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Published: 1st June 2010

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To rattle off the hits of Neil and Tim Finn reads like a checklist of recent pop history. And to think it all began in sleepy rural Te Awamutu - a town whose name had a 'truly sacred ring', as Neil would famously recount - where Brian Timothy Finn fell in love with the Beatles, an obsession that would also work its way straight into his younger brother Neil's DNA.

Success for the brothers was a long time coming: it took several turbulent years in Split Enz - an art-pop band Neil would join in 1977, despite Tim's reservations - before they produced a genuine hit and connected with the mainstream. And it was achieved by one of Neil's songs, 'I Got You', which wasn't the sweetest pill brother Tim had ever tasted. After all, Split Enz was his band, his odyssey, his obsession.

When the Enz came undone, their paths split. Neil led world-beaters Crowded House, while Tim immersed himself in a series of bold if not always successful solo projects. Eventually the brothers reunited, leading to 'Woodface', an album considered by many to be Crowded House's finest. Yet that house proved to be a little too crowded, and Tim was fired from the band, before reuniting with Neil again for two hugely rewarding Finn records, though neither came without their fair share of fraternal conflict. Today, the Auckland-based Finns - both OBEs, ARIA Hall of Famers and proud fathers - remain as popular and credible as at any time in their respective careers.

Based on interviews, critical analysis, extensive research and more than 30 years of Finns watching and listening, Together/Alone is the first biography written about the Finn brothers: Tim, the 'closet drummer' and accidental bandleader, Neil the guarded family man. This is a story of breakthroughs, breakdowns, sibling rivalry and respect - and some of the best pop songs this side of Lennon and McCartney.

Reviews

'From the opening chapter of this excellent rock biography, Apter makes a compelling case. The [Silverchair] adventure may yet continue. If not, this book will stand as a fitting finale.' The Bulletin

'Provocative.' Sydney Morning Herald

'Ditch Woman's Day and get the real skinny on the Aussie country star.' Rolling Stone

'Essential for Urban fans.' Townsville Bulletin

About The Author

Jeff Apter is the author of 10 books, including studies of Silverchair, Jeff Buckley and cricketer Michael Slater. He is the Music Contributor for Vogue, was the former Music Editor at Australian Rolling Stone, and has been writing about popular culture for more than 20 years.

Apter's chronicles of Silverchair, Keith Urban and Jeff Buckley proved that he could write a decent rock biography. In Together Alone however, he lifts to a higher standard.

This is the story of breakthroughs, breakdowns, sibling rivalry and respect - and some of the best pop songs this side of Lennon and McCartney.

Together Alone is the first biography about the New Zealand sensation of the Finn brothers, Tim the closet drummer and accidental band leader and Neil the guarded family man. We've loved them for 30 years. This book is a must-read for any Finn fan - and heaven knows, there are legions of them.

ISBN: 9781741668162
ISBN-10: 1741668166
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 352
Published: 1st June 2010
Publisher: Random House Australia
Dimensions (cm): 19.9 x 13.8  x 2.9
Weight (kg): 0.34