User:ToQ100gou/Split Enz (rewrite)

This is a work in progress that will be proposed on the Split Enz talk page. I have sourced the majority of what is written here already, I'm just writing it all down before creating citations. In addition this rewrite reuses content from other articles which will be noted, so please check their history for attribution.

Split Enz
Split Enz at Rod Laver Arena, June 2006
Background information
Also known as	Split Ends (1972-74)
Origin	Auckland, New Zealand
Genres	Progressive rock (early) new wave art rock pop rock post-punk
Years active	1972–1984 (Reunions: 1986, 1992, 2002, 2006, 2009)
Labels	Mushroom, Chrysalis, A&M
Spinoffs	Forenzics Crowded House Finn Brothers Schnell Fenster The Makers Enzso Citizen Band
Past members	See Members
Website	frenz.com

Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in Auckland in 1972. Fronted at their peak by brothers and songwriters Tim and Neil Finn, they were the first New Zealand band to gain international recognition and were known for their theatrical performances and distinctively flamboyant visual aesthetic. They have had ten albums, including seven studio albums, reach the top 10 of the Official New Zealand Music Chart, and eight songs listed in the APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time, more than any other band.

Originally formed by art school students Tim Finn and Phil Judd as an acoustic-based outfit, they built a strong regional following as an art rock band with Finn and Judd's leadership and became noted for their idiosyncratic musical style and visuals designed by percussionist Noel Crombie. After moving to Australia in 1975, they signed with Mushroom Records and released two moderately successful albums, Mental Notes (1975) and Second Thoughts (1976). Following these two albums and subsequent international touring, the band experienced several lineup changes, including the departure of Judd and his replacement with Neil Finn, Tim's brother, who subsequently became a primary force in the band and helped shift them toward new wave through their next two records, Dizrythmia (1977) and Frenzy (1979). Their international breakthrough came with True Colours (1980), which aided by lead single "I Got You", found them unprecedented success in Australasia and heralded their commercial peak overseas, particularly in Canada, where it sold over 100,000 copies. Their next two albums, Waiata/Corroboree (1981) and Time and Tide (1982) reached number one in Australia and New Zealand but had lesser impact internationally.

Tim Finn launched a solo career in 1983 and left the band a year later in 1984, leaving no original members left and Neil as the leader. After recording and releasing See Ya 'Round (1984) and a farewell tour in Australia and New Zealand, Split Enz disbanded in 1984. They subsequently reunited on several occasions with different former members, the most recent in 2009, and former members have been closely involved in other projects. In 2018, keyboardist Eddie Rayner stated the band would not reunite again.

History

1972–1975: Formation, move to Australia, and Mental Notes

In 1971, Brian Timothy Finn and Phil Judd met at the University of Auckland and developed a musical rapport while living in student accommodation. In October 1972, they formed the acoustic group Split Ends with bassist Jonathan Chunn, violinist Miles Golding, and flautist Mike Howard. They made their live debut at Wynyard Tavern in Auckland on 10 December 1972, where they performed a three song set to a crowd of 30. Barry Coburn, the promoter of the gig, was impressed with the band and arranged for them to perform at the Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in January 1973. Their performance was marred by hostility from the large crowd and was cut short due to scheduling problems. The negative reaction affected Judd and contributed to his disillusionment with live performance.

Despite the poor reception they received at the festival, Coburn remained enthusiastic about the band and organized a recording session in February, where they recorded their first single "For You" backed with "Split Ends". Shortly before its release in April, Golding left to study classical violin in London, and under the suggestion of Chunn, his brother Geoffrey and Paul "Wally" Wilkinson joined the band on drums and guitar respectively, turning the band electric. In late 1973, Split Ends entered TVNZ's New Faces television talent contest, where they finished second-last in the finals, with judge Phil Warren labelling them "too clever". As finalists, Coburn organized a half-hour television special for the group, in which they were joined by saxophonist Rob Gillies and keyboardist Tony Rayner. In early 1974, the band performed at a series of radio-sponsored concerts, dubbed "Buck-A-Head" for the $1 admission, which helped them develop a following. Judd, who had a dislike for live performances, did not participate in the shows.

