21 replies to this topic

[BlueCordFFA]

I just heard that former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester committed suicide yesterday.  The email below is from the Frenz.com mailing list

Quote

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.

Over the years Paul has swung the extremes of happiness and sadness, but
none of us ever thought this would happen. He loved life too much, and it
really seems like a bad dream that we hope we'll wake up from tomorrow.

At the moment we are trying to look after Paul's family, he leaves behind
two beautiful girls, so if people could not email us that would be
appreciated during this incredibly sad time.

It doesn't seem real, but (sadly) it is.

I'll post more on this later on, we are all just getting our heads around
this loss of one of our family.

Please take care,

Peter

[su27]

BlueCordFFA said:

I just heard that former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester committed suicide yesterday.  The email below is from the Frenz.com mailing list

God that is a bloody shame - i really liked paul Hester he was lovely - i remember he used to come down the front of the stage to sing sister madley with Neil Finn - apparently Sherl Crow wrote every day is a winnding road about him

God his poor family

That is turely truely sad

[Riverpoet]

I don't know anything about Paul, but I like Crowded House very much. These things are always a shame... It's really sad.

[ni4979]

That's so sad,suicide is such a tragedy and he would have only have been a young man.Rest in peace and God bless his family and friends at this difficult time.

[geishadawn]

Paul was the joker of the pack, kept stage shows (and videos) full of pure entertainment.  Sadly his mood swings were immense and he could become as low as his highs (I suspect he that he was a bipolar sufferer :( ).  He had recently joined with former CH bandmember Nick Seymour for a new project 'Tarmac Adam' and things were really looking up for him.

Sadly we still don't know if this was deliberate or a tragic accident, just that he has left behind a wife, two little girls and many other friends and family lost and bewildered let alone his many fans.

Tomorrow is the first night of 3 Finn Brothers shows at The Royal Albert Hall where I along with many other fans of Paul will be sharing the grief of his passing and the joy of his musical legacy.

Those wishing to leave tributes are welcome to at our site Frenz .com where Paul has his own section in the Forum.

RIP Paulo.

Geishadawn (aka Tonguetied, Moderator @ frenz.com)

[haggis]

That is really sad news.  I've seen Crowded House live several times and one of the best aspects of their shows was the banter between Paul, Nick and Neil.  Paul always seemed so chirpy and funny....seems really weird that he would commit suicide.

[JohnnyJLawless]

I've got some good memories of Crowded House, it will always be a bit of a different experience listening to them after this. He was always a funny guy, onstage at least. He had a great sense of humour.

[aqua]

Tragic news

There's an article in the Melbourne Age about this:
http://www.theage.com.au

[Georgia 2.0]

What a sad, sad loss - deep sympathy to Paul Hester's family and friends :(

http://dailytelegrap...storyid=2876481

[Guest70]

JohnnyJLawless said:

I've got some good memories of Crowded House, it will always be a bit of a different experience listening to them after this. He was always a funny guy, onstage at least. He had a great sense of humour.

i am still in shock and finding it hard to believe. paul was one of those guys who seemed to be exactly the same whether on stage or off. i met him a few times down the years and he was always cracking jokes and happy to talk about everything from (the cartoon) Danger Mouse to his onstage streaking (a Hessie habit for a while there) to taking the piss out of Tim Finn's every-greying hair. there was no pretence or bullshit with Paul. he was always just himself - funny as shit. his showmanship, cheeky grin and brilliant drumming will be missed by thousands of people aruond the world. see the RIP thread at the split enz/crowded house official fansite. i still can't believe it.

http://www.frenzforu...=7;t=000056;p=1

"his name is paul hester
he is a court jester
he is very funny
and he's going to make a bit of money
he's not a bad drummer
and he's not a bad strummer
but he won't be playing guitar
because neil is the star
Paul Hester the new drummer" -- neil finn introducing paul to the frenz of the enz in their fanclub christmas single 1983(?) just after he joined split enz.


http://images.google.com.au/images?q=tbn:xJA_YdaBkzMJ:www.finnatics.de/Crowded_House/ph2.jpg

[purple scapolite]

My condolences to his family, friends, and fans :(

[halfaworldaway]

its hard to know what to say really, i never got any impression of Paul Hester from listening to Crowded House apaart from that i knew there was guy at the back holding the beat, but after listneing to many live recordings you can feel his great personalty coming thru on stage, seems to be the guy who was the joker of the pack always, and was always fun to listen too.

