Neil Finn

Neil Mullane Finn was born on May 27, 1958, in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. His childhood involved musical performances within his family, with his mother initiating singing in harmony and his father, an accountant, fostering a love for music. Both Neil and his older brother Tim took music lessons, beginning with piano. Tim Finn went on to form Split Enz in 1972. Neil, initially too young, sometimes performed solo as an opening act for the band. After leaving school and working as a hospital orderly, Neil formed a band called After Hours.

In 1977, Neil joined Split Enz as lead guitarist at his brother Tim’s invitation, despite primarily being skilled on acoustic guitar. He developed his electric guitar skills and became a significant songwriter for the band, composing hits such as “Message to My Girl” and “I Got You.” After Split Enz disbanded in 1984, Neil, along with Split Enz drummer Paul Hester, formed The Mullanes with Nick Seymour and Craig Hooper. After Hooper’s departure, the band changed its name to Crowded House, reflecting their living situation during initial recordings in Los Angeles. Crowded House achieved international recognition with their 1987 hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” and released three more albums, “Temple of Low Men,” “Woodface,” and “Together Alone,” finding success in Europe, Australia, and other regions.

After Crowded House’s initial breakup in 1996, Neil embarked on a solo career, releasing albums such as “Try Whistling This” (1998) and “One Nil” (2001). He also collaborated with his brother Tim on two Finn Brothers albums, “Finn” and “Everyone Is Here.” Neil’s projects have also included soundtracks, notably for the New Zealand film “Rain,” and the “7 Worlds Collide” initiative, which brought together various musicians for collaborative works. In 2007, Crowded House reformed with Neil, Nick Seymour, Mark Hart, and new drummer Matt Sherrod, releasing “Time on Earth” and “Intriguer.” From 2018 to 2022, Neil was a member of Fleetwood Mac. He continued to release solo work and collaborations, including “Lightsleeper” (2018) with his son Liam, and provided the song “Song of the Lonely Mountain” for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012).