In August 1974, every member except Judd assumed their middle names as their stage names, as a way to separate their stage personas from their private lives. Former university friend Geoffrey Crombie, who adopted his middle name Noel, became an official member in September 1974, serving as percussionist and art director. Crombie was becoming increasingly involved in the band during the "Buck-A-Head" shows and was subsequently responsible for their later visual appearance. During this time, the band changed their name to Split Enz to signify their New Zealand origins. After having developed a significant following in New Zealand, the band felt limited by the size of their home market, and relocated to Australia in March 1975. Originally basing themselves in Sydney, they were initially billed as "New Zealand's answer to Skyhooks". They subsequently caught the interest of Skyhooks members Red Symons and Bob Starkie, who took manager and Mushroom Records head Michael Gudinski to see them live. Gudinski was impressed, and Symons advised Split Enz to go to Melbourne, which Stuart Coupe described as "a much more supportive city when it came to the avant-garde pop that Split Enz then played".

In November 1975, Wally Wilkinson was fired. According to Mike Chunn, the band had grown unsatisfied with his electric guitar playing and felt that Judd was improving substantially. Gillies briefly rejoined the band after Wilkinson's firing.

1976–1978: Second Thoughts, international touring, and lineup changes

Split Enz supported English band Roxy Music on the latter's first Australian tour in 1976 and drew the attention of guitarist Phil Manzanera, who offered to produce their second album. With the support of both Manzanera and Gudinski, the band secured a recording deal in the UK with Chrysalis Records, and they flew to London to record the album. Punk rock was emerging in the UK during this time; Chris Woodstra of AllMusic wrote that "though their odd looks and new, leaner material wasn't so far removed from post-punk styles, their earlier reputation seemed more in line with the progressive rock the punks sought to destroy". Split Enz toured the UK to a largely mixed critical consensus from the English music press but developed a small cult following, and a December 1976 concert was reportedly attended by figures in the English punk scene. Second Thoughts, which contained several re-recordings of Mental Notes songs combined with new material, was released in July 1976 in Australia and New Zealand and later in the UK and United States with the Mental Notes title and artwork. They subsequently toured the album as support to English folk rock band Jack The Lad. In November 1976, Emlyn Crowther was fired, and was replaced with British drummer Malcolm Green.

In January 1977, the band issued "Another Great Divide" as a single and embarked on tours of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States through February. The American tour was marred by deteriorating relations between Finn and Judd, who was weary of live performances and had trouble dealing with hostile audiences. According to Mike Chunn, Judd "would stop playing at seemingly random moments and his guitar parts took on an increasingly abstract tack, trembling and reeling as if out of control". Judd would also play with his back turned. This culminated in an off-stage altercation in Atlanta, Georgia, where Judd abruptly walked offstage mid-concert and punched Finn backstage when confronted. After their final show in Chicago, Judd left the band. Chunn, who suffered from intense agoraphobia, followed suit.

At Chunn's suggestion, Finn drafted in Neil, who was playing in the Auckland band After Hours. Along with new bassist, English Nigel Griggs, the new lineup began a tour of the United Kingdom in April 1977. The band recorded their third album Dizrythmia at AIR Studios in London from June to July 1977 with Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick producing. Released on 29 August, it was a hit in Australia and New Zealand upon its release, and although a commercial failure in the UK, was well-received in the English music press. Coinciding with the album's release, they returned to Australia and embarked on an 28-date Australasian tour in October and November. The single "My Mistake" peaked at #18 in Australia and #21 in New Zealand. The second single, "Bold At Brass", released in December, failed to chart in Australia. It was accompanied by a promotional video co-directed by Crombie and Gillies. Split Enz toured solidly throughout the UK and Europe between November 1977 and Feburary 1978. Gillies left in the beginning of 1978, and Judd rejoined the band in the UK after they became interested in his latest material.

