Some musicians just play music. They're not interested in awards, gracing magazine covers or any of the media hoopla that can endanger their artistic endeavors. Although Neil Finn has had a wildly successful career - Split Enz, Crowded House and Finn Brothers (not to mention his solo career) - he has always managed to keep a low profile and go about his business of writing songs.
Writer Bill DeYoung has said that "Neil Finn's gift is for wiretapping the dark and often forbidden recesses of the human psyche, and turning their disconnected musings into beautiful - and damn catchy - pop tunes."
It's hard to fathom that Mr. Finn has been making music for as long as he has - he entered the musical landscape when he joined his older brother Tim's band, Split Enz, in 1977. For me, whenever I think about Neil Finn I'm reminded of the summer of '86 when MTV was playing "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong" in heavy rotation.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Neil's career, here are ten things you need to know about the master craftsman:
10. As a child, his family nicknamed Neil "The Ant" due to his fierce determination and ambition.
9. When he was twelve years old, Neil decided to become a musician. He performed at family outings, prisons and hospitals.
8. Neil wrote the Split Enz's first international hit "I Got You."
7. The name Crowded House was inspired by the band's rental home in Los Angeles during the recording of their debut album in 1984.
6. When Crowded House broke-up in 1996, Neil Finn released two solo records, Try Whistling This (1998) and One Nil (2001). Finn and bassist Nick Seymour reformed Crowded House in 2006; unfortunately, without drummer Paul Hester who hanged himself the previous year.
5. Along with his brother Tim, the Finn Brothers have released two albums, Finn (1995) and Everyone is Here (2004).
4. Neil has contributed music to various film and television soundtracks: Boston Legal, Boston Public, Ant, Sports Night & Rain.
3. Finn and his wife Sharon Dawn Johnson released an album in 2011, Pajama Club.
2. Neil sang backing vocals on Sheryl Crow's "Everyday is a Winding Road."
1. Neil and Sharon have two musical sons, Liam and Elroy, who often perform alongside Neil.
I recommend the 2002 concert DVD / making of documentary "7 Worlds Collide - Live At The St. James - Neil Finn & Friends." Neil invited a bunch of musicians to come to NZ and relax, horse-around and rehearse for a special one-nite live performance. Guests were Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Tim Finn, Lisa Germano, Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing), and Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien (Radiohead). Great concert and good fun all around.
Posted by: Ed O'Connor | 09/11/2012 at 07:44 AM
Hey, Ed. We missed you on our facebook page. I tried to send your lost gem suggestions to one of our writers, but they had been erased. Hope you'll come back. Thanks, Richard.
Posted by: [email protected] | 09/11/2012 at 11:17 AM
Hi Richard--
After a couple of years I decided to quit Facebook-- I wasn't really getting much out of it and found it to be more of a time distraction than it was worth. It's one less reason to always be fiddling around on my phone/handheld.
I'm sure your writers have lots of gems to write up. Happy to help in the event that the well runs dry.
Posted by: Ed O'Connor | 09/11/2012 at 01:04 PM
Facebook can be time consuming, for sure. And if you're a little obsessive, like me, you can waste precious time on it. Well, sorry we lost you on the fanpage, but look forward to your comments on the blog, that will become a magazine next month. Be on the lookout for the transition. Best, Richard.
Posted by: [email protected] | 09/11/2012 at 02:10 PM
I tried to send your lost gem suggestions to one of our writers, but they had been erased. Hope you'll come back.
Posted by: Tina | 09/11/2012 at 09:10 PM
It's almost no effort to recreate a list like that (and frankly, I would have grown a lot longer if there were no limits-- I don't think I even touched on the 60's garage/punk genre). I was basically just thinking through all of the great songs that I might put on a personal mixtape, and of which I could be pretty confident that 99.9% of my town of 16k people had never heard in their lives (I live in Madison NJ).
When I get some down-time I will think it through a little more carefully and provide a list of songs, links to vids (if available), and why I think they deserved more attention than they received.
Posted by: Ed O'Connor | 09/12/2012 at 06:56 AM
I always look forward to your comments and suggestions, Ed. Thanks, Richard.
Posted by: [email protected] | 09/12/2012 at 08:40 AM
Totally agree about the Seven Worlds Collide documentary (not to be confused with the live 7 Worlds Collide concert from 10 years ago). It's on Netflix instant viewing.
Posted by: Soldout in SF | 09/13/2012 at 03:37 PM
My bad! The Seven Worlds Collide concert is good, but there's a documentary from the last year or two on the making of "The Sun Came Out" 2-cd UNICEF benefit release. Same group as the 2002 concert, plus others.
Neil Finn is a genius! He's going to be in Brooklyn on the 24th to talk about the soundtrack for the film "Rain," which he composed. Alas I will be back in SF on that date. Some film school is hosting it in Park Slope.
Posted by: Soldout in SF | 09/13/2012 at 03:42 PM
Thanks for the heads-up on Neil's appearance in Park Slope. Do you know where he'll be talking?
Thanks,
Richard
Posted by: [email protected] | 09/14/2012 at 07:32 AM
wooow very interesting!
Posted by: tania | 10/17/2012 at 10:56 AM
Glad you enjoyed it, Tania. We moved to a new site, www.riffraf.net. Hope you'll drop by.
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