Throughout the '80s and '90s Harvey was the band member charged with the responsibility for the production of the recordings along with Cave. His arrangement skills also saw him putting together most of the band’s string arrangements during this time and led to the perception of him as a kind of musical director. He also managed much of the band’s business affairs right up until his departure. Harvey remained with the Bad Seeds for 25 years until his last show in Perth, Australia on 20 January 2009, when he cited both professional and personal factors as reasons for leaving. Regarding Cave, Harvey informed the media: