'80s Band Announces Tour for The First Time in 18 Years
- - '80s Band Announces Tour for The First Time in 18 Years
Liz LindainNovember 9, 2025 at 11:32 PM
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Split Enz fans received some exciting news on Sunday.
The pop band, which now consists of members Nigel Griggs, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner, was formed in 1972 in Auckland, New Zealand, and was best known for their unique neopop and artpop sound.
Their songs, "I See Red", "I Got You", "History Never Repeats," "Dirty Creature" and "Message to My Girl," made them popular during the 1980s. At the same time, their studio albums Mental Notes, Dizrythmia, TrueColours and Time and Tide garnered the group many nominations and awards throughout the decade. Despite their success, Split Enz broke up in 1984; however, the band has had several brief reunions since then.
But after an 18-year hiatus, Split Enz announced on Instagram on Sunday that they will be going on tour around Australia in May 2026. Shows will take place in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
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Originally named Split Ends, the band was formed by songwriters Tim Finn and Phil Judd. The original line-up was completed by bassist Mike Chunn, violinist Miles Golding and flute player Mike Howard. They started off with no drummer and only used acoustic guitars, so the band initially adopted a folksy and chamber music sound.
Months later, they were joined by drummer Div Vercoe, but Vercoe, Golding and Howard all left the band, with Finn, Judd and Chunn recruiting Chunn's brother Geoff on drums, along with Wally Wilkinson, who brought an electric guitar to the band. In 1976, Spit Enz signed with English record label Chrysalis Records and moved to London. A year later, Judd and Chunn left the band, but Tim Finn's brother, Neil Finn, took over and joined as Judd's replacement.
After getting dropped by the record label in 1978 and multiple setbacks, they moved back to New Zealand and shifted to a more power-pop style. Despite their success, the band broke up to pursue solo projects in 1984 and played their last show at the Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland.
Two years after their split, Split Enz reunited for the Greenpeace benefit concert, and again in 1990 in Australia. In 1992, the band performed at the Wynyard Tavern in Auckland and went on a 20th anniversary tour a year later. Two more reunion tours took place in 2006 and 2008, followed by a one-off reunion performance in March 2009, as part of the Sound Relief festival. 18 years later, in September 2025, the band announced they would reunite to headline the Christchurch Electric Avenue Festival in February 2026.
Split Enz performing on stage at Victoria Palace Theatre, London, 15 May 1977.
Presale for Split Enz's Australia tour will take place on Wednesday for fans with a MasterCard and on Friday with Live Nation. General sale will then take place next Monday. Fans can now sign up for early access using this link.
Related: How a '90s Punk Band Found Its Way Back Together Nearly 30 Years Later
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
