List of Split Enz members

Split Enz were a New Zealand new wave band from Auckland. Formed in October 1972, the group originally consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Tim Finn, vocalist and guitarist Phil Judd, bassist Mike Chunn, violinist Miles Golding and flautist Mike Howard, who were joined a few months later by drummer Div Vercoe. The band remained active until December 1984, at which point the lineup featured keyboardist Eddie Rayner, percussionist Noel Crombie (both since 1974), bassist Nigel Griggs, vocalist/guitarist Neil Finn (both since 1977), and drummer Paul Hester (since 1983). Since disbanding, Split Enz have reunited on a number of occasions, usually with their 1984 lineup and Tim Finn.

Members of Split Enz performing in 1979 (top) and 2006 (bottom).

History

1972–77

Brian (Tim) Finn and Phil Judd formed Split Ends as an acoustic group in October 1972, adding bassist Jonathan (Mike) Chunn, violinist Miles Golding and flautist Mike Howard.[1] Chunn's younger brother Geoff played drums at the quintet's first show on 10 December 1972.[2] David "Div" Vercoe joined in time for the recording of the band's debut single "For You" in February 1973, before he was dismissed soon after for being difficult to work with.[3] Golding also left after the single's recording, at which time the group became an electric outfit, Paul "Wally" Wilkinson (lead guitar) and Robert Gillies (saxophone, trumpet) were added to the lineup, and Geoff Chunn returned on drums.[4] By late 1973, the band had released their second single "The Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song".[4]

Neil Finn, younger brother of the band's frontman Tim, joined Split Enz in April 1977 after Phil Judd left.

In early 1974, Split Ends changed the spelling of their name to Split Enz, and expanded to a seven-piece lineup with the addition of Eddie Rayner on keyboards.[5] During the summer, Gillies left, Geoff Chunn was replaced by Paul (Emlyn) Crowther, and Geoff (Noel) Crombie joined on percussion.[6] This lineup issued the group's debut full-length album Mental Notes in 1975.[4] By November, Wilkinson had left and Gillies rejoined.[6] After 1976's follow-up Second Thoughts, several more changes in personnel followed – in December 1976, Crowther was replaced by Malcolm Green, Judd and Chunn left at the end of a North American tour in March, and Finn replaced them with his brother Neil and Nigel Griggs, respectively, in time for a British tour which started the next month.[6][7] This new lineup issued Dizrythmia later in the year.[6]

1977–84

By early 1978, Split Enz had parted ways with their record company Chrysalis Records, Robert Gillies had left the band for a second time, and Phil Judd had returned briefly before leaving just a few weeks later.[6] After a number of recording sessions which remained unreleased until 2007 in the form of The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes, the six-piece group issued Frenzy in 1979, followed by True Colours in 1980 and Waiata in 1981.[6] Shortly after the latter's release, drummer Malcolm Green left the band and moved to Australia following "disagreements regarding [his] songwriting and inclusion of his songs on the band's albums".[8]

Green was not replaced, with percussionist Noel Crombie taking over his role.[6] As a five-piece, Split Enz issued Time and Tide and Conflicting Emotions, before Paul Hester took over on drums for the Conflicting Emotions Tour at the end of 1983.[9] Just a few months into the tour, however, with tensions growing between himself and his brother, Tim Finn announced on 16 June 1984 that he was leaving Split Enz, leaving the group with no original members.[10] The group continued on with Neil Finn as frontman, recording See Ya 'Round for release later in the year.[11] Finn later decided, however, that he would disband the group at the end of the year's touring cycle, forming Crowded House the next year.[10] Split Enz's final show took place on 7 December.[12]

From 1984

After Split Enz disbanded, Neil Finn and Paul Hester formed Crowded House, with whom Split Enz would tour several times in later years.

