Unlike song, history repeats for Split Enz fans
History is repeating for Split Enz fans.
ENZSO, the groundbreaking musical event in which the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performed hits by the Kiwi supergroup with a host of local pop stars, has been recreated to celebrate its 21st birthday.
Keyboardist Eddie Rayner has put together ENZO, a new take on the 1996 musical event, featuring an “Enzemble” of him and fellow Split Enz members Mike Chunn, Paul Crowther and Michael Barker plus 10 classical musicians, with singers Rima Te Wiata, Rikki Morris and Phil Madsen.
The concerts will be a musical trip down memory lane for fans of the band, which included at various times Rayner, Finn brothers Tim and Neil, Chunn brothers Mike and Geoff, Phil Judd, Paul Hester, Noel Crombie and Nigel Griggs.
Rayner said audiences will hear “every song they know, from Message To My Girl, I Hope I Never, I Got You, Dirty Creature, Six Months in a Leaky Boat, One Step Ahead”.
“The songs have seeped into public consciousness and they are classic songs,” said 65-year-old Rayner, who was with the band from 1973 until its break-up in 1984.
“There’s a lot of [the band’s hits] still being played on the radio. God forbid, I go to the supermarket every day and I’ll hear a Split Enz song without a doubt.”
ENZSO, which Rayner started, featured singers including Tim and Neil Finn, Dave Dobbyn and Annie Crummer, and toured the country, spawning an album which went to No 2 in New Zealand. ENZO is “more like a traditional dance hall band,” Rayner said.
Despite their international success, Split Enz band members remained grounded, Rayner said.
“We weren’t a band in the traditional kind of rock band sense. There were never the excesses you read about with other notorious bands. I guess we were so straight that we were completely wacky.”
Rayner said it was initially hard when Split Enz broke up.
“It was a little bit like losing your family . . . I felt a little bit rudderless.
“I certainly missed the camaraderie and the laughter and the jibbing between friends, and the hoaxes.”
His musical reputation was such that Paul McCartney invited him to play keyboards on his solo album Press to Play released in 1986.
“I can just remember me, Phil Collins, Pete Townshend, Eric Stewart from 10cc, Carlos Alomar from David Bowie’s band and Paul McCartney, all in the same room playing as a band. It was unbelievable.”
Rayner is now part of band The Magnificent Seven with Jordan Luck and Peter Urlich. “Our repertoire is Split Enz, Th’ Dudes and The Exponents.”
He has also been mixing recordings of Split Enz playing live in venues around the world.
Rayner doubted there would be another reunion. “Everybody’s got too much going on in their lives.
“I just feel incredibly privileged really to have been part of that collection of creative minds.”