Tim Finn

Though he may remain best known for his role in shaping the early new wave sound, musician Tim Finn has become the kind of journeyman artist who cannot be defined by a single genre. Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand in 1952, Finn was attending the University of Auckland when he realized how much more time he spent jamming with his new classmates than studying for exams. Within a year, he dropped out to focus on playing music with the band he and his brother Neil Finn had formed. Initially known as Split Ends, the group worked through many lineup changes and eclectic influences, eventually changing the name to Split Enz as their sound became less acoustic and more new wave. In 1975, they began what would become a prolific string of full length releases with their debut album, Mental Notes. Finn would contribute to nine records total with the group over the following eight years, including the acclaimed True Colours and Time and Tide. Then in 1983, Finn departed to begin a solo career with the debut record Escapade. He followed this with Big Canoe in 1986 and Tim Finn in 1989 before joining his brother's new band Crowded House. Finn wrote and played on the group's 1991 album Woodface, but left the group mid-tour to release another solo record, 1993's Before & After. However, Finn and his brother would continue to collaborate, recording 1995's Finn and 2004's Everyone is Here together under the name the Finn Brothers. Finn would remain a dynamic musical presence over the coming years, releasing several solo albums including a collaboration with former Split Enz violinist Miles Golding and keyboardist Eddie Rayner, 2008's The Conversation. Finn also composed the music for the stage musical "Ladies in Black," which premiered by the Queensland Theatre Company in 2015.