Background
Born in rural Victoria, Harvey moved to the suburbs of Melbourne in his childhood. His father was a Church of England Vicar and the family lived adjacent to the church, first in Ormond then later Ashburton. Harvey sang in the church choir from an early age.
Education
Harvey, his elder brother Philip and younger brother Sebastian all attended the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School. It was at school in the early 1970s that Harvey met fellow students Nick Cave, Phill Calvert and Tracy Pew. A rock group was formed with Cave (vocals), Harvey (guitar), Calvert (drums) and other students on guitar, bass and saxophone. The band played at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others. Harvey was also a member of the school choir (conducted by actor Norman Kaye), and took extracurricular lessons from jazz guitarist Bruce Clarke.
Career
Discography
Solo albums
Intoxicated Man (1995)
Pink Elephants (1997)
One Man's Treasure (2005)
Two of Diamonds (2007)
Three Sisters - Live at Bush Hall (2008)
Sketches from the Book of the Dead (2011)
Film soundtracks
1989 "The Road To God Knows Where" & "Live At The Paradiso" (1989, together with Nick Cave & The bad seeds), directed by Uli M Schueppel)
1990 Ghosts... of the Civil Dead
1992 Vaterland, directed by Uli M Schueppel, together with Alexander Hacke
1993 Alta Marea & Vaterland
1996 To Have And To Hold
2000 Chopper
2000 Planet Alex, directed by Uli M Schueppel, together with Alexander Hacke
2003 Australian Rules
2006 Suburban Mayhem
2006 Deliver Us from Evil
2006 Motion Picture Music
Other CD releases
And The Ass Saw The Angel (2000)
Albums produced by Mick Harvey for other artists
Robert Forster Danger in the Past (1990)
Once Upon A Time In The Blink Of An Eye (1992)
Anita Lane Dirty Pearl (1993)
The Cruel Sea The Honeymoon Is Over (1993) (co-producer) (AUS #4, also ARIA award for "Best Album" 1994)
Congo Norvell Music To Remember Him By (1994)
PJ Harvey Dance Hall at Louse Point (1996) (co-producer)
Rowland S. Howard Teenage Snuff Film (1999)
PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) (co-producer) (UK #23, US #42, AUS #20, and winner of the Mercury Prize 2001)
Anita Lane Sex O'Clock (2001)
Rowland S. Howard Pop Crimes (2009)
Hunter Dienna self-titled EP (2010)
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (2011) (co-producer) (UK #8, US #32, AUS #6, and winner of the Mercury Prize 2011)
Awards
1994 ARIA Awards: Best Album The Cruel Sea The Honeymoon Is Over (Mick Harvey: co-producer)
1996 ARIA Awards: Single of the Year & Best Pop Release (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue: "Where the Wild Roses Grow")
1997 ARIA Awards: Best Original Soundtrack (To have and to hold)
2001 Mercury Prize: Best Album: PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (Mick Harvey: co-producer)
2004 ARIA Awards: Best Original Soundtrack (Australian Rules)
2006 AFI Awards: Best Original Music Score (Suburban Mayhem)
2007 ARIA Awards: When Nick Cave was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame he took it upon himself to induct Mick Harvey and other Australian members of the Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds
2011 Mercury Prize: Best Album: PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Mick Harvey: co-producer)