Between farewell and reunion (1996–2006) Crowded House

paul hester 1959–2005.

following 1996 break-up of crowded house, members embarked upon variety of projects. neil finn released 2 solo studio albums, try whistling (1998) , 1 nil (2001), 2 live albums, sessions @ west 54th (2000) , 7 worlds collide (2001). 7 worlds collide saw him performing guest musicians including eddie vedder, johnny marr, ed o brien , phil selway of radiohead, tim finn, sebastian steinberg, lisa germano , betchadupa (featuring son liam finn). double cd , dvd of shows released in november 2001.

tim finn had resumed solo career after leaving group in 1992 , worked neil on second finn brothers album, here, released in 2004. paul hester joined finn brothers on stage 3 songs @ palais theatre show in melbourne @ end of 2004. nick seymour joined them on stage in dublin, living, in 2004. peter jones , nick seymour joined australian group deadstar second album, milk, in 1997. seymour later worked record producer in dublin, producing irish group bell x1 s debut album, neither in 2000. mark hart rejoined supertramp in late 1990s , later toured ringo starr & all-starr band. in 2001 released solo album, nada sonata.

paul hester worked children s entertainers wiggles, playing paul cook . had own abc show hessie s shed in australia late 1997. formed band largest living things, name rejected capitol records in favour of crowded house. on hessie s shed finn, hester , seymour last shared stage, on episode filmed part of finn s promotion solo album try whistling in 1998. finn , hester performed not girl think largest living things, before being joined seymour sister madly , version of paul kelly s leaps , bounds , featured kelly on vocals. in late 2003, hester hosted series music max s sessions. hester , seymour reunited when both joined singer-songwriter matt o donnell s melbourne-based group tarmac adam. band released 1 album, 2003 s handheld torch, produced seymour.

in may 1999 crowded house issued compilation of unreleased songs, afterglow, included track recurring dream , recorded when group still called mullanes , included craig hooper on guitar. album s liner notes included information songs, written music journalist david hepworth. limited-release versions included second cd songwriting commentary finn. liner notes confirmed crowded house had no plans reunite @ time. 2003 compilation album, classic masters, released in us, while 2005 saw release of album have way, collection of cover versions of crowded house, split enz, tim finn , finn brothers songs australasian female artists. album reached top 5 in australia , new zealand.

on 26 march 2005 paul hester found dead, after hanging himself tree in park near home in melbourne. 46 years old. obituary in sydney morning herald stated had fought long battle depression. following news of hester s death, nick seymour joined finn brothers on stage @ royal albert hall in london, 3 played in memory of paul. snare drum top hat on stood @ front of stage tribute. writing in 2010 neil finn said, when lost paul pulled rug out underneath everything, terrible jolt out of dark blue. best drummer had ever played , many years, closest friend.