaked, romantic growl well."

Final Projects and Legacy

In 2010, Savage, Fox, and Tickner recorded six tracks at Tumbleweed Studios in Dundalk, Ireland, which were released as the "Pussy's Bow" EP. Reviewers praised the album for its diverse moods and unexpected country influences.

In 2017, Savage was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He passed away on 2 September 2018, at the age of 58. Savage left behind a legacy as a talented musician and songwriter, known for his distinctive vocal style and contributions to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and his own solo work.