Split Enz reunion tour and legacy after 17-year hiatus
Consensus Summary
Split Enz, New Zealand’s pioneering rock band, is reuniting for their first tour in 17 years with the Forever Enz tour, playing Wellington, Auckland, and Australia in 2026. The lineup includes Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie, and others, with Crombie’s iconic visual designs remaining central to their performances. Both articles highlight the band’s enduring influence, from their 1972 formation to their 1980s hits like 'I Got You,' and their recent resurgence driven by vinyl reissues and a new box set. Tim Finn and Crombie reflect on their creative process, the challenges of early fame, and the band’s potential future, including a possible new album. The ABC details their struggles with conservative backlash in the 1970s, while the Guardian emphasizes their visual and musical innovation, noting how their stage personas evolved from toxic hairspray to carefully crafted costumes. Despite differing slightly on tour specifics, both agree the reunion is fueled by nostalgia and a global revival of interest in classic rock.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Split Enz's Forever Enz tour is their first since 2009, featuring shows in Wellington (May 2026), Auckland (May 2026), and Australia starting May 2026.
- The band includes Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie, Eddie Rayner, James Milne, and Matt Eccles in their current lineup.
- Split Enz formed in Auckland in 1972, with Tim Finn and Phil Judd as original members.
- Neil Finn joined Split Enz in 1977, replacing Phil Rudd on guitar, and became a key songwriter.
- Split Enz's hit 'I Got You' (1980) topped Australian charts and remains a classic rock staple.
- Noel Crombie designed the band's iconic visual aesthetic, inspired by vaudeville, circus, and kabuki.
- Tim Finn is 74 years old, and Noel Crombie is 73 years old.
- Split Enz's debut album *Mental Notes* was released in 1975.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Tim Finn and Noel Crombie joked about hairspray and toxic makeup used in early Split Enz performances.
- The band is considering a new studio album but acknowledges it would be years away due to other commitments.
- Tim Finn nearly held off a Split Enz reunion album 20 years ago, preferring to remain solo.
- The band's visual style was a reaction to conservative surroundings, with distorted suits and bold colors.
- Tim Finn admits he can still relate to the anger in songs like 'I See Red' despite being older.
- The band's 1975 move to Australia coincided with the debut of color television, boosting their visual impact.
- Split Enz's 1977–1984 era included hits like 'Six Months in a Leaky Boat,' 'Message to My Girl,' and 'One Step Ahead.'
- A new box set (*Enzyclopedia*) and vinyl reissues of their nine albums are fueling renewed interest.
- Tim Finn says the band's pre-performance ritual of dressing in costumes helped them feel like a cohesive unit.
- Split Enz's early songs were influenced by Mervyn Peake's *Gormenghast* novels alongside The Beatles.
- The band's 1974 appearance on *Town Cryer* with Max Cryer was a disaster due to their stage makeup and costumes.
- Tim Finn's father was fined at Rotary for his son's appearance on TV.
- The band's first Australian gig at the Hordern Pavilion with Buffalo and Finch was a failure, but they found their audience at Bondi Lifesaver.
- Tim Finn initially hid behind his stage look to overcome stage fright.
- Neil Finn joined Split Enz at age 18 after Phil Judd left multiple times due to touring difficulties.
- Tim Finn recalls the excitement of Split Enz's breakthrough with *True Colours* (1980) and the song 'I Got You.'
- The Finn brothers have collaborated on solo projects like *Woodface* (1991), *Finn* (1995), and *Everyone Is Here* (2004).
- Noel Crombie is currently designing costumes using an old Singer sewing machine in Melbourne.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the Forever Enz tour began in 2026, while the ABC article does not specify the start date but mentions it kicked off earlier in 2026 at Electric Avenue festival.
- The ABC mentions Eddie Rayner as a current member, but the Guardian does not list him in the current lineup explicitly.
Source Articles
Split Enz tease new album ahead of first tour in 17 years: ‘We’d make a really good record now’
Always one step ahead, the new wave innovators are not done yet – and their hair is bigger than ever Many things can kill you in the music business. For Split Enz, New Zealand’s first internationally successful rock group, the most lethal poison was hairspray – or it should have been. “How did I not die?” marvels bandleader Tim Finn, whose head – at its vertiginous peak – resembled an upturned paintbrush. Sitting next to him, percussionist Noel Crombie grins as Finn continues the story. “Noel wo
'We were weird': Tim Finn on Split Enz's rise
Tim Finn on the past, the present and the possible future of Split Enz.