Crowded House

Crowded House is an Australian rock group formed in Melbourne in 1985 and active from 1985 to the present. The band is led by New Zealand musician and singer-songwriter Neil Finn and is associated with alternative rock, pop rock, rock and soft rock. It releases music on ATO Records.

Formation and early years

Crowded House begins as a new band idea developed by Neil Finn and drummer Paul Hester during Split Enz’s farewell tour, Enz with a Bang. Nick Seymour approaches Finn at the after-party for the Melbourne show and asks to audition for the new group. The first version of the band performs under the name The Mullanes in Melbourne in 1985 and also includes guitarist Craig Hooper, formerly of The Reels. After signing to Capitol Records and moving to Los Angeles, Hooper leaves the group. The band then changes its name to Crowded House, a reference to the cramped apartment the remaining members share in West Hollywood while recording their debut album.

Breakthrough and first period

The band adds former Split Enz keyboard player Eddie Rayner, who produces the track “Can’t Carry On” for the debut self-titled album. Rayner initially joins the group on tour on keyboards in 1988, but leaves before becoming a full member. Crowded House breaks internationally in 1987 with “Don’t Dream It’s Over” from Crowded House, followed by “Something So Strong”. Their second album, Temple of Low Men, does not match that commercial success, although it receives critical praise. The band builds a reputation as a strong live act, known for varied setlists and improvisation.

Woodface and later 1990s work

In 1991, Crowded House returns to wider international success with Woodface and the Finn brothers’ song “Weather With You”. The album develops out of material Neil Finn writes with his brother Tim Finn, a solo artist and former Split Enz frontman. When record company rejects the material intended for the third Crowded House album, Neil uses songs from the Finn brothers’ project instead, and Tim joins the band as a fourth member during the Woodface period. In the UK, the album also yields smaller chart hits with “Four Seasons in One Day” and “It’s Only Natural”. In the US, “Chocolate Cake” is released first and is seen by some as a factor in the album’s weaker performance there.

Mark Hart joins for the next album, Together Alone, which also achieves international success. The band records a minor US hit with “Locked Out”, which appears on the soundtrack to Reality Bites. Paul Hester leaves after this period, though he returns to record three new tracks for the best-of compilation Recurring Dream. The band ends in 1996, with Neil Finn choosing to focus on a solo career. Its final concert takes place on the steps of the Sydney Opera House and is documented on the DVD/CD Farewell to the World. A B-sides compilation, Afterglow, appears in 1999.

Reformation and later line-up

Crowded House reforms in 2007. Neil Finn works again with Nick Seymour and Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod joins on drums in place of Paul Hester for the album Time on Earth. The later line-up includes Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod, while the band’s wider history also includes Craig Hooper, Eddie Rayner, Tim Finn and Peter Jones.

Members

The band’s members and contributors include Craig Hooper, Eddie Rayner, Tim Finn, Jules Bowen, Mark Hart, Peter Jones, Matt Sherrod, Paul Hester, Neil Finn and Nick Seymour.