Liam Finn

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Liam Finn
Liam Mullane Finn.jpg
Finn at the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – November 2012 Wellington, New Zealand
Background information
Born (1983-09-24) 24 September 1983 (age 40)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Origin Auckland, New Zealand
Genres Indie rock, dream pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards, bass
Years active2000–present
Labels Liberation Music (AUS/NZ)
Yep Roc Records (USA)
Independent Records (Ireland)

Liam Mullane Finn (born 24 September 1983) is a New Zealand singer and musician. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child. He is the son of musicians Sharon and Neil Finn. [1]

Contents

His father wrote the song Our Time [2] about Liam before he was born (on the 1983 Split Enz album Conflicting Emotions).

In 2020, he joined his father's band, Crowded House. [3]

Personal life

Finn married his long-term partner Janina Percival in June 2015. [4]

Career

Liam Finn co-founded and performed with the band Betchadupa from 1997 - 2006 which released several albums and EPs between 2000 and 2004.

He has a solo career as a multi-instrumentalist playing drums, keyboards and guitar and singing over loop tracks, composing songs on stage and on live streams.

Liam Finn also records and tours with Crowded House and as of 2024 both he and his brother Elroy Finn are members of the band along with their father Neil Finn, touring the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Live shows

Liam Finn at age 3 with father Neil Finn (and Eddie Rayner at the keyboard) in April 1987 during one of Crowded House's US tours. Crowded-house-liam-finn-sf.jpg
Liam Finn at age 3 with father Neil Finn (and Eddie Rayner at the keyboard) in April 1987 during one of Crowded House's US tours.

In 2008 and 2009 Finn opened for Eddie Vedder's solo tour throughout America. [5] Finn also headlined his first North American tour and headed out on the road with The Black Keys in November 2008 in the UK and Europe. At the Dutch Crossing Border Festival he met Yuri Landman and borrowed a drum guitar, which he used on stage in the Netherlands and Germany. [6] Afterwards Landman invented a new instrument for him, a 24-string electric cymbalum called the Tafelberg, [7] which he incorporated at his stage performances.

Finn played a series of solo concerts in Ireland in April 2008 with guest appearances from vocalist E J Barnes the daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes.

Finn played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 14 March 2009 for Sound Relief, a multi-venue rock music concert in support of relief for the Victorian Bushfire Crisis. [8] [9] The event was held simultaneously with a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground. [8] All the proceeds from the Melbourne Concert will go to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire relief. [8] [9] Appearing with Finn in Melbourne were Augie March, Bliss n Eso with Paris Wells, Gabriella Cilmi, Hunters & Collectors, Jack Johnson, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley, Kings of Leon, Jet, Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Split Enz and Wolfmother. [10]

In August 2009, Finn performed with a new band called BARB on a small New Zealand tour with a band consisting of Connan Hosford (Connan and the Mockasins), James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), Eliza Jane Barnes, Seamus Ebbs, Jol Mulholland and Wild Bill Rickets. Their album (recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland) was released 24 August 2010. [11]

In January 2014, Finn toured New Zealand for the first time since 2011, this time with a new backing band The Salty Women, which consisted of mostly past collaborators including James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), Eliza Jane Barnes, and brother Elroy Finn. [12]

With Neil Finn and Crowded House

On 29 November 2009, Finn and his father also sang together (along with Pearl Jam, Ben Harper and Eliza-Jane Barnes) at Christchurch's AMI Stadium. They sang "Better Be Home Soon" and the Split Enz classic "I Got You". [13]

On 24 August 2018, Finn released the album Lightsleeper with his father. [14]

In 2021 he appeared on Crowded House's album Dreamers Are Waiting as a core member of the band. The album features several songs cowritten by Liam and Neil Finn, and one song ("Goodnight Everyone") that was written by Liam alone. [15]

Discography

Finn performing in 2008 Liam Finn shot by Kris Krug.jpg
Finn performing in 2008

Albums

Studio albums

YearTitleDetailsPeak chart positions
NZ
[16] 		AUS
[17] 		UK US
2007 I'll Be Lightning
  • Released: 4 August 2007
  • Label: Liberation Music
  • Catalogue: LIBCD92445
7571346
2011 FOMO
  • Released: 17 June 2011
  • Label: Liberation Music
  • Catalogue: LMCD0144
52621
2014 The Nihilist
  • Released: 4 April 2014
  • Label: Liberation Music
  • Catalogue: LMCD0241
8119
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

