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Neil Finn joined Split Enz
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. -
Neil’s Finn first show with Split Enz
At St Albans Civic Hall just outside London. -
Split Enz Show at Victoria Palace, London
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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Split Enz third album is recorded at AIR studios in London
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Split Enz, Third album, *Dizrythmia*, is released
Sold nearly 26,000 copies in Australia and went gold in New Zealand. -
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Split Enz NZ Tour for third album *Dizrythmia*
Dates in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Invercargill, Hamilton, and Napier. -
Split Enz performs 30 minute slot on Sight and Sound (live rock concert radio) on Saturday evening
Estimated audience of 10 million people. -
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Split Enz UK Tour
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Split Enz Netherlands Tour
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Split Enz parted ways with UK record company Chrysalis
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$5000 Grant from Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council
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. -
Split Enz Recorded *Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes*
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). -
Split Enz recorded fourth album
Recorded at The Manor, a studio in Oxfordshire, UK. Occurred in November 1978, specific dates unknown. -
Split Enz Headlined Nambassa Music Festival
3-day Music Festival with 60,000 attendees on a Waihi farm. -
Split Enz released their fourth album *Frenzy*
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. -
Neil Finn’s 21st Birthday
Celebrated by playing a Split Enz gig at Wellington Town Hall -
Split Enz started recording fifth album in Australia
Recorded with producer David Tickle and a budget of $40,000. Occurred October 1979, specific dates not known. -
Split Enz Fifth Album *True Colours* is released
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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Split Enz NZ Tour for *True Colours*.
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Split Enz signs with A&M Records
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). -
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Split Enz short UK tour for *True Colours*
The highlight being a sold out show at London’s prestigious Hammersmith Odeon. -
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Split Enz *True Colours* tour in the USA
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Split Enz played at Sweetwaters Music Festival
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Split Enz wins Best Single Record for "I Got You."
This occurred at the 1980 Australian Pop Music Awards. -
Split Enz released sixth album *Waiata* (called *Corroboree* in Australia)
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. -
Split Enz started recording for seventh album
Recorded at Paradise Studios in Sydney. -
Split Enz single "Dirty Creature" was released
Reached the top ten in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. -
Split Enz seventh album *Time and Tide* was released
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. -
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Split Enz *Time and Tide* Tour in 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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Split Enz United States tour for *Time and Tide*
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Split Enz *Time and Tide* Tour in Australia
Performed in large sell out venues and had positive reviews. -
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Split Enz *Time and Tide* Tour in New Zealand
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Split Enz released compilation album *Enz of an Era*
Occurred in November 1982, specific date unknown. -
Split Enz started recording ninth album
Times were tough for Split Enz as Neil Finn’s brother Tim had started solo recording and had gained international success for album Escapade. -
Split Enz album *Conflicting Emotions* was released
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. -
Tim Finn announces that he is leaving Split Enz
This occurred after his solo career had taken off. Three weeks later Neil decides to also leave spelling the end for Split Enz. -
Neil Finn decides he wants to make a new band seperate from Split Enz
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Split Enz final tour Enz with a Bang, around Australia and New Zealand
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Split Enz releases final album, *See Ya 'Round*
Featuring lead single, "I Walk Away," written by Neil Finn. This album peaked at number 5 in New Zealand and number 29 in Australia. -
Neil Finn's new band The Mullanes try to get a recording contract
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. -
Recorded demo tapes for new band The Mullanes.
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 Coaster to Coaster tour
The Mullanes had their first tour performing down Australia’s east coast in various pubs. -
The Mullanes signed a record deal with Capitol Records
Occurred in June 1985, specific date not known. -
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The Mullanes recorded their debut album in LA
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). -
Crowded House released debut album *Crowded House*
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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Crowded House Australia Tour for debut album
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Crowded House European Tour for debut album
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Crowded House played shows in the USA and Canada
Played shows in the USA and Canada including what is considered their breakthrough show at Yamashiro restaurant in LA. -
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Crowded House toured around Australia
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Crowded House toured around America in First American Tour 1987
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Inaugural Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards
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." -
"Don’t Dream It’s Over" peaked at number 2 in the Billboard Top 100
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Writing for second Crowded House album began in Australia
Occurred in August 1985, specific date unknown. -
MTV Music Awards
Crowded House won Best New Artist in a Video at the MTV Music Awards for “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. -
Crowded House released second album *Temple of Low Men*
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 *Temple of Low Men* Tour in UK, Europe and Japan
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Better Be Home Later Than Never tour in Australia
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*Temple of Low Men* Tour picked up again in Canada and USA
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Crowded House started recording for a third album at A&M Studios
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
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). -
Crowded House Reunites
Crowded House reunites in the Spring of 1990 in LA. -
Third Crowded House album *Woodface* is released
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 International Tour: Get Woodfaced
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Crowded House European Tour: 4 Seasons in 8 Weeks.
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Crowded House Begins Fourth Album.
Crowded House begin working on their fourth album in a house in Karekare just west of Auckland. -
Fourth Crowded House album *Together Alone* is released
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. -
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Crowded House *Together Alone* International Tour
Together Alone international tour in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Canada and the USA. -
1994 Brit Awards
Won Best International Artist at the Brit Awards beating out U2, Nirvana and R.E.M. -
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Crowded House New Zealand Tour
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). -
Neil Finn and Tim Finn finished making Finn brothers album
Occurred in March 1995, specific date not known. -
*Finn* by Neil and Tim Finn is released
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). -
Crowded House York Street Studios Recordings
Recorded three songs in York Street Studios for upcoming compilation album. (Occurred in March 1996, specific date unknown). -
Crowded House Disbanding
Neil Finn announces that Crowded House is disbanding after sensing the new material written was not Crowded House. -
Crowded House released compilation album *Recurring Dream*
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. -
Played what was meant to be Crowded House’s last show
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. -
Crowded House Final Show
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.”