Posted by Jason Diamond

There was this issue of Mojo from about ten years ago, where the magazine peeks into Nick Cave’s writing room to see what he has scattered around for inspiration.  One of the things displayed was a suitcase, with a caption below it that had Cave saying something along the lines of the suitcase used to belong to Leonard Cohen, that Cave had bought it in an auction, and his only regret was that he didn’t find any razorblades hidden in it.

I thought that anecdote was fitting since yesterday was Cohen’s birthday, and today we celebrate Nick Cave’s 54th.  Read both of Cave’s books, and listen to all his music.  Start with these songs below, and then go forth! (Make sure to watch the interview where he makes Billy Corgan look like a huge ass.)