RIP Paul Hester

Sun 27th Mar, 2005 in Local News

Paul Hester, the former drummer for legendary Australasian acts Split Enz and Crowded House, was found dead near his home in Elsternwick, Victoria yesterday. Police say there were no suspicious circumstances, though some fansites have reported that Hester may have taken his own life.

The news was broken by Peter Green, president of the bands’ respective fanclubs and former member of Crowded House’s management team. 

“Everyone, sitting here in the office trying to figure out what to write, we are a bit messed up at the moment. Last night, our mate, and Crowded House drummer Paul Hester took his own life.” he wrote.

“Over the years Paul has swung the extremes of happiness and sadness, but none of us ever thought this would happen.”

Hester was born in Melbourne in 1959. He played in Split Enz from 1983 until they broke up and followed Neil Finn into his new band, Crowded House.  They went on to become one of the most popular and enduring Antipodean acts of all time.

In recent years he played in bands including Tarmac Adam, in addition to running a popular cafe and hosting a live music program on cable television.

Hester is survived by his partner and their two daughters.

Former bandmate Neil Finn says he is “deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend.” Finn is currently preparing to play shows in London, though it is rumoured that he may return home, postponing these performances.

At Sydney’s Cockatoo Island Festival, musicians including Tim Rogers dedicated songs to the musician. This was the first that many music fans had heard of the death.