Split Enz

Split Enz formed in 1971 at the University of Auckland and were originally known under the name of Split Ends. The band consisted of Phil Judd (guitar, vocals), Tim Finn (vocals, piano), Miles Golding (violin), Mike Howard (flute), and Mike Chunn (bass). Split Ends issued its debut single, ‘Split Ends/For You’, in April 1973. After the single was released, Golding left the group. At Chunn's urging, the band went for a new, electric sound, adding Geoff Chunn on drums, Wally Wilkinson on guitar, and saxophonist Rob Gillies.

In late 1973, the band’s original name was altered to the patriotic Split Enz to signify their New Zealand roots and EMI NZ issued the band's second single, ‘129’/ ‘Sweet Talking Spoon Song’.

In early 1974, Anthony Edward Rayner joined on keyboards. Rather than play the more traditional pub circuit, they played theatres, which seemed more suited to the band's style. The group's shows took on a theatrical tone, as the band members wore wild, colourful costumes and sported a variety of odd hairdos.

In March of 1975, the band issued its third single, ‘No bother to me’, on the White Cloud label. The group travelled to Australia at this time, where they  initially struggled for recognition but they eventually earned a small cult following and secured a contract with Mushroom Records.

In two weeks during May/June 1975 they recorded their debut album Mental Notes at Festival's Studio 24 in Sydney. It was a moderate success on its release in July.

Before leaving for England in April 1976 they recorded a new single, ‘Late last night.’ Second thoughts, essentially a reworked Mental notes, was released toward the end of 1976 (it was released internationally as Mental Notes). Judd left the band and was replaced with Tim's younger brother Neil. Bassist Nigel Griggs was also recruited.

The line-up changes created renewed drive and enthusiasm. Neil soon began contributing his own material. The bands next album was Dizrhythmia, which went gold in Australia, and the single ‘My mistake’ became their first top 20 hit. The second single, Tim Finn's jaunty ‘Bold as brass’ failed to chart in Australia.

Early in 1978, Split Enz recorded a new single called ‘I see red’.

The band produced True colours in 1979, which included the single ‘I got you,’ (accompanied with an effective video clip produced by ABC). The song and album hit number one in Australia and New Zealand.The album also allowed Split Enz to taste international success for the first time – ‘I got you’ went number one in the Australian and Canadian charts, to number 12 in Britain, and even got them onto the US charts, where the song reached number 53.

The band quickly recorded a follow-up during a mid-year break in touring. The album released in 1981 was called Corroborree in Australia and Waiata internationally which managed two hit singles, ‘One step ahead’ and ‘History never repeats.’

The band's next release Time & Tide (1982) maintained their newfound commercial strength with the hit single ‘Six months in a leaky boat’. It immediately topped the Australian and New Zealand charts. The advent of MTV and the channel's commitment to new wave acts helped the band's growing status in America.

The band released Escapade in June 1983 and was a major success in Australasia, spawning several hits singles including ‘Fraction too much friction’ and the gospel-styled ‘Made my day’. Tim won the “Best Songwriter” gong at the Countdown Awards, and Split Enz won “Best Album” (for Time & tide) and the “Most Popular Group” award. A new drummer, Paul Hester, was added, demoting Crombie to percussion. Before work was begun on the next album, Tim announced that he was leaving the band. The band carried on for one more album See ya round, which was released only in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Neil decided to fold the band following a farewell tour, Enz with a Bang!, for which Tim rejoined the group.

Neil and Paul Hester went on to form the internationally successful Crowded House, Tim continued a sporadic solo career, joining Crowded House for the Woodface album in 1991.

In June 2006 the True Colours line up of Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Eddie Rayner, Noel Crombie, Nigel Griggs, and Malcolm Green sold out concerts in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth within hours.

Countdown appearances
 

• Show 205 5th August 1979 – Tim Finn and Split Enz co-host Countdown.
• 1980 Countdown awards – Split Enz perform ‘I got you’
• 27th October 1984 Countdown 10th Anniversary show - Split Enz in studio performing, ‘One moth is fed’.
• Show 397 20th November 1983 – Split Enz band members host Countdown and perform acoustic session of ‘Summertime’.
• Countdown music awards, Split Enz perform ‘History never repeats’.
• 23rd September 1984 show 435 - Tim Finn (who had recently left the band), Neil Finn & Paul Hester from Split Enz host the show.

Links:
http://www.frenz.com/