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Split Ends Formed
OG members :
Tim Finn - Vocals
Phil Judd - Guitar and Vocals
Mike Chunn - Bass
Miles Golding - Violin
Mike Howard - Flute
Formed band Split Ends. They were all graduates/students at the University of Auckland and were seen as an acoustic pop band in these days. -
First Live Performance - Wynyard Tavern AKL
Immediately after performing here, they went and performed the same songs at Levis Saloon - where Barry Coburn was and was very impressed -
Ngaruwahia music festival
Barry Coburn (soon to be manager) took a liking to the band, and gave them a early Saturday evening spot to perform. They went on stage at 8pm, performed 6 songs, and were asked to finish early as the festival was running behind schedule. It was said to be a disaster as it was the first time the band had performed to more than just a small group of people. It left the members feeling quite uninspired -
Split Ends First Band Tour
Split Ends went on their first ever tour in February/March '73. This tour was around Universities of NZ. This was supporting Itambu -
Recorded their first single in a studio
Split Ends went into the studio to record their first single 'For You'. This was organised by Barry Coburn and was recorded at Stebbings Studios. For the B-Side was, 'Split Ends'. This was released in April -
Miles Golding Left Split Ends
To study in London -
Wally Wilkinson, Geoff Chun were recruited, Mike Howard left.
Wally Wilkinson was recruited in April, to play guitar, and Geoff Chunn (Johnathon Chunn's brother) to play on the drums. Mike Howard didn't see himself fitting in as the group became more electric rather than acoustic, so he left the band.
The band line up was left as:
Paul Wilkinson
Philip Judd
Jonathon Chunn
Geoffrey Chunn
Brian Finn -
Toured NZ supporting John Mayall
John Mayall was going on a tour around NZ and Split Ends jumped at the chance to perform somewhere other than Universities. Rob Gillies joined the band for this tour on Saxophone -
Appeared on TV show 'New Faces'
The band came second to last (7/8) in TV One's program 'New Faces', however it gave them great publicity. -
Phil Judd departed
Phil Judd left the band in December '73 -
Signed Contract with Barry Coburn
The band signed a contract with their manager Barry Coburn. (image shows an image of the band with Barry Coburn (third from the left)) -
Rob Gillies recruited
In January 1974, Rob Gillies was recruited to the band to be their saxophonist -
Eddie Rayner recruited
In February 1974, Eddie Rayner was recruited to play the keyboard for the band
Lineup:
Tim Finn
Eddie Rayner
Rob Gillies
Mike Chunn
Geoff Chunn
Wally Wilkinson -
Altered name to 'Split Enz'
In March 1974, the band changed their name to Split Enz, with the NZ at the end representing their correlation to New Zealand -
Noel Crombie making first appearence
In April '74, Noel Crombie made his first appearence live witht the band at.... -
'Buck-A-Head' Concert
The band performed to 1,200 people in one of the Radio-Hauraki buck a head concerts. This was a great success, and was the beginning of the success of Split Enz -
Judd returns, Gillies and Geoff Chunn leave
June/July 1974 was a busy time for the band, they welcomed the return of Phill Judd to the band, however said goodbye to Rob Gillies and Geoff Chunn shortly after -
Paul Crowther joins
Paul Crowther replaces Geoff Chunn
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Phil Judd,
Wally Wilkinson,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Emlyn Crowther. -
Noel Crombie officially joins
Noel Crombie officially joins the band full time as their percussionist and visual director
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Phil Judd,
Wally Wilkinson,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Emlyn Crowther
Noel Crombie -
Split Enz toured for Orientation Week
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Split Enz moves to Australia
In March 1975, the band moves to Australia to continue their career over there -
Tours with Roxy Music
Split Enz perform as a supporting act for international visitors from Roxy Music. Phil Manzanera, the guitarist from British group Roxy Music whom Split Enz supported on tour in Australia, takes a shine to the Kiwis. -
Signed to Mushroom Records
The band was signed to Mushroom Records in May. This lead to the recording of their first album 'Mental Notes' -
First Album 'Mental Notes' Released
The bands first album 'Mental Notes' was released at the end of July 1975. People said it became a student anthem, and kids were so excited that a group from NZ could make such great music -
'Mental Notes' hit a high of No.7 on the charts
The Album hit Number 7 on the album charts in NZ, and stayed there for two weeks -
Phil Manzanera offers to produce second Album
Phil Manzanera, the guitarist from Roxy music, offers to produce Split Enz's second album -
Goodbye Wilkinson, Hello Rob Gillies
Shortly after the release of their first album, Wilkinson leaves (was said to be sacked, in his words "The guys decided they’d like another guitarist.") and Rob Gillies rejoins.
