The thrilling, debauched and frequently hilarious adventures of the legendary post-punk band The Birthday Party, in their own words.
In February 1980, they were Boys Next Door on the brink of stardom. But they changed their name to The Birthday Party and began writing ever scarier, sexier, angrier music and turning their gigs into antagonistic art ordeals. Offstage, things were even more chaotic. Nick Cave, Rowland S. Howard, Mick Harvey, Tracy Pew and Phill Calvert froze and starved in increasingly squalid squats, descending into addiction, psychosis, imprisonment and, worst of all, creative differences. Yet by their final gig in 1983, The Birthday Party had achieved rock immortality.
This new documentary is stuffed with rare and unseen photos, artwork, unreleased tracks and studio footage. A thrilling chronicle of the band’s struggles and successes, Mutiny in Heaven is a must-see for post-punk fans.