1978–1979: Hardship in the UK and Frenzy

Split Enz faced several financial and logistical setbacks in early 1978. In March, they left Chrysalis Records and fired their manager Hopkins, feeling that while committed to the band, he was "toothless on an industry level, particularly with record companies". Attempts to find a new label and management were unsuccessful, and the band was forced to sign up for unemployment benefits. Unable to cope with the financial situation, Judd left the band for the second and final time and returned to Auckland where he became involved in the local punk rock scene. Despite their mounting problems, they continued writing and rehearsing new material, with Tim Finn writing an estimated 20 songs in a short period. In April, they lost unemployment benefits when Green accidentally revealed he was in a band and was asked to name the other members. In May 1978, the band received a grant of $5000 from the New Zealand Arts Council after Tim Finn wrote to veteran singer Ray Columbus, who was then chairing the projects committee of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. Subsequently, the band acquired a new manager, Barry Dickens, and booked time in a small studio in Luton where they recorded 15 tracks in days. Known as the "Rootin' Tootin' Luton Tapes", these demo recordings saw the band embracing new wave and punk rock by playing at a higher intensity and with reinvigorated energy fueled by their previous hardship and are regarded by critics as a turning point in the band's sound. they were eventually released commercially in 2007. Dickens left his managerial position shortly after the Luton sessions, daunted by the band's financial burden, and Hopkins was brought back as manager. In August, a fan from Manchester offered the band time in his recording studio, where they met the 18 year old "whizz-kid" engineer David Tickle. Although the band were initially not sure about Tickle, his engineering skills impressed the band and they were satisfied with the results. The session with Tickle yielded "I See Red", a punk-influenced Tim Finn composition that reached #12 in Australia.

A collage of the band performing at the Nambassa Festival in New Zealand in January 1979.

The band wanted Tickle to produce their next album but were overridden by Gudinski, who remained largely unconvinced of Tickle's credit. Titled Frenzy, the album included several songs that were demoed in Luton, but the band would later criticize Earl's production as inferior to the original recordings. The album artwork depicted the band in casual clothes standing in front of a farm shed in New Zealand, in contrast to the band's usually flamboyant visual aesthetic. Frenzy was later released in the US in an altered track listing and remixed form by A&M in 1981. The album, nor the single "Give It A Whirl" (the first single written by Neil Finn) charted. The band returned to New Zealand in December 1978 to play a number of local gigs. After Christmas, their equipment was destroyed in a fire at a rehearsal studio. Using borrowed gear, the band staged a well-received performance at the second Nambassa Festival in New Zealand that January. October 1979 saw the release of "Things", a composition by Neil, backed with Luton demo "Semi-Detached". It did not chart, in due part to the band focusing on their upcoming album rather than promote the single. In November, The Beginning Of The Enz, which compiles early recordings by the band prior to Mental Notes, was released.

1980: True Colours and international breakthrough

David Tickle again to produce their ne in Australia. Titled True Colours after an early song from Judd's tenure, it released in January 1980 to unprecedented Australasian success and established the band as an internationally successful mainstream act. Stuff stated it "marked the moment that a band that had been somewhat chained to their loyal Kiwi fanbase, found a sound that soared overseas". Lead single "I Got You" was equally successful, topping the Australian charts for a record eight weeks and reaching the top twenty in the UK and Canada.

1983–1984: Conflicting Emotions, Tim Finn's departure, and See 'Ya Round: 1983-1984

Tim Finn's departure from the band was officially announced on 16 June 1984. The band attempted to continue with Neil as leader, but he was unwilling to helm what he felt was his brother's creation and felt guilt for what he perceived to be overshadowing his brother in his own band. Speaking in the Enzology audio documentary, Neil said: "This is a band I saw begin as my brother as lead singer and Judd as the other main writer. I just felt there was too much baggage involved for me to carry that flame". "I Walk Away", the lead single from See 'Ya Round, is interpreted by critics as a "farewell" song from the band. Shortly after Tim's departure, Neil called a meeting in Melbourne where he announced his own departure, an announcement that shocked the other band members, especially Hester, who had just joined. When leaving the meeting, Neil was side-swiped by a drunk driver, and watched as Crombie, Rayner, and Griggs drove past without noticing. The band reconvened shortly after and with Tim returning, held a farewell tour which ended with a performance in Auckland on 4 December 1984.

1985–present: Reunions and other activity

Split Enz have reunited for various one-off performances with different lineups since their official disbandment. The first of these took place on 5 April 1986 at the Rainbow Warrior Music Festival, a benefit concert for Greenpeace held at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium. Joined again by Tim Finn, they performed at the debut show for Crowded House two months later. 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.

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 founding and early members of the band performed a set at Auckland's Wynyard Tavern on 10 December 1992, twenty years to the date after their live debut at the same venue. A full reunion tour of New Zealand followed in March 1993, with Nigel Griggs and Paul Hester returning again. In December 1999, Split Enz reunited for a fifth time to perform at the Millennium Concert in Auckland. A sixth reunion followed three years later to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's formation and live debut.