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Phil Judd,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Emlyn Crowther
Noel Crombie
Rob Gillies -
No more Barry
The bands manager Barry Coburn finishes his time with them in December 1975 -
'Enz of the Earth' Australasian Tour
The band went on tour for a few months. Ending in February -
Signed to Mental Management
Split Enz is signed to Mental Management -
John Hopkins as new manager
Split Enz have a new manager, John Hopkins -
Split Enz goes to the UK
Phil Mananzera gets them signed with a record deal to Chrysalis records shortly after their arrival -
'Second Thoughts' is released
Split Enz's second album 'Second Thoughts' is released, produced by Phil Manzanera. This album had some earlier material on it too. -
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Split Enz's first UK Tour!
26 dates, supporting English Folk-Rockers 'Jack the Lad' -
Goodbye Crowther, Hello Green
Paul Crowther is sacked by the band, Malcolm Green is welcomed as a replacement
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Phil Judd,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Noel Crombie
Rob Gillies
Malcom Green -
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Second UK Tour
15 dates as headliners -
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First Holland Tour
15 dates, headliners -
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Courting the Act - Australasian Tour
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USA Tour
23 Dates, 40 shows over 6 weeks, supporting or headlining. This tour was to promote the album, however they recalled that they might have been performing to 20 people on average every night -
Phil Judd Leaves for a second time
Phil leaves mid tour in Atlanta
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Noel Crombie
Rob Gillies
Malcom Green -
Period: to
Third UK Tour
Split Enz go on their third UK Tour, headlining over 14 dates -
Neil Finn Joins
Tim Finns brother joins the band replacing Judd
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Mike Chunn,
Noel Crombie
Rob Gillies
Malcom Green -
Chunn leaves, replaced by Griggs on same day
Mike Chunn left the band, but was replaced the same day by Nigel Griggs on Bass
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Rob Gillies,
Malcom Green -
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Second Holland/Belgium Tour
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Show at Victoria Palace, London
The group landed a show at Victoria Palace in London. This was said to be a huge success for the band, lots of Kiwi's who were overseas came to see the band, as well as lots of 'Brits' who ended up filling out Victoria Palace. Eddie Rayner later says in 1977 that 'it was probably the best gig we've ever done here.' -
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Dizrythmia recorded
in London AIR studios -
Dizrythmia released!
Split Enz releases their third album Dizrythmia in August -
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Dizrythmia Australasian Tour
28 dates -
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Fourth UK Tour
21 dates - all headlining -
Sight and Sound appearence
The group got onto a radio show with a 30 minute slot. The radio show Sight and Sound was very popular, and there was said to be an estimates 10 million people listening to the station at the time. A lot of publicity through this -
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Third Holland Tour
15 dates -
Gillies leaves
In January '78, Rob Gillies leaves the band (however some say he was sacked)
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Malcom Green -
Part ways with Chrysallis Records
Early 1978. -
Queen Elizabeth (ii) Art's Council grants $5,000
The band was struggling, and by help of Ray Columbus, Queen Elizabeth (ii) Art's Council grants the band $5,000. -
Time Out - 10th Anniversary Concert
in London -
Home for christmas
the group came back to NZ for christmas time -
Fire at rehersal Studio
Suspicious fire ruined all the bands equipment at their recording studio -
Nambassa Music Festival
Split Enz played at the Nambassa music festival. They were playing on borrowed equipment and said to arrive very late on stage -
'Frenzy' - Fourth Album released
Recorded at the Manor Studios in November and December '78. Only released in Australasia as they had no record deal in the UK. A few songs were worked on with Producer David Tickle -
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NZ Tour
Split Enz tours NZ, starting in Timaru and ending in Auckland -
Recording of their next album with David Tickle
In Sydney. This is when they sensed they were on the verge of something big -
'True Colours' Album released
This is what really sky rocketed the band. The song 'I Got You' was No.1 in NZ for 5 weeks and Australia for 8. The album was first in Australia for 10 weeks and NZ for 8 -
A&M Records deal
The band gets a record deal from outside Australasia with A&M records -
'True Colours' released in UK and North America
The album was released by A&M in August to the UK and North America in August. ‘I Got You’ was broadcasted on Top Of The Pops (to an estimated 11 million people) which helped the single reach No.10. -
Tour of UK for the album
Following success, the band did a short tour of the UK. Their highlight of the tour however, was a sold out show at Hammersmith Odeon in London -
Sweetwaters - Ngaruawahia
The band headlined at NZ festival Sweetwaters -
'Waiata' - Fifth Album released
reach no.1 in aus and nz. 'Corroboree' in Australia. No surprise the album went to No.1 in NZ and Aus -
Macolm Green leaves
Malcolm Green leaves the band after disagreements about songwriting contributions. Noel Crombie moved from percussionist to drums.
