Craig Nicholls

Nicholls chose the band's name, Rishikesh, which originally referred to a city in India where The Beatles had attended an ashram.

[6][9] Reviewing early gigs, newspapers would misprint the name as "Rishi Chasms", so Nicholls decided to change it to The Vines, as a reference to his father's group.

[11] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2002, The Vines won Best Breakthrough Artist – Single for Get Free, which was also written by Nicholls.

and Nicholls returned with new band members for the release of The Vines' independently-released sixth album Wicked Nature, described as a "comeback" by Darren Levin of the Faster Louder online music publication.

Nicholls also produced the album that was recorded with Tim John (bass) and Lachy West (drums) of the band The Griswolds.

[7][17] In August, The Vines performed Get Free on Late Show with David Letterman, with Nicholls destroying Hamish Rosser's drum kit.

[8] In May 2004, The Vines appeared at a promotional show for radio station Triple M, where Nicholls bleated at the audience and demanded they not talk during the band's performance.

[4][18] In November 2004, accompanied by his brother Matt and his manager and friend Andy Kelly,[4] Nicholls faced assault and malicious damage charges at Balmain Local Court in Sydney.

[3][21] In November 2008, The Vines cancelled shows in Australia and Japan, as Nicholls' mental health had deteriorated over the previous month.

[24] In a 2014 Rolling Stone Australia article, Nicholls revealed that he had moved back into the family home in 2013 after receiving medical intervention.

[25]In an August 2014 interview with the DIY publication, Nicholls explained that he manages his condition by rarely socialising, stating, "I'm just following my instincts so... that's alright."

Nicholls is shown singing into a microphone while strumming a guitar.
Nicholls with The Vines in March 2004