Nick Cave announces death of his son Jethro Lazenby

Seven years after he lost one son, the Australian musician has now announced another of his children has died just days after being released from prison.

Nick Cave’s son has died aged 30 – just seven years after his 15-year-old half-brother tragically died in a cliff fall.

Model and actor Jethro Lazenby, who lived in Melbourne, had been released from prison two days before his death, reported The Sun.

In a statement today, Cave said: “With much sadness, I can confirm that my son, Jethro, has passed away.

“We would be grateful for family privacy at this time.”

The Australian singer, best known as the frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, was first struck by tragedy in July 2015 when Arthur died after falling from a cliff near Brighton on England’s south coast.

The teen, who was the son of Cave and wife Susie, had plunged 18 metres to his death after taking the hallucinogenic drug LSD, an inquest later heard.

Jethro Lazenby has died aged 30. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

The son of Nick Cave and wife Susie was a model. Picture: Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty Images

His family described him as a “beautiful, happy, loving boy”, and his death inspired two albums, Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen, and 2016 documentary One More Time With Feeling.

Jethro, who was born to model Beau Lazenby and Cave in 1991, had faced personal problems for some years after struggling with his mental health.

He had roles in 2007 film Corroboree and 2011’s My Little Princess, which starred Isabelle Huppert.

However, in April he was jailed for assaulting his mother.

A court heard he kneed Ms Lazenby in the face during an argument, causing bleeding and bruising.

He admitted one count of unlawful assault and breaching court orders.

Other charges, including intentionally causing injury, were dropped.

Lawyer Sean Ghattas said Jethro suffered with schizophrenia during the hearing.

Newspapers in Australia have reported he was freed on bail days before he died after a magistrate ordered he undergo substance abuse treatment.

Jethro is the second of Nick Cave’s sons to die. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

Tragedy for star

He was also told to avoid contact with his mother for two years.

The cause of his death is not known.

Fans of Cave have spoken of their shock and sorrow on social media.

One said: “I can’t conceive of a person who maintains such faith in the world in the face of such personal tragedies. How terribly sad.”

Another said: “I am absolutely heartbroken for that family.”

A third wrote: “My God, how much can one family endure? My heart breaks for them. RIP.”

Jethro Lazenby (R) when he was 15 auditioning for Australian Fashion Week in Sydney.

Jethro is survived by Cave, his mother, and his two half-brothers, Luke and Earl. Earl is Arthur’s twin.

The Caves relocated to LA in the wake of Arthur’s death. However, they later returned to Brighton.

In an interview last year, the star said: “Brighton had just become too sad.

“We did, however, return once we realised that, regardless of where we lived, we just took our sadness with us.

“These days, though, we spend much of our time in London, in a tiny, secret, pink house, where we are mostly happy.”

This story was first published in The Sun as is reproduced with permission.