Split Enz were a New Zealand new wave band from Auckland. Formed in October 1972, the group originally consisted of vocalist and pianist Tim Finn, vocalist and guitarist Phil Judd, bassist Mike Chunn, violinist Miles Golding and flautist Mike Howard. The band remained active until December 1984, undergoing many lineup changes. The final lineup featured Finn, keyboardist Eddie Rayner, percussionist Noel Crombie (both since 1974), bassist Nigel Griggs, vocalist/guitarist Neil Finn (both since 1977), and drummer Paul Hester (since 1983). Since disbanding, Split Enz have reunited on a number of occasions.
Brian (Tim) Finn and Phil Judd formed Split Ends as an acoustic group in October 1972, adding bassist Jonathan (Mike) Chunn, violinist Miles Golding and flautist Mike Howard. [1] Chunn's younger brother Geoff played drums at the quintet's first show on 10 December 1972. [2] David "Div" Vercoe joined in time for the recording of the band's debut single "For You" in February 1973, before he was dismissed soon after for being difficult to work with. [3] Golding and Howard also left after the single's recording, at which time the group became an electric outfit, Paul "Wally" Wilkinson (lead guitar) joined the band and drummer Geoff Chunn joined full time. [4] By late 1973, the band had released their second single "The Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song", the b-side of which, "129", featured Robert Gillies on saxophone. [4]
In early 1974, Split Ends changed the spelling of their name to Split Enz, and expanded to a seven-piece lineup with the addition of Eddie Rayner on keyboards and Robert Gillies becoming a full member on saxophone and trumpet. [5] During the summer, Gillies left, Geoff Chunn was replaced by Paul (Emlyn) Crowther, and Geoff (Noel) Crombie joined on percussion. [6] This lineup issued the group's debut full-length album Mental Notes in 1975. [4] By November, Wilkinson had been fired and replaced by Gillies. [6] After 1976's follow-up Second Thoughts , several more changes in personnel followed – in December 1976, Crowther was replaced by Malcolm Green, Judd and Chunn left at the end of a North American tour in March, and Finn replaced them with his brother Neil and Nigel Griggs, respectively, in time for a British tour which started the next month. [6] [7] This new lineup issued Dizrythmia later in the year. [6]
By early 1978, Split Enz had parted ways with their record company Chrysalis Records, Robert Gillies had left the band for a second time, and Phil Judd had returned briefly before leaving just a few weeks later. [6] After a number of recording sessions which remained unreleased until 2007 in the form of The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes , the six-piece group issued Frenzy in 1979, followed by True Colours in 1980 and Waiata in 1981. [6] Shortly after the latter's release, drummer Malcolm Green left the band and moved to Australia following "disagreements regarding [his] songwriting and inclusion of his songs on the band's albums". [8]
Green was not replaced, with percussionist Noel Crombie taking over his role. [6] As a five-piece, Split Enz issued Time and Tide and Conflicting Emotions , before Paul Hester took over on drums for the Conflicting Emotions Tour at the end of 1983, with Crombie moving back to percussion. [9] Just a few months into the tour, however, with tensions growing between himself and his brother, Tim Finn announced on 16 June 1984 that he was leaving Split Enz, leaving the group with no original members. [10] The group began recording a new album with Neil Finn as band leader, although he was uncomfortable continuing the band without any of its founders, and decided the resulting See Ya 'Round would be Split Enz's last album. [11] After the album's release Tim Finn rejoined the band for the final Enz with a Bang! Tour, which began on 30 September 1984. Split Enz's final show took place on 4 December 1984. [12] Neil Finn and Paul Hester went on to form Crowded House the following year.
