Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock/heavy metal band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist and guitarist-vocalist The band has featured international personnel throughout its career and presently consists of Cave, violinist and multi-instrumentalist , bassist (all from Australia), guitarist (United Kingdom), keyboardist/percussionist (United States) and drummers (Switzerland) and Jim Sclavunos (United States). Described as "one of the most original and celebrated bands of the and alternative rock eras in the '80s and onward", they have released seventeen studio albums and completed numerous international tours.