Neil Finn Siblings: Meet Judy, Carolyn and Brian Timothy “Tim” Finn

Neil Mullane Finn, OBE, born on May 27, 1958, in the small New Zealand town of Te Awamutu, is a renowned singer-songwriter and musician.

As the youngest of four children to parents Dick, an accountant, and Mary, a devout Catholic of Irish descent, Finn grew up in a nurturing environment that fostered his early love for performance.

From a young age, he displayed a natural affinity for music, often entertaining family gatherings alongside his siblings, which sparked his lifelong passion for songwriting and live shows.

Finn’s career trajectory took him from the quirky art-rock scenes of New Zealand to international stardom, where he became synonymous with bands like Split Enz and Crowded House.

Siblings

The youngest of four, Finn shared a profound bond with his older brother Brian Timothy “Tim” Finn, born on June 25, 1952, just six years his senior; the two began making music together as children in their Te Awamutu home at 78 Teasdale Street.

Their sibling collaboration extended professionally, culminating in the Finn Brothers duo, which released acclaimed albums in 1995 and 2004.

Complementing the brothers were their two sisters: the eldest, Carolyn, born around 1951 and residing in Cambridge near their father Dick in later years, and Judy, born approximately in 1956, who has occasionally reflected on the family’s musical legacy in public forums.

Career

Finn’s career is a tapestry of innovation and reinvention, beginning in earnest when, at just 18, he joined his brother Tim’s band Split Enz in 1977 following the departure of co-founder Phil Judd, injecting a fresh new wave pop energy that propelled the group toward international success.

Under Neil’s growing influence, Split Enz shifted from experimental art rock to polished hits like “I Got U,” with Neil assuming lead vocal duties after Tim’s 1984 departure to pursue solo work, marking Finn’s emergence as a frontman.

In 1985, Finn formed Crowded House with bassist Nick Seymour and drummer Paul Hester, crafting a debut album that spawned timeless singles such as “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong,” which blended erudite melodies with emotional depth and established the band as jangle-pop pioneers.

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The band’s mid-1980s to early 1990s run, including collaborative albums like Woodface (co-written with Tim) and Together Alone, solidified their critical and commercial stature, though internal tensions led to a 1996 disbandment after a poignant farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House.

Undeterred, Finn ventured into solo territory with his 1998 debut Try Whistling This, an experimental outing that showcased his penchant for impressionistic lyrics and meticulous songcraft, followed by the more introspective One Nil in 2001 and a series of collaborative projects.

Reuniting with Tim as the Finn Brothers yielded lo-fi gems in 1995 and a polished 2004 effort, while Finn’s 7 Worlds Collide series brought together luminaries like Eddie Vedder and Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien for charitable live recordings.

Crowded House reformed in 2007 with Finn at the helm, releasing albums like Intriguer in 2010 and Dreamers Are Waiting in 2021, the latter featuring his sons Liam and Elroy, blending legacy with new generational flair.

A surprising pivot came in 2018 when Finn joined Fleetwood Mac as a touring guitarist and vocalist after Lindsey Buckingham’s departure, inspiring further Crowded House revivals, including the 2024 release Gravity Stairs.

Accolades

Finn’s contributions to music have been lavishly recognized across decades, beginning with his and Tim’s 1993 OBE awards from the British Crown for services to New Zealand music.

Through Split Enz and Crowded House, Finn garnered multiple APRA Awards, including International Achievement honors in 1987 and 1988, as well as Songwriter of the Year in 1992 for “Fall at Your Feet.”

Crowded House itself amassed twelve ARIA Music Awards from Australia, triumphing in inaugural categories like Best New Talent and Song of the Year in 1987, alongside eight APRA wins for most-performed works and the prestigious 1994 BRIT Award for Best International Group.

Solo and collaborative efforts continued this trajectory: the New Zealand Music Awards (RIANZ) bestowed Best Songwriter in 1999 for “She Will Have Her Way,” Album of the Year in 2002 for One Nil, and Top Male Vocalist that same year.

In recent years, Finn’s legacy reached new heights with the 2024 Icon Award at the Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards, accepted on behalf of Crowded House, and the Arts Foundation of New Zealand’s Whakamana Hiranga Icon Award, joining an elite circle of twenty living icons for his profound cultural impact.