Since their breakup in 1984, Split Enz have reunited on a number of occasions. The first reunion took place on 5 April 1986 at the Rainbow Warrior Music Festival, a benefit concert for Greenpeace held at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium.[13] Joined again by Tim Finn, the reunited group also performed at the debut show of Crowded House, the new band of Neil Finn and Paul Hester, two months later.[14] 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.[9]

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 former members of the group performed a set at Auckland's Wynyard Tavern on 10 December 1992 – exactly 20 years after their live debut at the same venue.[9] A full reunion tour of New Zealand followed in March 1993, with Nigel Griggs and Paul Hester returning again.[9] In December 1999, Split Enz reunited for a fifth time to perform at the Millennium Concert in Auckland.[9] A sixth reunion followed three years later to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's formation and live debut.[15]

On 14 July 2005, Split Enz performed at their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne.[9] Less than three months previously, Hester had committed suicide after "a long battle with depression".[16] For the Hall of Fame performance, 1976–1981 Split Enz drummer Malcolm Green took his place.[17] The same lineup returned the following June for a short tour of Australia.[18] 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.[19] A final one-off reunion performance (with Green back on drums) took place on 14 March 2009 as part of the Sound Relief festival.[9]

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".[20]

Members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Brian (Tim) Finn	1972–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)	lead and backing vocals piano guitar (since 1975)	all Split Enz releases, except See Ya 'Round (1984)
	Phil Judd	1972–1977 1978	lead and backing vocals guitar mandolin	all Split Enz releases from "For You" (1973) to "Another Great Divide" (1976)
	Jonathan (Mike) Chunn	1972–1977 (plus one-off reunion in 1992)	bass piano
	Mike Howard	1972–1973	flute	"For You" (1973)
	Miles Golding		violin	"For You" (1973) Second Thoughts (1976) – two tracks only
	David "Div" Vercoe	1973	drums	"For You" (1973)
	Paul "Wally" Wilkinson	1973–1975	guitar	"Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song" (1973) "No Bother to Me" (1974) Mental Notes (1975)
	Geoff Chunn	1972 (one-off) 1973–1974 (plus one-off reunion in 1992)	drums guitar (1992)	"Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song" (1973) "No Bother to Me" (1974)
	Robert Gillies	1973–1974 1975–1978 (plus one-off reunion in 1992)	saxophone trumpet	all Split Enz releases from "Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song" (1973) to Dizrythmia (1977)
	Tony (Eddie) Rayner	1974–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)	keyboards percussion piano backing vocals	all Split Enz releases from "No Bother to Me" (1974) onwards
	Paul (Emlyn) Crowther	1974–1976 (plus one-off reunion in 1992)	drums	all Split Enz releases from Mental Notes (1975) to "Another Great Divide" (1976)
	Geoff (Noel) Crombie	1974–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)	percussion drums (1981–83) backing vocals	all Split Enz releases from Mental Notes (1975) onwards
	Malcolm Green	1976–1981 (plus reunions in 2005, 2006, 2009)	drums backing vocals	all Split Enz releases from Dizrythmia (1977) to Waiata (1981) Live in America (2007) The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes (2007)
	Nigel Griggs	1977–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)	bass backing vocals	all Split Enz releases from Dizrythmia (1977) onwards
	Neil Finn	1977–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)	lead and backing vocals guitar mandolin piano
	Paul Hester	1983–1984 (plus reunions in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2002) (died 2005)	drums backing vocals	all Split Enz releases from See Ya 'Round (1984) to Extravagenza (2005)
	Michael Barker	2008 (touring)	drums	Live, Alive Oh. (2017)