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie -
Recording of 'Time and Tide'
The band went into Sydney's Paradise Studios to record their album. They said they knew that it was going to be a great album from the very first note that was struck. First day of recording was Nov 30th -
'Dirty Creature' Single released
Prior to their album release. Reached the top 10 in NZ, Aus and Canada -
'Time and Tide' is released
co-produced by Hugh Padgham and Split Enz -
Tours to promote the album
The band played many tours around Australia, Canada and the USA. Prior to going to the northern hemisphere, they played a 'triumphant' tour in Australia. The band did 20 shows in Canada in May, and did the USA in 2 weeks, as Canada had a much larger fan base than the USA -
Six Months In a Leaky Boat - Single released
The group released the second single from album Time and Tide in May. This song gained traction, however later on in the year it caused controversy in the UK because of the Falklands war, so it was removed from the radio play lists in the UK by then. The single did do really well in NZ and Australia, and ended up on the APRA top 100 New Zealand songs of all time as number 5 -
One-off single 'Next Exit' released
Dates vary from late 1982 - early 1983 -
Tim Finn released 'Escapade'.
Following the bands relationship with Mushroom records starting to fade, the band all did their own thing for a lot of 1983. Tim Finn got the go ahead to record his own album 'Escapade'. This album reached No.1 in NZ and Aus -
'Conflicting Emotions' is released
This album was hard. Tim Finn felt guilty about his success with Escapade, so felt he needed to write better music for the band, but was in fact doing the opposite. A&M did not release this album in the UK or Canada -
Paul Hester Joins as Drummer
In December 1983, Paul Hester joined the band as their drummer, and Crombie returned to his role of percussionist.
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Paul Hester -
Tim Finn leaves Split Enz
Tim Finn announces he is leaving Split Enz, after the success of his solo album and career. Although rumoured that Neil Finn doesn't want to continue without either of the two founders of the band, 3 weeks later he actually states that he also realised he wanted something else as he had been in Split Enz since he was 17, so he also wants to call it a day with Split Enz. They decide to make one final album -
Final tour 'Enz With A Bang' Starts
Their first concert of their final tour began in Wellington. Tim Finn reunites with the band for the tour
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Paul Hester -
Final Album 'See Ya Round' Released
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The Last Concert as a Band
Played the last concert of their final tour together as a band at Logan Cambell Centre in Auckland -
'The Living Enz' Released
Live performances in Australia and NZ had been recorded, and the band released that as an extra final album -
Greenpeace Benefit Concert
The band reunites for the Rainbow Warrior music festival, a Greenpeace benefit concert held at Mount Smart
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Paul Hester -
Scheduled to reunite at Newcastle Worker's Club
The band was scheduled to do a 4 day tour around Australia with Crowded House. Their first concert was on the 27th December in Mudgee, NSW. The next day they were scheduled to reunite at Newcastle Worker's Club in Australia, however the same day as the event, a devastating earthquake happened, destroying the venue. -
Return to Newcastle for quake relief
The band returned to Newcastle to perform and help raise funds for the damage the earthquake caused in late December -
20th Year Anniversary at Wynyard Tavern
The band reunited on their 20th anniversary at the same pub they had their first ever gig at, Aucklands Wynyard Tavern
Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Paul Hester,
Geoff Chunn,
Mike Chunn,
Robert Gillies,
Emlyn Crowther -
20th Anniversary Tour
To celebrate 20 years since the formation of the badn, the original line up of:
went on tour around NZ for a week (13th-20th of March) Line up:
Tim Finn,
Neil Finn,
Eddie Rayner,
Nigel Griggs,
Noel Crombie,
Paul Hester