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Split Enz reunites for Australian tour, Tim Finn discusses band's history

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Split Enz Announces 2025 Reunion Tour Across Australia and New Zealand

Split Enz, the influential New Zealand band formed by Tim Finn and Phil Judd in the early 1970s, is reuniting for a series of arena shows across Australia and New Zealand in 2025.

The reunion follows a performance at Christchurch's Electric Avenue festival, after which the band decided to do additional shows. The tour will commence in Melbourne on May 13, with stops in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

A Storied History

  • The band formed in 1972 when Tim Finn and Phil Judd wrote two songs in one night in an Auckland flat.
  • Tim Finn described their early work as consuming their lives. The band developed a cult following, with some audiences finding their theatrical style and makeup polarizing.
  • A 1974 appearance on the talk show "Town Cryer" was negatively received; Finn said his father was fined by his Rotary club for his son's appearance.
  • The band moved to Australia in the mid-1970s, initially struggling to find an audience but later finding a receptive one at Bondi Lifesaver.
  • Phil Judd left the band multiple times, the final departure being in March 1977.
  • Neil Finn, Tim's younger brother, joined the band in 1977. His song "I Got You" (1980) became the band's breakout hit, topping Australian charts for months.
  • The band's 1980 album "True Colours" marked a turning point, with Tim Finn noting the excitement of the band's transition to mainstream success.
  • The Finn brothers have collaborated periodically since, including on the Crowded House album "Woodface" (1991), "Finn" (1995), and "Everyone Is Here" (2004).
  • Costumes for the tour are being designed by percussionist Noel Crombie. The band's distinctive asymmetrical, colorful costumes are considered integral to their identity.
  • Tim Finn stated that the band might record new material in the future, but no immediate plans exist due to Neil Finn's commitments with Crowded House.

In His Own Words

Tim Finn reflected on the band's early days, saying they knew their songwriting would become central to their lives. He described the experience of playing "I Got You" at sound check as "the most exciting stage of any band."