Today is Pauls day, get your Crowded House Cds on. rip Paul

[yamman]

Sad news.

Geishadawn: I think the concerts are cancelled unfortunately.

[rosie]

how very sad.  my condolences to Paul's family and friends.

sue

[BlueCordFFA]

yamman said:

Sad news.

Geishadawn: I think the concerts are cancelled unfortunately.

I spoke to Geishadawn today after checking the Frenz.com site and the Royal Albert Hall gigs will go ahead; Nick Seymour (Crowdie's bassist ) will fly to the UK to join them.  The band were in a dilema as to what to do; they initially wanted to fly back to Australia but have decided to continue with the gigs as a tribute to their mate.

The gigs will be a choker; lots of tears.  I don't know whether I am glad I didn't go; it would be so hard to take.  God bless Paul and his family.

[clearskies]

this is such sad news. Ive seen neil finn twice live and the finn bros twice as well and love crowded house music (that goes without saying).  I never really knew who they guy behind the drums was though. Its such a heatbreak when its suicide! he was the joker in the bunch, wasnt he? i've seen the three of them together and its such a pity I havent been able to see paul with them too!

ds

[girlinthewell]

Saw them at the Royal Albert Hall last night. What an emotional evening. I didn't know that Paul had gone as have been away all week and only got back last night to go straight to the show. From the beginning though i knew. Nick, Neil and Tim played some Crowded House track with a drum and hat nestled between them at the front of the stage. Fitting tribute. Very sad.
Sophia

[Guest70]

here's a paul hester tribute webpage that reviews last night's RAH show and includes a short video of neil, tim and nick playing don't dream its over at the start of the show and a pic of paul's snare that they put at the front of the stage with his hat sitting on top.  it sounds like it was a bittersweet night.

http://www.aauk.biz/finn.htm

[simonfox]

Crowded House are one of my all time favourite bands and I was incredibly distraught and shocked to hear about Paul's suicide. Maybe it was his because of his 'down-to-earth', joking nature, but he was the sort of guy you felt you knew personally. I think the fact that his public persona was so 'out there' made the news of his death all the more shocking. I feel so sorry for the loved ones he left behind, especially his two little girls. How can children understand something like this? I saw the Finn Brothers play a 'hometown' show at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne last November. It was one of the most special gigs I've ever been to. It was like a Split Enz / Crowded House reunion in many ways. Paul showed up and played with them for a couple of songs, even doing his famous 'Sister Madly' snare drum up the front of the stage routine. I can't believe it was only less than 6 months ago. I'm currently listening to Edible Flowers from the Finn Brothers CD. Even though it isn't about Paul, there are many lines in the song which seem so relevant at the moment... especially "It all ends up the same somehow, I'm hardly here at all".  Is this about depression? Depression tends to take the joy out of the simplest things in life, so that every day can seem the "same", and that you're "hardly here", just barely surviving. It is a terrible affliction and a curse of our modern world. (For those who didn't know... Paul had battled with depression for many years).

R.I.P. Paul - we'll miss you mate. Hope they're playing Crowdies songs in heaven  :o

Simon

[inspectorjason]

Crowded House was one of the great bands that changed my world as a teenager.    The debut album, in particular, is pure perfection.

Paul Hester was an irreplaceable element of the band's presence, on and off the stage.    He will be missed.    My thoughts go to his family and friends.