Since its inception in 2018, following the tragic death of his son, Cave has used The Red Hand Files as a direct line of communication with fans. Each edition features Cave’s thoughtful replies to questions on topics ranging from grief and spirituality to art and the human condition.

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In the 328th edition, published in June 2025, a fan named Hadiyah from New Jersey asked, “How’s your relationship with Morrissey?” Cave’s response was candid. He disclosed that the former Smiths frontman had approached him in 2024 with a song, inviting him to contribute vocals. While Cave initially found the piece “quite lovely,” he ultimately declined after realising Morrissey’s intention was for him to deliver what Cave described as “an unnecessarily provocative and slightly silly anti-woke screed” over “an irrelevant Greek bouzouki intro.”

Though he admitted to sharing aspects of Morrissey’s perspective, Cave explained that he prefers to keep his personal or political views separate from his music: “I try to keep politics, cultural or otherwise, out of the music I am involved with. I find that it has a diminishing effect and is antithetical to whatever it is I am trying to achieve.”

Addressing Morrissey more broadly, Cave offered a nuanced take: “I like him. He is undeniably a complex and divisive figure, someone who takes more than a little pleasure in pissing people off. As enjoyable as some may find this, it holds little interest for me, but for the fact that Morrissey is probably the best lyricist of his generation – certainly the strangest, funniest, most sophisticated, and most subtle.”

Despite declining the collaboration, Cave still spoke admiringly of Morrissey’s artistry: “We feel complete when we listen to music we love, while being guided towards the goodness of things. I find that Morrissey’s music, regardless of how jaundiced and disaffected the songs may sometimes seem, does precisely that – ushers us toward what is true.”

Cave’s decision to distance himself from Morrissey’s latest work underscores his ongoing commitment to artistic integrity and emotional depth over provocation or ideology. While the collaboration never came to be, his thoughtful reflections highlight the mutual respect between two of music’s most distinctive voices – even as their creative paths continue to diverge.

Nick Cave recently released his latest album ‘Wild God’ with the Bad Seeds ahead of their upcoming worldwide tour. Morrissey has not released a new record since 2020’s ‘I Am Not a Dog on a Chain’, which he described as “the best album of his life.” The former Smith’s frontman has recently completed UK and Ireland tour dates which MXDWN’s recent coverage of can be read about here. Cave is currently on a solo tour across Europe, which is set to conclude in Luxembourg this September. For more on his solo performances, check out MXDWN’s recent coverage of the Bad Seeds frontman’s European tour here.

Now Cave has released the trailer for the cinematic experience, which will be available in a limited capacity from November 5. Tickets information is available here (currently excluding the US). The trailer simply offers one minute of Cave at the piano, performing a fragment of ‘Jubilee Street’. “I’m transforming, I’m vibrating, well look at me now,” is the refrain.

Earlier this year he had posted a teaser of the global streaming event. In this, Cave walking through the ornate Alexandra Palace in preparation for his performance. The voiceover is a reading from the opening of ‘Spinning Song’, the first track on Cave’s latest album, Ghosteen. The teaser video is electric with anticipation and Cave walks with a touch of swagger; although this is something of a sombre event, Cave is perfectly self-assured. You can watch it here.

Just last night, Cave offered a heartrending performance of Marc Bolan’s ‘Cosmic Dancer’ for James Corden’s Late Late Show, also recorded in Alexandra Palace. You can watch the cover below – it’s unmissable. You can also find it recorded for the album Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex, released last week (September 4).

The compilation features covers by everyone from Father John Misty to Joan Jett to Marc Almond. Between this eclectic line-up, the spirit of Bolan is alive, well and appropriately glamorous. It comes in advance of T.Rex’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November. “We’re going to make sure Marc Bolan is at the heart of this,” Martin Barden promised (Barden spoke on behalf of Britain’s Culture Consultants LTD, who currently curate T.Rex’s catalogue).

As if these offerings weren’t enough, Cave has been constantly available for fans throughout lockdown. You can find him at The Red Hand Files, where he promises “You can ask me anything. There will be no moderator. This will be between you and me. Let’s see what happens. Much love, Nick.” You can also get hold of him at Bad Seeds Teevee, a twenty-four hour live stream of Bad Seeds content: promo material, interviews, live footage and rarities, played at random.

Cave shares his energy generously. Speaking about Bad Seeds Teevee, he said, “It’s 10.30 Wednesday evening, and if the world wasn’t in lockdown, I’d be onstage in Toulouse, France singing my heart out with The Bad Seeds. But I’m not. I’m doing the next best thing—sitting at home watching Bad Seed TeeVee. Pure non-stop joy!”  All of this is helps fans to hold out until his rescheduled tour (dates below), which he promised will be “fucking mind-blowing“, by the way.

10/04/2021 – Sportpaleis – Antwerp, Belgium
11/04 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, Netherlands
13/04 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham, UK
15/04 – The O2 – London, UK
16/04 – The O2 – London, UK
18/04 – First Direct Arena – Leeds, UK
20/04 –  The SSE Hydro – Glasgow, UK
21/04 – Manchester Arena – Manchester, UK
23/o4 – 3Arena – Dublin, Ireland
24/04 – 3Arena – Dublin, Ireland
26/04 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff, UK
28/04 – AccorHotels Arena – Paris, France
29/04 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, Germany
01/05 – Royal Arena – Copenhagen, Denmark
02/05 – Royal Arena – Copenhagen, Denmark
04/05 – Ericsson Globe – Stockholm, Sweden
05/05 – Spektrum – Oslo, Norway
07/05 – Barclaycard Arena – Hamburg, Germany
08/05 – Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin, Germany
10/05 – Arena Gliwice – Gliwice, Poland
12/05 – Stadthalle – Vienna, Austria
13/05 – László Papp Budapest Sportaréna – Budapest, Hungary
15/05 – Stark Arena – Belgrade, Serbia
17/05 – O2 Arena – Prague, Czech Republic
19/05 – Olympiahalle – Munich, Germany
20/05 – Mediolanum Forum – Milan, Italy
23/05 – WiZink Center – Madrid, Spain
24/05 – Altice Arena – Lisbon, Portugal
27/05 – Palau Sant Jordi – Barcelona, Spain
28/05 – Zénith Toulouse Métropole – Toulouse, France
31/05 – Rome Palazzo dello Sport – Rome, Italy
03/06 – Hallenstadion – Zurich, Switzerland
07/06 – Bloomfield Stadium – Tel Aviv, Israel