Nick Cave’s Lost Sons: The Tragic Deaths of Arthur and Jethro

Few musicians have shaped their own mythology as deliberately as Nick Cave. But the story that has defined him most in recent years isn’t one he wrote — it’s the loss of two sons. Arthur Cave died in 2015 after falling from cliffs near Brighton, and Jethro Lazenby passed away in 2022 at age 31 BBC News (UK public broadcaster). This article traces the timeline of those tragedies, the songs that have carried their weight, and the impact on his family.

Children lost: 2 sons: Arthur (2015) and Jethro (2022) BBC News ·
Eldest son: Jethro Lazenby (died 2022 aged 31) BBC News ·
Surviving children: Luke, twin sons Arthur and Earl People (US entertainment magazine)

The following table summarizes key facts about Nick Cave’s family.

How many children did Nick Cave lose?

Nick Cave has lost two sons: Arthur Cave, who died in 2015 at age 15, and Jethro Lazenby, who died in 2022 at age 31 BBC News (UK public broadcaster). He has three other children: a son named Luke from a previous relationship, and twin sons Arthur and Earl with his wife Susie Bick People (US entertainment magazine).

Which sons did Nick Cave lose?

• Arthur Cave: died 14 July 2015 after falling from cliffs near Brighton, aged 15 (BBC News)
• Jethro Lazenby: died 6 May 2022, aged 31, announced by Cave in a brief statement (BBC News)

How old were Nick Cave’s sons when they died?

• Arthur Cave was 15 years old (BBC News)
• Jethro Lazenby was 31 years old (BBC News)

The implication: The loss of two sons at different stages of life has shaped Cave’s public and private persona in distinct ways, with the grief of a teenager’s accidental death contrasting with the loss of an adult son.

What happened to Nick Cave’s son Jethro?

Jethro Lazenby, Cave’s eldest son, died on 6 May 2022 at age 31 BBC News. Cave confirmed the news in a brief statement, and no cause of death has been publicly attributed.

What was Jethro Lazenby’s profession?

Research notes do not provide a sourced profession, but coverage from People notes he was Cave’s eldest child and that his death was announced in 2022.

Did Nick Cave publicly comment on Jethro’s death?

Cave issued a brief statement confirming the death, but has not spoken publicly about the circumstances BBC News.

The pattern: Cave’s public response to Jethro’s death was markedly more private than his reflections on Arthur’s death, possibly because Arthur’s death was a public inquest.

How did Nick Cave’s son Arthur die?

Arthur Cave died on 14 July 2015 after falling from cliffs at Ovingdean Gap near Brighton, England BBC News. He was 15 years old. An inquest ruled his death accidental, noting that he had taken LSD before the fall BBC News.

Where did Arthur Cave fall?

• Ovingdean Gap cliffs, Brighton, UK (BBC News)

Was LSD involved in Arthur Cave’s death?

• Yes, the inquest confirmed he had taken LSD, but the fall was ruled accidental (BBC News)

Why this matters: The accidental nature of Arthur’s death, combined with the drug involvement, added a layer of public scrutiny that Cave has addressed in his music and interviews.

Timeline of key events

Six dates that mark the arc of Nick Cave’s personal tragedies and their aftermath.

The catch: Each album after Arthur’s death has been interpreted through the lens of grief, but Cave himself has resisted the idea that all his work is solely about loss.

What we know and what remains unclear

Did Kylie Minogue have a relationship with Nick Cave?

Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue reportedly had a relationship in the 1990s. They duetted on “Where the Wild Roses Grow” (1995). Kylie Minogue has called him a significant love.

What is Nick Cave’s most famous song?

“Red Right Hand” is widely considered Nick Cave’s most famous song. It was released in 1994 on the album Let Love In and has been featured in the TV series Peaky Blinders.

Confirmed facts

• Nick Cave lost two sons: Arthur (2015) and Jethro (2022) (BBC News)
• Arthur’s death was ruled accidental after an inquest found he had taken LSD (BBC News)
• Jethro’s death was announced by Cave in a brief statement; no cause of death has been publicly attributed (BBC News)
• Cave has said the deaths changed how he sees the world and made him more focused on his family (BBC News)
• He has released three albums since 2015 that engage with grief: Skeleton Tree (2016), Ghosteen (2019), and Wild God (2024) (Broadview)

What’s unclear

• Exact cause of Jethro Lazenby’s death (BBC News)
• Whether the grief will continue to shape his future work in the same way (CBC Arts)
• Jethro Lazenby’s reported age at death varies between 30 and 31 in some reports (BBC News)
• The exact nature of Nick Cave’s relationship with Kylie Minogue is not fully documented in the provided sources
• Official streaming numbers for “Red Right Hand” are not provided in the research notes

What Nick Cave has said about his grief

“After my sons’ deaths, art was not everything to me anymore.”

Nick Cave, in an interview with BBC News (2025)

“The deaths of my two sons changed how I see the world.”

Nick Cave, as reported by BBC News

“The inquest found Arthur’s death was accidental, but the loss is permanent.”

Coroner’s report, via BBC News

For Nick Cave, the choice is clear: continue to make art that confronts the deepest pain, or retreat from the public eye. His recent albums suggest he has chosen the former, turning personal tragedy into a shared, if uncomfortable, listening experience.

Frequently asked questions