Timeline

Original

Reunions

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
October 1972 – January 1973 (as Split Ends)	Tim Finn – vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – vocals, guitar, mandolin Mike Chunn – bass, piano Mike Howard – flute Miles Golding – violin	none – live performances only
January – March 1973 (as Split Ends)	Tim Finn – vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – vocals, guitar, mandolin Mike Chunn – bass, piano Div Vercoe – drums Mike Howard – flute Miles Golding – violin	"For You" (1973)
March – April 1973 (as Split Ends)	Tim Finn – vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – vocals, guitar, mandolin Mike Chunn – bass, piano Div Vercoe – drums Mike Howard – flute	none – live performances only
April 1973 – February 1974 (as Split Ends)	Tim Finn – vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – vocals, guitar, mandolin Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar Mike Chunn – bass, piano Geoff Chunn – drums Robert Gillies – saxophone, trumpet	"The Sweet Talkin' Spoon Song" (1973)
February – June 1974	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Geoff Chunn – drums Robert Gillies – saxophone, trumpet	none – live performances only
June – July 1974	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Geoff Chunn – drums	"No Bother to Me" (1975)
July – September 1974	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Emlyn Crowther – drums	none – live performances only
September 1974 – November 1975	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, tambourine Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Emlyn Crowther – drums Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	Mental Notes (1975)
November 1975 – December 1976	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Emlyn Crowther – drums Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals Robert Gillies – saxophone, trumpet	"Late Last Night" (1976) Second Thoughts (1976) "Another Great Divide" (1976)
December 1976 – March 1977	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Phil Judd – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Mike Chunn – bass, piano Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals Robert Gillies – saxophone, trumpet	none – live performances only
April 1977 – February 1978	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Neil Finn – guitar, mandolin, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals Robert Gillies – saxophone, trumpet	Dizrythmia (1977)
February – March 1978	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Neil Finn – guitar, mandolin, vocals Phil Judd – guitar, mandolin, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	none – live performances only
March 1978 – May 1981	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Neil Finn – guitar, mandolin, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	Frenzy (1979) "Things" (1979) True Colours (1980) Waiata (1981) Live in America (2007) The Rootin Tootin Luton Tapes (2007)
May 1981 – December 1983	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Neil Finn – guitar, mandolin, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Noel Crombie – drums, percussion, vocals	Time and Tide (1982) Split Enz (1982) "Next Exit" (1983) Conflicting Emotions (1983)
December 1983 – June 1984	Tim Finn – lead vocals, piano, guitar Neil Finn – guitar, mandolin, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Hester – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	none – live performances only
June – December 1984	Neil Finn – lead vocals, guitar, mandolin Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Hester – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	See Ya 'Round (1984) The Living Enz (1985)
One-off reunions
April – June 1986 December 1989 – February 1990	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Hester – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	none – live performances only
10 December 1992	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Geoff Chunn – lead guitar (select songs) Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals (select songs) Mike Chunn – bass Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Emlyn Crowther – drums (select songs) Noel Crombie – drums (select songs) Robert Gillies – saxophone
March 1993	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Hester – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	Anniversary (1994) Extravagenza (2005) Live, Alive Oh. (2017) – one disc
30 and 31 December 1999 10 and 17 December 2002	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Paul Hester – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	none – live performances only
14 July 2005 June 2006	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals
March 2008	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Michael Barker – drums Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	Live, Alive Oh. (2017) – one disc
14 March 2009	Tim Finn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Neil Finn – lead guitar, vocals Nigel Griggs – bass, backing vocals Eddie Rayner – keyboards, backing vocals Malcolm Green – drums, backing vocals Noel Crombie – percussion, backing vocals	none – one live performance only

References

• Bourke, Chris (14 August 2014), Crowded House: Something So Strong, Troy, Michigan: Momentum, ISBN 978-1760081744

Footnotes

1. Strong, Martin C. "Split Enz Biography". The Great Rock Bible. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
2. Bourke 2014, p. 23
3. Chunn, Mike (1992). Stranger than Fiction: The Life and Times of Split Enz. GP Publications. ISBN 978-1869560508.
4. "Split Enz Biography" (PDF). frenz.com. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
5. Bourke 2014, p. 25
6. Woodstra, Chris. "Split Enz: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
7. "Split Enz Shock! Scoop! Scandal!". Rip It Up. No. 1. 1 June 1977. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
8. McGinnis, Ray (14 February 2020). "One Step Ahead by Split Enz". Vancouver Signature Sounds. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
9. Doole, Kerry (1 April 2013). "Split Enz – Part Two – The Eighties". Audio Culture. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
10. Bourke 2014, p. 11
11. Woodstra, Chris. "See Ya 'Round - Split Enz: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
12. Bourke 2014, p. 67
13. "Rainbow Warrior music festival". New Zealand History. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
14. Bourke 2014, p. 96
15. "Reality check". The New Zealand Herald. 14 December 2002. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
16. O'Riordan, Bernard (29 March 2005). "Crowded House star found dead". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
17. Murfett, Andrew (26 May 2006). "Split Enz". The Age. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
18. "Split Enz to reform". NME. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
19. Kara, Scott (29 March 2008). "Split Enz at the Vector Arena". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
20. Umbers, Lee (5 May 2018). "Eddie Rayner takes Split Enz fans on trip down memory lane". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2020.

External links

• Split Enz unofficial website