Couldn't find the clip of him doing "Italian Plastic" at the band's Farewell To The World show in Sydney. Pity that...

Pretty funny clip of the band together for the last time on Hessie's Shed, interviewing themselves. (NSFW language)

Were I still alive, I'd be 47 today

Crewmannumber6:

Were I still alive, I'd be 47 today


What, no wacky pajama clips?

Dang, I'm starting to feel like the only Crowded House fan on Fark. That's just wrong.

In before "Australian Band".

/Used to surf with Nil Fun's cousin.

DrBenway, you're not the only one.

I saw them this summer; the last time I saw them was in '93. I barely remember any of the show. Every time they'd start a song, I'd grab my husband's arm and scream that this is their best song (my husband wasn't a fan--he is now), and I'd get so excited to hear them play it that I'd start crying. It was pretty embarrassing, I think the woman sitting next to be though I was a total loon.

I was excited to catch them on Austin City Limits this past weekend, so I could be reminded of what I missed because I was too busy blubbering. Hearing the crowd singing along (in harmony!) to Four Seasons In One Day made me tear up again. Actually being a part of it was overwhelming.

If they tour again this year or next, I'll get myself on some mood stabilizers or something beforehand.

kelmeister:

I hesitate to offer this link, as you may be blubbering for the rest of the day (and I hate it when I make people cry... well, except the occasional troll, and they don't count), but here's a brief tribute to Paul featuring Neil Finn solo on "Better Be Home Soon." (NSFW language if "shiatload" is frowned upon wherever you're watching)

kelmeister: DrBenway, you're not the only one.

Me too. My favourite band. I sobbed when they broke up. Saw them twice this summer and tears streamed down my eyes when I heard Better Be Home Soon (my favourite song) for the first time live.
I've seen Neil a few times and I'm going to see Tim in February.
If Liam ever tours solo I'll see him as well. His record is amazing.

Love love love CH, anything Finn, got to see CH last August, heartwarming!

robotwithglasses: If Liam ever tours solo I'll see him as well. His record is amazing.

I keep meaning to get his record, but I always forget and spend the extra money on Frappuccinos.

The show I went to, his computer crapped out during most of his act. At one point, he said, "Hey, imagine while I'm playing this, it's being looped," and everyone had a good laugh. And then he proceeded to play the song using a drum kit, and he killed.

CH is one of my all time favorites. I missed them this past summer as they didn't come to my town except for Austin City Limits (which I had no idea was happening).

Saw them on the Woodface tour at the Beacn theater back in the day.
Time on earth is one of the best albums of 2007.

I saw them in '94 at the Spreckels Theater in San Diego. Sheryl Crow opened for them (she was terrible, BTW). I happened to be sitting in the back next to the sound mixer, and Paul sat next to me during her set. I got to chat with him a bit and he signed my ticket stub. I still try to catch Neil/Tim Finn whenever I get a chance.

Harvey Manfrenjensenjen:

I saw them in '94 at the Spreckels Theater in San Diego. Sheryl Crow opened for them (she was terrible, BTW). I happened to be sitting in the back next to the sound mixer, and Paul sat next to me during her set. I got to chat with him a bit and he signed my ticket stub. I still try to catch Neil/Tim Finn whenever I get a chance.


Saw them on the same tour, but only days after Paul left the band in Atlanta. Recently, I hadn't been keeping up closely and missed out on catching them in either Atlanta or Nashville, which was as close as they came. Got the Farewell To The World dvd from Netflix and I'm sure I drove my housemates nuts as many times as I played it. If you've not seen it, I highly recommend it -- great footage, beautiful setting (outside the Opera House in Sydney), and incredible sound.

I was lucky enough to see them come through Calgary in September. Awesome, awesome show. I've also seen Neil Finn four times as a solo artist. Hessie's suicide still saddens me.

Saw them 3-4 times, all in the Three Musketeers phase, with Eddie Rayner in the back. Managed to tape a whole show from the radio - while I was at the show. They did Zep's "Dancin Days" and made it sound like it was theirs.

And, Paul mentioned that they were going out on radio, and would anyone like to say something? They gave the mike to some guy in the front who said Hi to everyone listening, thanks to his brother for taping it, "and now we're gonna do a little number called Twist and Shout" and, a few seconds later, Crowded House was playing it while this guy muddled his way through the lyrics, forgetting most of them except for the ahhhh...AHHH...AHHHHHHHH.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! part, which the band sang, the crowd sang, and it fell apart from there. Neil took back the mike, exclaimed "YEAH YEAH YEAH! and this is...Love you..till..the day I die!" and they went back into their songlist.

Losing this band (which I think happened when they brought in Tim) was an incredible setback to rock and roll. Now, they look embarrassed and distanced from those happier days, and it makes me uncomfortable to see their latest stuff.

I saw their Milwaukee show last October (or something like that). Tim comes to Milwaukee in a month or two.

I don't think Liam's album has been released yet. Next week maybe.

DrBenway: Harvey Manfrenjensenjen:

I saw them in '94 at the Spreckels Theater in San Diego.


Saw them on the same tour, but only days after Paul left the band in Atlanta.

I was at that Atlanta show, which was the one and only time that I saw the original lineup, and words cannot express how lucky I feel to have been there. I really do cherish those memories.

/it would cause me pain, if we had to end it.

well, not really original. Mark Hart was there, for instance.

Such a sad story. I saw Crowded House on WOMAD tour here in LA... 1993 I think? Terrific performance. I never get tired of listening to Split Enz or CH.

I lived near St Kilda in Melbourne in the mid-90s and Hester was a regular sight at the Espy (he lived nearby) both on the stage (in hindsight, doing prep work for Hessie's Shed) and at the bar. Chatted to him occasionally (well, not much more than a "how you travellin'" sort of thing you get between people at a pub), really nice guy, but there was something a little odd about him I could never put my finger on, until I heard about his suicide.

Pulled Pork: well, not really original. Mark Hart was there, for instance.

Mark is my home town's only claim to musical fame (Ft. Scott, KS, represent!). He's a couple of years older than I, and my aspiring band-mates and me would catch Mark's Rock Sanctuary trio any time they were playing locally. Took a guitar "lesson" from him once, which was just me sitting there watching him loosen up with scales and such. I'm sure I looked like a gorilla watching a brain surgeon operate.

Love CH - RIP Paul.

hemi cuda: CH is one of my all time favorites. I missed them this past summer as they didn't come to my town except for Austin City Limits (which I had no idea was happening).

Saw them on the Woodface tour at the Beacn theater back in the day.
Time on earth is one of the best albums of 2007.

I was at that Beacon show, front row. I helped my 2 friends jump on stage and Paul grabbed one of them, pulled her to the floor and started kissing her in front of everyone. He gave her some drumsticks as a souvenir. It was mentioned in the NY Post review the next day, which was good because she was in a dreamworld for days after that. Amazing concert, amazing band. I got tix for them at the Beacon again this past summer, but my back went out and I could barely walk. Same 2 friends still went though, and said Neil made a reference to the incident from the last time they played there. Made her year all over again. I love these guys.

Yummy yummy yummy yummy fruit salaaaaaaad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB4MNu6W9sg (new window)

petdance:

Paul the Cook!