Liam Finn - Biography
Following in the footsteps of Australia’s most adored songwriter can’t be easy, yet Liam Finn has made a name for himself outside of his father Neil Finn’s shadow with aplomb. The solo work of the younger Finn follows similar threads to his dad’s pop perfection while with the beloved Crowded House and Split Enz.
The younger Liam is definitely the product of his generation, crafting meticulous and manically catchy lo-fi indie-pop more akin to Pavement and Elliott Smith than the ’80s pop sheen of his father’s work. Nonetheless, the pop perfection gene seems to run in the Finn family—Liam’s uncle, Tim Finn, also has an impressive résumé—and with just one solo album under his belt, Liam has placed his own significant stamp on the genre.
Born in Melbourne, Australia but growing up in New Zealand, Liam began playing guitar at early age. While still in his teens the younger Finn formed the band Betchadupa with some of his fellow Kiwis, stepping up to the mic as lead vocalist. Specializing in idiosyncratic rock music, Betchadupa was a moderate success in New Zealand and Australia, having released two albums—Alphabetchadupa (2002 Flying Nun Records) and Aiming At Your Head (2004 Liberation Records). The band never gained much ground outside of the Southern Hemisphere however, and in early 2007 Betchadupa went on an indefinite hiatus.
Crowded House reformed in 2007, and Liam joined his father’s band as a second guitarist for the duration of their international tour that year. Liam began writing material for a solo album during this time, and once back in New Zealand he holed up in his father’s Roundhouse Studios and not only self-produced his debut solo effort but played almost instrument on it as well.
I’ll Be Lightening (2007 Liberation Records) was more immediate and pop-friendly than anything Betchadupa produced, and the debut album became an international cult favorite on the strength of the singles, “Lead Balloon” and “Gather At The Chapel.” Finn showcased his penchant for looping guitar parts live on stage before hopping behind a drum kit with a 2008 tour spanning Europe, Australia, and the United States. While playing solo gigs, Liam is often accompanied by back-up vocalist E.J. Barnes, who is the daughter of Cold Chisel’s, Jimmy Barnes.
