Neil Mullane Finn, OBE (born 27 May 1958, in Te Awamutu, New Zealand) is a singer and songwriter and one of New Zealand's foremost popular musicians. He is the frontman for Crowded House and previously for Split Enz.
He was born Cornelius Mullane Finn, but stated later, "I was christened Cornelius, and dropped it at an early age thinking it was a bit corny", in an interview with Australian television host Andrew Denton in 1995. Finn rose to prominence in the late 1970s after replacing singer songwriter Phil Judd in his brother Tim Finn's band Split Enz. With the group, Finn wrote the hits "One Step Ahead", "History Never Repeats", "I Got You" and "Message to My Girl", among others. Finn rose from prominence to international fame after Split Enz broke up in 1984 when he formed Crowded House with Split Enz's final drummer Paul Hester in 1985. The group achieved international success in 1987 when they released the single "Don't Dream It's Over" written by Finn. Finn ended Crowded House in 1996 to embark upon what was to become a moderately successful solo career, and has released two albums with his brother Tim under the title the Finn Brothers. In 2007, Finn reunited Crowded House and released a new album, Time on Earth, and the band began a world tour.
Crowded House
Split Enz broke up in 1984. Finn formed a new band called The Mullanes (Mullane being both his middle name and his mother's maiden name) with Split Enz drummer Paul Hester, guitarist Craig Hooper of The Reels and bassist Nick Seymour (younger brother of Hunters & Collectors leader Mark Seymour), whom Neil had met on the final Split Enz tour. Hooper left just before they recorded their first album, at which time the band was renamed Crowded House, inspired by the rental home they shared while recording in Los Angeles.
Family
Finn married Sharon Dawn Johnson, on 13 February 1982. The song "I Love You Dawn," available on Afterglow (an album of unreleased Crowded House tracks and B-sides) was penned in her honour. They have two sons, Liam Mullane (born 1983 - Split Enz's "Our Day" was written about his birth) and Elroy Timothy (born 1989). Both sons play various instruments, and often perform alongside their father on tour and in the recording studio. Liam had his own band, Betchadupa, originally based in Auckland, then London before releasing a solo album, I'll Be Lightning in 2008. He also plays in Crowded House's touring band lineup. Elroy Finn is also following in his father and brother's musical footsteps as drummer for the psychobilly band The Tricks. Sharon Finn creates chandeliers in her workshop in Auckland. Numerous chandeliers designed by Sharon featured on stage in the 2004-05 tours promoting the Everyone Is Here album. Sharon has appeared on backing vocals on various albums such as Crowded House and Alex Lloyd's Watching Angels Mend.
Singles
* 1998 - Sinner
* 1998 - She Will Have Her Way
* 1999 - I Can See Clearly Now
* 1999 - Can You Hear Us
* 2001 - Rest of the Day Off
* 2001 - Wherever You Are
* 2001 - Hole In the Ice
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