On 14 July 2005, Split Enz performed at their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne. Less than three months previously, Hester had committed suicide after "a long battle with depression". For the Hall of Fame performance, Malcolm Green took his place, reuniting the band's most successful lineup. The same lineup returned the following June for a short tour of Australia. 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. A final one-off reunion performance (with Barker on drums) took place on 14 March 2009 as part of the Sound Relief festival. 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". In 2020, both Tim Finn and Noel Crombie expressed an ambivalent attitude towards a future reunion, saying that it "might sneak up on us at some point" but "I don't know about the full arm's length tour. Not at this stage. Who knows?"

Related projects

After leaving in 1977, Phil Judd was a member of New Zealand punk band Suburban Reptiles, and later founded new wave band the Swingers, who achieved an Australasian hit in 1981 with "Counting the Beat". In 1986, Judd formed Schnell Fenster in Melbourne with Crombie, Griggs, and Rayner. Neil Finn and Paul Hester formed Crowded House in Melbourne with Nick Seymour in 1985. They had a worldwide hit with 1986's "Don't Dream It's Over" and were briefly joined by Tim for the writing and recording of their third album Woodface. Rayner also served as a touring member for Crowded House. In 1995, Rayner created Enzso, a project in which contemporary pop singers performed Split Enz songs backed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2020, Rayner and Tim Finn formed Forenzics, a project which reappropriates passages from early Split Enz songs.

Members

(This section reuses visual data from List of Split Enz members.)

Throughout their twelve-year history, Split Enz underwent thirteen lineup changes. From 1977 to 1981, the band comprised lead singers, guitarists, and principal songwriters Tim and Neil Finn, bassist Nigel Griggs, keyboardist Eddie Rayner, percussionist Noel Crombie, and drummer Malcolm Green, who left after Waiata's release. Green was not replaced, and instead Crombie became the drummer until Paul Hester joined in 1983.

Peak lineup

• Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano (1972–1984; plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009)
• Eddie Rayner – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1974–1984; plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009)
• Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals (1974–1984; plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009)
• Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals (1976–1981; plus reunions in 2005 and 2006)
• Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals (1977–1984; plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009)
• Neil Finn – lead guitar, mandolin, vocals (1977–1984; plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009)

1972-1984

Reunion lineups

Discography

Main article: Split Enz discography

Studio albums

• Mental Notes (1975)
• Second Thoughts (1976, titled Mental Notes in Europe and North America)
• Dizrythmia (1977)
• Frenzy (1979)
• The Beginning of the Enz (1979, recorded 1973–1974)
• True Colours (1980)
• Waiata (1981, titled Corroboree in Australia)
• Time and Tide (1982)
• Conflicting Emotions (1983)
• See Ya 'Round (1984)

Legacy

Split Enz are highly regarded in New Zealand and were the first New Zealand band to achieve international recognition. International musicians who have praised the band include Eddie Vedder, Hugh Cornwell, Ray Davies, and Bette Midler.

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Split Enz were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
ARIA Music Awards of 2005	Split Enz	ARIA Hall of Fame	inductee

TV Week / Countdown Awards

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1980	True Colours	Best Australian Album	Nominated
		Most Popular Australian Record	Nominated
		Best Australian Record Cover Design	Nominated
	"I Got You"	Best Single Record	Won
	themselves	Most Outstanding Achievement	Nominated
		Most Popular Group	Nominated
	Neil Finn (Split Enz)	Best Recorded Song Writer	Nominated
1981	themselves	Most Popular Group	Nominated
	Neil Finn (Split Enz)	Best Australian Songwriter	Nominated
		Most Popular Male Performer	Nominated
1982	Time and Tide	Best Australian Album	Won
	"Six Months in a Leaky Boat"	Best Australian Single	Nominated
	Themselves	Most Popular Group	Won
1983	Themselves	Most Popular Group	Nominated

Sources

• Apter, Jeff (2010). Together Again: The Story Of The Finn Brothers (eBook edition) (1st ed.). Australia: Random House. ISBN 9781864716009.
• Bourke, Chris (1997). Crowded House: Something So Strong (1st ed.). Australia: Macmillian. ISBN 9780732908867.
• Chunn, Mike (2019) [1992]. "Stranger Than Fiction: The Life and Times of Split Enz" (eBook). ISBN 9780994135940.
• Mitchell, Tony (1996). Popular Music And Local Identity: Rock, Pop, And Rap In Europe and Oceania (1st ed.). ISBN 9780718500191.