  • Live (in Spaceland) – 22 February 2008, Spaceland Recordings
  • Live From The Wiltern – (2008) Yep Roc Records

EPs

With Betchadupa

With BARB

With Neil Finn

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowded House</span> New Zealand / Australian / American pop rock band

Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn and Australians Paul Hester (drums) and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members included Finn's brother Tim who was in their former band together Split Enz, sons Liam and Elroy, as well as Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod, with Neil Finn and Seymour being the sole constant members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Finn</span> New Zealand musician (born 1958)

Neil Mullane Finn is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being a principal member of Split Enz, of which he shared lead duties with his brother Tim, and the lead singer, guitarist, and a founding member of Crowded House. He was also a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 until 2022. Ed O'Brien of Radiohead has hailed Finn as popular music's "most prolific writer of great songs".

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Hunters & Collectors are an Australian rock band formed in 1981. Fronted by founding mainstay, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, they developed a blend of pub rock and art-funk. Other mainstays are John Archer on bass guitar, Doug Falconer on drums and percussion. Soon after forming they were joined by Jack Howard on trumpet and keyboards, Jeremy Smith on French horn, guitars and keyboards, and Michael Waters on trombone and keyboards. Also acknowledged as a founder was engineer and art designer Robert Miles. Joining in 1988, Barry Palmer, on lead guitar, remained until they disbanded in 1998. The group reformed in 2013 with the 1998 line-up.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Rayner</span> New Zealand musician (born 1952)

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<i>Woodface</i> 1991 studio album by Crowded House

Woodface is the third studio album by Crowded House. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and Neil Finn and was released by Capitol Records in July 1991. It features five singles: "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "It's Only Natural", "Weather with You", and "Four Seasons in One Day". Woodface was a major hit in Australia and New Zealand as well as giving the band their first top ten hit album in the UK. It was listed at No. 3 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums in October 2010. It was voted number 80 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).

<i>Temple of Low Men</i> 1988 studio album by Crowded House

Temple of Low Men is the second studio album by New Zealand-Australian rock band Crowded House, released by Capitol Records on 5 July 1988. The three band members, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and Paul Hester, recorded the album in Melbourne and Los Angeles with Mitchell Froom as producer. Finn had written all ten tracks during the two years since their self-titled debut. Temple of Low Men peaked at number one in Australia, number two in New Zealand, number ten in Canada and number 40 on the US Billboard 200.

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<i>See Ya Round</i> 1984 studio album by Split Enz

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<i>Sound Relief</i>

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References

  1. ↑ Harrop, Nicky (19 November 2016). "Weekend Rewind: The Finn Family Tree". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  2. ↑ "Our Day — Neil Finn website" . Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "Liam Finn idolised the Crowded House legacy growing up. Now, he's part of it". 2 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Finn family gather for a very special wedding". Stuff.co.nz. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Liam Finn to tour with 'family friend' Eddie Vedder". Nzherald.co.nz. 11 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Youtube clip where Liam performs with the drum guitar". Youtube. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Liam Finn: No place like home". The Days of Lore. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Brumby, John (24 February 2009). "Artists Unite For 'Sound Relief' Bushfire Benefit – Premier of Victoria, Australia". Premier of Victoria. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  9. 1 2 Mitchell, Geraldine (24 February 2009). "Coldplay, Kings of Leon to headline bushfire relief concerts". Herald Sun. Australia: The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  10. ↑ "Latest News". Sound Relief. Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  11. ↑ "Yep Roc Records > Artist Info". Yeproc.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Liam Finn - Live Reviews". Undertheradar.co.nz.
  13. ↑ Anderson, Vicki (30 November 2009). "Pearl Jam a hit in Christchurch-review". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Hann, Michael (24 August 2018). "Neil and Liam Finn: Lightsleeper review – father and son pour out the melodies". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Ian Rushbury, "Crowded House prove pop music is still in good hands with 'Dreamers Are Waiting'". PopMatters , 28 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "LIAM FINN IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". Charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 103.
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