Grief-stricken Nick Cave shares heartbreaking tribute to ex-girlfriend Anita Lane after following the iconic singer-songwriter's death

Nick Cave has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his ex-girlfriend and former collaborator Anita Lane following her death earlier this week.

Writing on his website, the singer-songwriter admitted that he was blindsided by the grief he was experiencing in the wake of the loss.

'You think you know grief, you think you’ve worked out its mechanics, you think you’ve become grief-savvy – stronger, wiser, more resilient – you think that there is nothing more that can hurt you in this world, and then Anita dies,' he wrote.

'You think you know grief': Nick Cave has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his ex-girlfriend and former collaborator Anita Lane following her death earlier this week

'You think you know grief': Nick Cave has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his ex-girlfriend and former collaborator Anita Lane following her death earlier this week

Nick, who dated the late songstress from 1977 to 1983, also reflected on the first moment he met her.

'Standing on the street in a baby-doll dress, surrounded by sunshine, laughing and radiating a piercing beauty of such force you stop breathing.

'I could not believe my eyes,' he added.

'I could not believe my eyes': Nick, who dated the late songstress from 1977 to 1983, also reflected on the first moment he met her

'I could not believe my eyes': Nick, who dated the late songstress from 1977 to 1983, also reflected on the first moment he met her

Writing about their musical collaborations together, Nick credited Anita as 'the brains behind The Birthday Party,' his old punk band.  

Anita collaborated with Nick with his bands The Bad Seeds and The Birthday Party, before releasing her solo albums Dirty Pearl (1993) and Sex O’Clock (2001).

A representative confirmed the news on Wednesday, yet no cause of death has been revealed. It was believed she was in her early sixties.

Passing: The Australian musician, best known for her collaborations with Nick Cave, died this week in her early sixties

Passing: The Australian musician, best known for her collaborations with Nick Cave, died this week in her early sixties 

Following the devastating news, Nick's wife Susie paid tribute on Instagram writing: 'Darling Anita, We love you so much,' before sharing the lyrics to her husband’s 1986 track ‘Sad Waters’.

Meanwhile, Warren Ellis from The Bad Seeds touchingly added: 'From her to eternity - RIP Anita Lane.' 

Anita was born in Melbourne in 1959, and began writing songs at the age of 16. 

Tribute: Following the devastating news, Nick Cave's wife Susie paid tribute on Instagram writing: 'Darling Anita, We love you so much,' before sharing the lyrics to her husband¿s 1986 track ¿Sad Waters¿

Tribute: Following the devastating news, Nick Cave's wife Susie paid tribute on Instagram writing: 'Darling Anita, We love you so much,' before sharing the lyrics to her husband’s 1986 track ‘Sad Waters’

Anita began working with Nick in 1977, and had both a personal and professional relationship with him. 

The pair later moved to Europe together, and she began co-writing for his first post-punk band, The Birthday Party.

The duo later worked together on his next group, The Bad Seeds, before their romantic relationship ended in the mid-'80s.

Some of the singles Anita co-wrote included 'From Her To Eternity' and 'Stranger Than Kindness'. 

Icon: Anita began working with Nick (pictured) in 1977, and had both a personal and professional relationship with him

Icon: Anita began working with Nick (pictured) in 1977, and had both a personal and professional relationship with him

While their relationship was over, Anita still worked with Nick professionally - and even duetted with Nick on Death Is Not the End in the nineties. 

Prior to her passing, it is believed Anita lived in Byron Bay with her family.

Fans took to Twitter to share their condolences for Anita, with one writing: 'She only released two solo albums, but they are better than complete discographies of many other artists. Two perfect albums. I was wishing she recorded a third one.'

'I don't mourn the death of anyone on social media, unless it's someone who really means something to me, no matter how famous they are. But today I am really, really sad to know that the unique and wonderful Anita Lane has died,' another added.

Legendary: Despite no longer being in a relationship with Nick Cave, Anita still worked with him professionally. Pictured alongside The Bad Seeds' Blixa Bargeld in 1993

Legendary: Despite no longer being in a relationship with Nick Cave, Anita still worked with him professionally. Pictured alongside The Bad Seeds' Blixa Bargeld in 1993

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