Liam Mullane Finn (born 24 September 1983 in Melbourne, Australia) is a musician and songwriter. Although born in Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child. He is the eldest son of musician Neil Finn (of Split Enz and Crowded House) and Sharon Finn.
Career
Well-known as the frontman of New Zealand band Betchadupa, in 2007 Finn released his solo debut I'll Be Lightning, which draws on his experiences from living in London in recent years. Finn chose to record the album entirely in analog at his father's recording studio, Roundhead Studios, in Auckland. During concerts, he creates an instrumental layering effect by using a looping effects pedal, the Line6 DL-4 Delay; he is also accompanied by backup vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Eliza-Jane Barnes (daughter of Jimmy Barnes).
Liam's debut solo album, I'll Be Lightning, was released in July 2007 in Australia and New Zealand on Liberation Music. It was further released in North America by Yep Roc Records on January 22, 2008 and in the UK on Transgressive Records on July 21 2008 in the UK. The debut was also issued by Independent Records in Ireland, Fargo Records in France, Excelsior Records in Holland, and Haldern Pop in Germany.
Live shows
Liam performed in New York at the CMJ Music Marathon on October 18, 2007 at the Yep Roc Records showcase. Liam was also the featured musical guest on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, February 28th, 2008, where he played "Second Chance". Liam has also gone on to perform Second Chance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Later... with Jools Holland.
In 2008 & 2009, Liam Finn opened for Eddie Vedder's solo tour throughout America. Liam will also headline his first North American tour and head on the road with The Black Keys in November 2008 in the UK and Europe. At the Dutch Crossing Border Festival he met Yuri Landman and borrowed a drum guitar, which he used on stage in Holland and Germany[1]. Afterwards Landman invented a new instrument for him, a 24 string electric cymbalum called the Tafelberg[2], which he incorporated at his stage performances.
In December 2008 and January 2009, he participated on the recording sessions of the second album of 7 Worlds Collide.
Liam Finn played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 14 March 2009 for Sound Relief, a multi-venue rock music concert in support of relief for the Victorian Bushfire Crisis.[3][4] The event was held simultaneously with a concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[3] All the proceeds from the Melbourne Concert will go to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire relief.[3][4] Appearing with Finn in Melbourne are Augie March, Bliss N Eso with Paris Wells, Gabriella Cilmi, Hunters & Collectors, Jack Johnson, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley, Kings Of Leon, Jet, Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Split Enz and Wolfmother.[5]
In August 2009, Liam performed with a new band on a small New Zealand tour with a band consisting of Connan Hosford (from Connan and the Mockasins, Lawrence Arabia (James Milne), Eliza Jane Barnes, Seamus Ebbs, Jol Mulholland and Wild Bill Rickets. Their album (recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand) is set for release in early 2010.
With Neil Finn and Crowded House
Liam and his father Neil covered The Beatles song "Two of Us" for the European version of the I Am Sam film soundtrack. Liam Finn also contributed a song, "Lucid Dream", to the soundtrack of 2001 movie Rain, a film that was directed by Christine Jeffs.
Since the reunion of the band Crowded House in early 2007, Finn has become part of its touring band, playing concerts such as Coachella Festival and Live Earth in Sydney.
Liam, along with his brother Elroy, performed with Neil during the WOMADelaide 2009 in Botanic Park in Adelaide.
Liam and Neil performed with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam's Auckland concert at Mount Smart Stadium on 27th November 2009. They sang the Chris Knox song 'Not Given Lightly' dedicating the song to Chris who is recovering from a stroke. On 29th November 2009 Liam and his father also sung together (along with Pearl Jam, Ben Harper and EJ Barnes) at Christchurch's AMI Stadium. They sang Better Be Home Soon and the Split Enz classic I Got You.[6]
References
Discography
Albums
Live albums
- Live (in Spaceland) - February 22nd, 2008, Spaceland Recordings
- Live From The Wiltern - (2008) Yep Roc Records
External links
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Split Enz, Crowded House & other associated bands and projects |
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