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Neil Finn is a songwriter born on May 27, 1958, in Te Awamutu, a small town in New Zealand. He is the youngest child of Richard Finn, an accountant, and Mary Finn (née Mullane), an Irish immigrant. Neil’s childhood was filled with joyful family gatherings featuring wine, song, and performances by him and his older brother Tim, often attended by Catholic priests. Mary was known for her spirited piano playing—all in the same key—while Richard, though passionate about music, was tone deaf. Both brothers began with piano lessons, and their mother taught them to sing harmonies.
Although Tim was a more reluctant performer, he formed one of New Zealand’s most successful bands, Split Enz, in 1972. Neil, still in school, was initially too young to join but occasionally opened for the band as a solo artist. After leaving school because he was denied the chance to major in music, Neil worked as a hospital orderly and formed a band called After Hours.
One day, Neil received an unexpected call from Tim inviting him to join Split Enz as lead guitarist. Despite only being skilled in acoustic guitar, Neil agreed, though he initially hesitated due to commitments with his own band. Tim was surprised by Neil’s reluctance, but Split Enz took a leap of faith, trusting Neil’s talent and ability to improve. At first, Neil kept his guitar playing low in the mix, and band members avoided sharing the same side of the stage with him due to his inexperience. Over time, Neil grew into his role and became a skilled and respected guitarist. He wrote some of Split Enz’s biggest hits, including "Message to My Girl" and "I Got You." Shortly before joining the band in 1977, Neil met Sharon Johnson, whom he married in 1982. They have two children: Liam (born 1983) and Elroy (born 1989).
After Split Enz disbanded in 1984, Neil and Australian drummer Paul Hester formed The Mullanes with Australians Nick Seymour and Craig Hooper. Craig soon left, and the band was renamed Crowded House, a nod to the cramped living conditions they endured in Los Angeles while recording their self-titled debut album. Crowded House broke into the US market with the #2 hit "Don't Dream It’s Over," a feat Split Enz never achieved. Although their US success was brief and they were labeled one-hit wonders, their popularity was just beginning elsewhere. They released three more albums—"Temple of Low Men," "Woodface," and "Together Alone"—which saw growing success in Europe, Australia, and beyond but limited impact in North America. Their fourth album received critical acclaim worldwide. Multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart, who had toured with the band, joined as an official member for this album. During the "Together Alone" tour, Paul Hester, after years battling depression, left the band. He was replaced by drummer Peter Jones for the remainder of the tour, but the band soon broke up. Their farewell concert, "Farewell to the World," was held on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in 1996 before an estimated 150,000 people.
Neil released two solo albums, "Try Whistling This" and "One Nil" (also known as "One All" in some regions, with a different track list). Both albums, beloved by fans, received critical praise but limited commercial success. The same can be said for the two Finn Brothers albums with Tim, "Finn" and "Everyone Is Here." Neil also contributed a soundtrack for the New Zealand film "Rain" and participated in various collaborations. Notably, the 7 Worlds Collide projects brought together Neil and a supergroup of musicians including Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder, Phil Selway, Ed O’Brien, Lisa Germano, and Sebastian Steinberg. The second project excluded Vedder but added Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, KT Tunstall, and New Zealand artists Don McGlashan and Bic Runga. Both projects involved Neil’s brother Tim and son Liam, with the second also featuring Neil’s younger son Elroy and wife Sharon. The latter was a family affair, with other band members’ families participating as well.
Following drummer Paul Hester’s suicide in 2004, Neil reconnected with Nick Seymour and Mark Hart, resulting in a new Crowded House album, "Time on Earth," featuring Beck drummer Matt Sherrod. The album reflects the grief and loss over their former bandmate’s death. The band’s second reunion album, "Intriguer," showcased a band forging a fresh identity. Both albums were supported by world tours.
After the second Crowded House reunion tour, Neil and Sharon Finn, adjusting to an empty nest, started late-night jam sessions in their pajamas. Sharon, a bass novice, was paired with Neil on drums, an instrument he was not proficient in, to maintain equality in the duo. These sessions, with help from friend Sean Donnelly, evolved into a collection of songs for an album under the name Pajama Club—named for "Pa and Ma having a jam in their pajamas." The original name, Pajama Party, was already taken. The band toured minimally with drummer Alana Skyring before going on hiatus, with no announcements about a return.
Neil’s third solo album, featuring his wife and both sons—a true family collaboration—was scheduled for release in mid to late 2013. Additionally, Neil co-wrote and performed the closing credits song for the film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," released in December 2012.
