CROWDED HOUSE are a rock group formed in 1985 in Melbourne, Australia, led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand (his brother, Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner), Australia (Paul Hester, Nick Seymour, Peter Jones and Craig Hooper) and the United States (Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod). Crowded House are referred to as The Crowdies by Australian fans. Queen Elizabeth II bestowed an OBE on both Neil and Tim Finn, in June 1993, for their contribution to the music of New Zealand. Originally active from 1985 to 1996, the band has had consistent commercial and critical success in Australia and New Zealand and international chart success in two phases, beginning with their self titled debut album, Crowded House, which reached number twelve on the US Album Chart in 1987 and provided the Top Ten hits, "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong". Further international success came in the UK and Europe with their third and fourth albums, Woodface and Together Alone and the compilation album Recurring Dream, which included the hits "Fall at Your Feet", "Weather with You", "Distant Sun", "Locked Out", "Instinct" and "Not the Girl You Think You Are". Founding drummer Hester left in May 1994, citing family reasons, but briefly returned for their Farewell to the World concerts in Melbourne and Sydney in 1996. Neil Finn had decided to end the band to concentrate on his solo career and the Finn Brothers project with Tim. On 26 March 2005 Hester committed suicide, aged 46. In 2006, the group re-formed with new drummer Matt Sherrod and have since released two further albums, which have both reached number one on Australia's Album Chart.
Early albums (1986--1990)
Main articles: Crowded House (album) and Temple of Low Men
Crowded House, San Francisco, April 1987. L to R: Paul Hester, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour.Thanks to their Split Enz connection, the newly formed Crowded House had an established Australasian fanbase. They began by playing at festivals in Australia and New Zealand and released their debut album, Crowded House, in June 1986. Capitol Records initially failed to see the band's potential and gave them only low key promotion, forcing the band to play at small venues to try and gain attention. The album's first single, "Mean to Me", reached the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart top 30 in June. It failed to chart in the US,[8] but moderate American airplay introduced US listeners to the group. The single, "Don't Dream It's Over", was released in December 1986 and reached number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart and number eight in Australia. It was also a big international hit, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Canada. It remains the group's most commercially successful song. In March 1987, the group were awarded 'Best New Talent', along with 'Song of the Year' and 'Best Video' for "Don't Dream It's Over", at the inaugural ARIA Music Awards. The video also earned the group the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist that year. The song has often been covered by other artists and gave Paul Young a hit single in 1991. It was also used for a New Zealand Tourism Board advertisement in its 100% Pure New Zealand worldwide promotion from October 2005. In May 2001, "Don't Dream it's Over" was voted 7th in a poll of the Best Australian Songs of Alltime by the Australasian Performing Rights Association. The band at the Montreux Pop Festival, May 1988. L to R: Seymour, Finn, Hester.In June 1987, a year after its release, Crowded House finally reached number one on the Kent Music Report Album Charts. It also reached number three in New Zealand and number twelve on the US Billboard 200 album chart. The follow-up to "Don't Dream it's Over", "Something So Strong", was not as successful as its predecessor but reached the top ten in New Zealand, America and Canada. "World Where You Live" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere" were also released as singles with some minor chart success.