This is an old kiwi video; it is Split Enz's promo-video for the hit single "I See Red" (February, 1979) taken from the 1979 album "Frenzy".

The group formed in 1971 at the University of Auckland. The original line up was Tim Finn Mike Chunn, Robert Gillies, Phil Judd and Noel Crombie (who was really great at playing "the spoons"). From 1972 the band (then called Split Ends) became a full-time occupation. The spelling was later changed to Split Enz shortly before their first trip to Australia to signify their New Zealand roots - NZ is a common abbreviation for New Zealand.

Split Enz were widely known for their unique visual presentation. Their costumes and hair were wild, colourful and inventive. The costumes were designed by Noel Crombie, who also designed most of the group's other visual material, such as stage sets, posters, stickers and album covers, as well as directing many of the band's music videos.

Their career falls into two distinct phases. The first was firmly rooted in the progressive rock scene of the early 1970s. The group's sound progressed over the first era from progressive rock to a punk rock sound at times. Then in 1977, with the departure of Judd and the enlisting of Neil Finn, the group's sound began to change from a progressive rock sound to new wave with folk roots.

The 1980s proved the group's most commercially successful period, with a string of popular albums in the burgeoning New Wave style, the group further established a legacy that is still recognised as a distinct musical style after over twenty years from their departure. Since their departure, the group has reunited as Split Enz several times, though its members have gone on to create other successful musical groups with one another since the breakup in 1984, such as Crowded House, Schnell Fenster, Citizen Band and the Finn Brothers.

I have written about the two Finn brothers before on the Crowded House - Private Universe video I posted last year, also I have posted a stage version of I see Red before sung by Turanga Merito at the 2006 Christmas In the Park concert in Auckland.

Tim and Neil Finn are originally from Te Awamutu in New Zealand.

Tim was born in 1952. He was a founder of New Zealand's most famous and successful band Split Enz in 1972. Tim was a member of that group until 1984. In 1983 he recorded his first solo album, "Escapade", a second album, "Big Canoe", in 1986, and his third solo album self-titled "Tim Finn" was recorded in 1989.

Younger brother Neil Finn was born in 1958. He was writing his own music from a very young age and around 1976 he was asked to join Split Enz. He brought a fresh perspective to the band and wrote many of their major hits, most notably "I Got You" which was their first song released internationally. It was the biggest selling single in Australia that year and received the "Song of the Year" award at the ARIA's, Australia's biggest music award.

After the Enz broke up Neil, Paul Hester, and Nick Seymour created a band called the Mullanes which became Crowded House. Crowded House debuted with the song "Don't Dream It's Over".

Tim Finn joined younger brother Neil in his band, Crowded House in 1990.

1993 saw the release of Tim Finn's fourth solo album "Before and After". In 1995 Tim released both "Finn" with Neil and "ALT" with Liam O'Maonlai of Hothouse Flowers and Andy White. In 1996 he (and brother Neil) contributed to the "ENZSO" album.

Crowded House called it quits in 1996, in style, at a huge concert for charity in Sydney, Australia.

In the following two years Neil spent a lot of time in his basement studio working on his solo project, "Try Whistling This". He recorded the album in New York City in December 1997 and released it in New Zealand in the following year.

In 1999 Tim toured New Zealand with Bic Runga and Dave Dobbyn and 2000 saw the release of "Together in Concert", recorded from these concerts. Also in March 2000 saw the release of Tim's fifth solo album "Say It Is So". In 2001 Tim undertook a solo tour of New Zealand with Anika Moa as opening act. In October 2001 Tim released "What You've Done", an EP from his new album "Feeding the Gods."

The Finn musical legacy now continues into the next generation with Neil's son Liam forming the quickly up-and-coming punk band Betchadupa.

[Edited Insert (because I have no idea why I stopped at 2001) - 2006 - "The brothers Finn had an impressive year back on the charts with Crowded House – both DVD releases hit number one, and Farewell to the World was ranked the 10th Highest Selling DVD in 2006. With the band set to reform in 2007, there will be much anticipation for their new offerings. She Will Have Her Way – The Songs of Tim and Neil Finn was the 14th Highest Selling 'Australian' Artist album in 2006, and Tim Finn reappeared with his solo album, Imaginary Kingdom. And if that wasn't enough, Split Enz also reunited and took the stage in 2006 – their Melbourne and Sydney shows sold out in less than two hours."]

The video below is from Crowded House, circa 1994, with one of my favourite songs, Private Universe. I hope you like it too. Neil Finn is on vocals.