Which Nick Cave song is the theme for Peaky Blinders?

The Nick Cave song used as the theme for Peaky Blinders is “Red Right Hand.” It is performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and became one of the defining sounds of the BBC period crime drama.

The song was released as a single on 24 October 1994 and appeared on the band’s eighth studio album, Let Love In. Its dark, cinematic mood suits the show’s post-First World War Birmingham setting, where gang politics, ambition and violence drive the story.

The title comes from John Milton’s 1667 epic poem Paradise Lost, where a “red right hand” refers to divine vengeance. The song has also appeared in the Scream film series and other films and television programmes.

A common mix-up is assuming every version heard in Peaky Blinders is the original recording. The series also uses covers by artists including PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys, Laura Marling, Iggy Pop and Jarvis Cocker.