Neil Finn lead singer and guitarist from Crowded House and his brother Tim Finn are two artists who over four decades have successfully kept their music alive and new.
Both came to prominence as members of one of the edgiest bands of the eighties New Zealand's Split Enz. But their maturing as songwriters can be charted through the memorable songs they penned for Neil’s band Crowded House.
From Split Enz to Crowded House
In 1985 when Split Enz finally ran out of steam with the departure of Tim, Neil moved on to form the Mullanes with the Enz’s drummer Paul Hester and bass player Nick Seymour.
Signing to Capitol Records in 1986 the Mullanes became Crowded House and the band flew to LA to record their eponymous first album. The album produced two US top ten singles, Don’t Dream It’s Over and Something So Strong. But even this level of chart success wasn’t enough for the band to achieve the cut-through it needed to hit the high notes in the US music market.
Neil and Tim Finn write more hit singles
Over the next couple of years Neil penned a number of songs which are now etched into the annals of rock music. Better Be Home Soon from the band’s second album Temple of Low Men became an eighties classic. And Weather In You from 1991’s Woodface, co-written with brother Tim, helped that album clock up sales in the millions. In the UK, Australia and New Zealand the band were stars, but success continued to elude them in the US.
Woodface was followed by Together Alone in 1993. Like its predecessors it failed to garner the kind of sales the band needed in the US to take them to the next level. The poor record sales were compounded by internal differences. Drummer Paul Hester left the band on the eve of their US tour.
The Very Best of Crowded House
In 1996 Crowded House played their Farewell to the World concert performing to more than 100,000 screaming fans in a massive free show on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Paul Hester and Tim Finn joined the band for this final gig which left fans longing for more. Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House was released topping the charts in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
After a long battle with depression Paul Hester took his own life in 2005. Neil and Tim were in London at the time preparing for a series of Finn Brothers concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. During these concerts the pair paid tribute to their former band mate, an empty drum kit at the centre of the stage symbolic of their loss.
Crowded House come back forLive Earth
In 2007 Crowded House made an unexpected comeback with the release of a new album, Time on Earth, and a performance at that year’s Live Earth concert in Sydney.
Time on Earth was somewhat introspective and at times melancholy. The album garnered positive if not ecstatic reviews. Chris Jones of the BBC said it evoked “an older, wiser, weathered Crowded House, but still as perfect at their craft as ever”.
Crowded House 2008 Tour Dates
Fans will have to be content with this year’s mini tour. The new look Crowded House - Neil with Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod – will headline at the Homebake Peace in the Park concert on 8 December in Sydney. And the band will play two solo shows in Melbourne and one in Sydney:
- Melbourne The Forum 2nd & 3rd December
- Sydney Enmore Theatre 4th December
Let’s hope they can find time for more concerts in the future.
Alison Stieven-Taylor - Writing is my passion. I've been a freelance journalist for more than a decade and have written for a variety of magazines from Rolling ...
