User:ToQ100gou/Split Enz (rewrite)
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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 | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | Split Ends (1972-74) |
Origin | Auckland, New Zealand |
Genres | |
Years active | 1972–1984 (Reunions: 1986, 1992, 2002, 2006, 2009) |
Labels | Mushroom, Chrysalis, A&M |
Spinoffs | |
Past members | See Members |
Website | frenz |
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.[2]