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Neil Finn’s brother, Tim Finn’s band Split Enz needed a new guitarist after Phil Judd left the band. At this point in time Split Enz had moved to the UK from NZ and were touring around the UK, Europe and USA trying to break into an international market. -
At St Albans Civic Hall just outside London.
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Sold out show for the band on their UK tour. Best gig they’ve ever done according to Split Enz keyboardist, Eddie Rayner. -
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Sold nearly 26,000 copies in Australia and went gold in New Zealand. -
Dates in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Invercargill, Hamilton, and Napier.
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Estimated audience of 10 million people. -
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Having no record company, Split Enz were in a bit of a financial pickle. With the help of Ray Columbus they were able to get a grant. -
Booked a studio in Luton in which they recorded 28 demo songs in under 5 days. Many of these songs ended up on Split Enz’s fourth album. (Occured in June 1978, specific dates unknown). -
Recorded at The Manor, a studio in Oxfordshire, UK. Occurred in November 1978, specific dates unknown.
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3-day Music Festival with 60,000 attendees on a Waihi farm. -
This included “Give It a Whirl”, written by Neil Finn as well as “I See Red” which became the band’s biggest hit charting at 43 in New Zealand and at 15 in Australia. -
Celebrated by playing a Split Enz gig at Wellington Town Hall
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Recorded with producer David Tickle and a budget of $40,000. Occurred October 1979, specific dates not known.
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This album was Split Enz’s biggest success yet. “I Got You,” written by Neil Finn was an international success being number 1 on the Australian and New Zealand charts selling 300,000 copies in Australia. -
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This allowed True Colours to reach an international audience. The album peaked at number 10 on the Canadian charts and at 40 on the Billboard top 100 in the USA. (Occurred May 1980, specific date unknown). -
The highlight being a sold out show at London’s prestigious Hammersmith Odeon.
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This occurred at the 1980 Australian Pop Music Awards.
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Peaking at Number 1 in Australia and New Zealand. It did not have as much success in the USA but was a huge success in Canada with the two singles "One Step Ahead" and "History Never Repeats" being radio hits, and the album selling over 100,000 copies. -
Recorded at Paradise Studios in Sydney.
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Reached the top ten in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. -
Generally believed by the band to be Split Enz’s best album according to keyboardist Eddie Rayner. Reached number 1 in New Zealand and Australia and number 4 in Canada. However, their single from the album, "Six Months in a Leaky Boat” was banned in the UK because of the Falklands war despite its success in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. -
Had a much more extensive tour in Canada compared to the United States as it was more popular there. Believed to be because Canadian radio stations are less industry oriented and open to new things.
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Performed in large sell out venues and had positive reviews.
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Occurred in November 1982, specific date unknown. -
Times were tough for Split Enz as Neil Finn’s brother Tim had started solo recording and had gained international success for album Escapade.
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Did not compare to other albums due to Tim Finn soloing instead, A&M didn’t even release it in the USA or UK. Despite this the single “Message to My Girl,” written by Neil Finn, was very popular. -
This occurred after his solo career had taken off. Three weeks later Neil decides to also leave spelling the end for Split Enz.
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Featuring lead single, "I Walk Away," written by Neil Finn. This album peaked at number 5 in New Zealand and number 29 in Australia. -
Occurred early to mid 1985 (dates unknown). Neil Finn and other band members tried to get a recording contract. Having no luck in Australia they tried their luck overseas and struck gold in LA. They met Tom Whalley from Capitol Records and his lawyer Gary Stamler and were encouraged to record a third demo.
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Neil Finn, Split Enz drummer Paul Hester, and bassist Nick Seymour started recording demo tapes for new band The Mullanes. Occurred in February 1985, specific date not known
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The Mullanes had their first tour performing down Australia’s east coast in various pubs.
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Occurred in June 1985, specific date not known.
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The Mullanes recorded their debut album in LA at LA Studios Sunset Sound Factory and the studio in capitol records. They also renamed to Crowded House reflecting their current living situation in LA. (Occurred Late 1985 to March 1986, specific dates not known).
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Neil Finn wrote almost all the songs and co-wrote the others including singles, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “World Where You Live” as well as a re-recorded Split Enz song, "I Walk Away". While "World Where You Live" didn’t make too much of an impact, "Don’t Dream It’s Over" became an international hit reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Top 100 as well as reaching number 1 in Canada and New Zealand and number 8 in Australia. -
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Played shows in the USA and Canada including what is considered their breakthrough show at Yamashiro restaurant in LA.
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At the first ARIA Music Awards Crowded House won Best New Talent, along with Song of the Year and Best Video awards for "Don't Dream It's Over." -
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Occurred in August 1985, specific date unknown.
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Crowded House won Best New Artist in a Video at the MTV Music Awards for “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. -
Neil Finn wrote all ten songs on the album. While this album was not as successful as their first it still peaked at number 1 in Australia, number 2 in New Zealand and number 10 and 40 in Canada and the USA. -
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Crowded House started recording for a third album at A&M Studios. However, the label rejected their songs. (Occurred mid 1989, specific date unknown).
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Neil Finn reunited with brother Tim Finn and started to write and record songs together in a flat in Melbourne. (Occurred 1989-1990, dates unknown).
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Crowded House reunites in the Spring of 1990 in LA.
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This album was quite different from their previous albums with the majority of the songs being a mix of songs written by Neil and Tim Finn in Melbourne then songs written as a band. It included popular singles such as “Weather With You,” “It’s Only Natural,” “Fall at your feet,” and “Four Seasons In One Day.” It peaked at number 1 and 2 in New Zealand and Australia and at number 6 and 20 in the UK and Canada. -
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Crowded House begin working on their fourth album in a house in Karekare just west of Auckland. -
Neil Finn wrote the majority of songs, however there was a lot of collaboration from Tim Finn, other band members and Māori by choir leader Bub Wehi especially on the title track, "Together Alone". This album being written in New Zealand took a lot of inspiration from the local sound including Māori singing and Pacific Island log drumming. It peaked at number 1 and 2 in New Zealand and Australia and at 4 and 18 in the UK and Canada. -
Together Alone international tour in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Canada and the USA.
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Won Best International Artist at the Brit Awards beating out U2, Nirvana and R.E.M. -
New Zealand Tour including a Waitangi Day show in Palmerston North that was opened by Still Life (student band from Victoria University that my Dad was in).
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Occurred in March 1995, specific date not known. -
Album that was entirely done only by Neil and Tim Finn, no other Crowded House members. Reached number 8 on NZ charts and number 14 and 15 in Australia and the UK. (Released November 1995, specific date not found). -
Recorded three songs in York Street Studios for upcoming compilation album. (Occurred in March 1996, specific date unknown).
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Neil Finn announces that Crowded House is disbanding after sensing the new material written was not Crowded House.
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Featured greatest hits and three brand new songs, "Not the Girl You Think You Are", "Instinct", and "Everything Is Good for You." Peaked at number 1 in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. -
A small scale gig at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. However, this did not feel like a proper goodbye show for a band of their level prompting a grand finale concert in Sydney later on.
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Crowded House played Farewell to the World concert at the Sydney Opera House, raising $387,825 for Sydney Children’s Hospital. This was estimated to be the band’s biggest concert with between 100,000 and 150,000 attendees. It was an extremely emotional night for both the band and attendees who had to come to terms with Crowded House ending. The final song was naturally their biggest hit and fitting for a farewell, “Don't Dream It’s Over.”