Since their breakup in 1984, Split Enz have reunited on a number of occasions. The first reunion took place on 5 April 1986 at the Rainbow Warrior Music Festival, a benefit concert for Greenpeace held at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium. [13] Joined again by Tim Finn, the reunited group also performed at the debut show of Crowded House, the new band of Neil Finn and Paul Hester, two months later. [14] The second reunion followed in December 1989 when the group played four shows in Australia, again with Crowded House, followed by a show in February 1990 to benefit the victims of an earthquake in Newcastle, New South Wales which killed the tour's manager. [9]
To mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of Split Enz, as well as the release of Mike Chunn's autobiography Stranger than Fiction: The Life and Times of Split Enz, several former members of the group performed a set at Auckland's Wynyard Tavern on 10 December 1992 – exactly 20 years after their live debut at the same venue. [9] A full reunion tour of New Zealand followed in March 1993, with Nigel Griggs and Paul Hester returning again. [9] In December 1999, Split Enz reunited for a fifth time to perform at the Millennium Concert in Auckland. [9] A sixth reunion followed three years later to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's formation and live debut. [15]
On 14 July 2005, Split Enz performed at their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne. [9] Less than three months previously, Hester had committed suicide after "a long battle with depression". [16] For the Hall of Fame performance, 1976–1981 Split Enz drummer Malcolm Green took his place. [17] The same lineup returned the following June for a short tour of Australia. [18] Another reunion tour followed in March 2008, with four shows in New Zealand featuring John Butler Trio drummer Michael Barker in place of the unavailable Green. [19] A final one-off reunion performance (with Barker on drums) took place on 14 March 2009 as part of the Sound Relief festival. [9]
In a 2018 interview, keyboardist Eddie Rayner predicted that Split Enz would not reunite again, explaining that "Everybody's got too much going on in their lives". [20]
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brian (Tim) Finn | 1972–1984 (plus all reunions) |
| all Split Enz releases, except See Ya 'Round (1984) | |
Phil Judd |
|
| all Split Enz releases from "For You" (1973) to "Another Great Divide" (1977) | |
Jonathan (Mike) Chunn | 1972–1977 (plus reunions in 1992, 2002) |
| ||
Miles Golding | 1972–1973 (session guest in 1976) | violin |
| |
Mike Howard | 1972–1973 | flute | "For You" (1973) | |
David "Div" Vercoe | 1973 | drums | ||
Paul "Wally" Wilkinson | 1973–1975 | guitar |
| |
Geoff Chunn |
|
|
| |
Robert Gillies |
|
|
| |
Tony (Eddie) Rayner | 1974–1984 (plus all reunions) |
| all Split Enz releases from "No Bother to Me" (1975) onwards | |
Paul (Emlyn) Crowther | 1974–1976 (plus reunions in 1992, 2002) | drums | all Split Enz releases from Mental Notes (1975) to Second Thoughts (1976) | |
Geoff (Noel) Crombie | 1974–1984 (plus all reunions) |
| all Split Enz releases from Mental Notes (1975) onwards | |
Malcolm Green | 1976–1981 (plus reunions in 2005, 2006, 2009) |
|
| |
Nigel Griggs | 1977–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) |
| all Split Enz releases from Dizrythmia (1977) onwards | |
Neil Finn | 1977–1984 (plus all reunions) |
| ||
Paul Hester | 1983–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2002) (died 2005) |
| all Split Enz releases from See Ya 'Round (1984) to Extravagenza (2005) | |
Michael Barker | 2008 (touring) | Live, Alive Oh. (2017) |
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
October 1972 – January 1973 (as Split Ends) |
| none – live performances only |
January–March 1973 (as Split Ends) |
|
|
April 1973 – February 1974 (as Split Ends) |
|
|
February–June 1974 (Split Enz from this point on) |
|
|
June–July 1974 |
| none – live performances only |
July 1974 – November 1975 |
|
|
November 1975 – December 1976 |
|
|
December 1976 – March 1977 |
|
|
April 1977 – February 1978 |
|
|
February–March 1978 |
| none – live performances only |
March 1978 – May 1981 |
|
|
May 1981 – December 1983 |
|
|
December 1983 – June 1984 |
| none – live performances only |
June–September 1984 |
|
|
September–December 1984 |
|
|
Officially split December 1984, temporary reunions afterwards | ||
April–June 1986 December 1989 – February 1990 |
| none – live performances only |
10 December 1992 |
| |
March 1993 |
|
|
30 and 31 December 1999 |
| none – live performances only |
10 and 17 December 2002 |
| |
14 July 2005 June 2006 |
| |
March 2008 |
|
|
14 March 2009 |
| none – one live performance only |
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 Split Enz; sons Liam and Elroy; as well as Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod. Neil Finn and Seymour are the sole constant members.
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".
Paul Newell Hester was an Australian musician and television personality. He was the drummer for the band Split Enz for their last year together from December 1983 to December 1984, and co-founding member and drummer of the band Crowded House.
Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded the breakthrough hit single "I Got You" (1980). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.
Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songwriter. Following Judd's departure in 1977, he was joined by brother Neil. Finn wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, including "I See Red" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". While still a member of Split Enz, he began a solo career, scoring the two hits "Fraction Too Much Friction" and "Made My Day" in 1983; he left the band in early 1984, briefly returning for their farewell tour later that year.
Geoffrey Noel Crombie is a New Zealand percussionist and former member of the band Split Enz. He fulfilled multiple roles including costume and hair designer, singer, album cover designer, and music video director. Prior to Split Enz, Crombie worked as a postal assistant and was also an artist. He attended Mana College and then moved to Auckland to study art at Elam School of Fine Arts.
Nigel Griggs is an English musician. He is perhaps best known for having played bass guitar in the band Split Enz. He is the brother of Paul Griggs from the 1970s vocal group Guys 'n' Dolls.
Anthony Edward Charles Rayner is a New Zealand musician who spent ten years as a keyboardist in the band Split Enz. He has also played in the groups Orb, Space Waltz, Crowded House, the Makers, The Angels in 1986-1987 and 801.
Dizrythmia (1977) is the third studio album released by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. It was the first Split Enz album without co-founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Neil Finn and Nigel Griggs, the first being the younger brother of band leader Tim Finn, replaced them respectively. Meanwhile, Nigel's old friend and former bandmate Malcolm Green took the place of Emlyn Crowther, who also left around this time. The album was released domestically by Mushroom Records, and overseas by Chrysalis Records.
Second Thoughts is the second studio album by New Zealand art rock band Split Enz. It was recorded in London with Roxy Music's guitarist Phil Manzanera producing the album.
Conflicting Emotions is the ninth album by New Zealand band Split Enz.
Crowded House is the debut album by New Zealand-Australian band Crowded House. Produced by Mitchell Froom, it was released in August 1986 and was certified platinum in four countries. The album includes the hit singles "Don't Dream It's Over", "Something So Strong", "Mean to Me", "World Where You Live" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere".
See Ya 'Round is the tenth and final studio album by New Zealand's premier new wave band, Split Enz, and was released in 1984, following the departure of founding member Tim Finn, whose solo career had officially taken off the year before. Remaining songwriter Neil Finn, claiming to be a little daunted by the prospect of leading his older brother's band, subsequently announced that this would be the final Split Enz studio recording. Since he only had an EP's worth of material ready, the record was filled out by lightweight, experimental contributions from each of the other band members. In interviews, Neil has revealed that the original EP was to have been the first five tracks on the album.
Philip Raymond Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.
The Beginning of the Enz is the fifth studio album from New Zealand rock group Split Enz. The album is a collection of non-album singles and demos that pre-date the band's first album, 1975's Mental Notes. Three of these songs, "129", "Lovey Dovey" and "Spellbound", were later re-recorded and included on Mental Notes and Second Thoughts.
Spellbound, very often subtitled on the cover as "The Very Best Of Split Enz", is a 1997 compilation album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Apparently intended to be the final word on Split Enz compilations, it is the band's most comprehensive career survey. Featured amongst the album's 39 tracks are all the hits, live favourites, choice album tracks and a few rarities, all selected by members of the band.
Enz of an Era was a compilation by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Released to mark the band's 10th anniversary, and composed of tracks selected by members of the band, the album was released in New Zealand and Australia only. The album was followed up by two "Enz Of An Era" 10th anniversary concerts in early 1983.
The Living Enz was the first live album released by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Primarily recorded in Melbourne, Australia during the band's 1984 Enz with a Bang farewell tour, it also includes some material from the Auckland shows of that tour, plus recordings from the band's 1982 Time and Tide tour.
Extravagenza is a live album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Comprising recordings from the Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Auckland shows of the band's 1993 20th Anniversary Tour of New Zealand, the album is an expanded, remixed and remastered version of their 1994 live album Anniversary. The canned audience loop used on Anniversary was removed, giving the recordings a more natural feel.
Beginning of the Enz is a compilation album by New Zealand rock group Split Enz. Released in the UK by Chrysalis Records, it compiles tracks from the albums Second Thoughts (1976) and Dizrythmia (1977), as well as the non-album single "Another Great Divide" (1977). Despite its almost identical title, the album bears a completely different track listing to the 1979 Split Enz album The Beginning of the Enz, which comprised non-album singles and demos from 1973 to 1974.