Wow, this just in – Mick Harvey has left The Bad Seeds (y’know, Nick’s band). His statement released to the press is as follows:

For a variety of personal and professional reasons I have chosen to discontinue my ongoing involvement with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. After 25 years I feel I am leaving the band as it experiences one of its many peaks; in very healthy condition, and with fantastic prospects for the future. I’m confident Nick will continue to be a creative force and that this is the right time to pass on my artistic and managerial role to what has become a tremendous group of people who can support him in his endeavours both musically and organizationally. It was a fantastic experience to finish my touring days in the band with the recent shows in Australia and the unique events that took place in conjunction with All Tomorrow’s Parties, especially Mt. Buller, which was one of the many highlights of my involvement with the band throughout the years. I shall continue working on the Bad Seeds back catalogue re-issues project over the coming year and look forward to the new opportunities I shall be able to accommodate as a result of my changed circumstances.
– Mick Harvey, 22nd January 2009

What a bummer. I’ve always enjoyed Mick’s exceptional contributions to Bad Seeds albums and he contributed exceptionally nuanced playing to Bad Seeds live performances amidst Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ wild antics. He’ll be missed, but I look forward to seeing what else he gets up to now that his calendar has just freed up.

So, I wonder who’ll be replacing him?