Crowded House (or The Crowdies to fans) is a rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is widely recognised as the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand (his brother, Tim Finn and Eddie Rayner), Australia (Paul Hester, Nick Seymour, Peter Jones and Craig Hooper) and the United States (Mark Hart, and Matt Sherrod).
The band owes its original success to the Australian live music scene, though references to New Zealand people and places are included in several of their songs. ("Kare Kare" is written about Karekare Beach, "Mean to Me" refers to Finn's hometown of Te Awamutu). The success of Crowded House and Split Enz (the Finn brother's former band) prompted Queen Elizabeth II in June 1993 to bestow the Order of the British Empire on both Tim and Neil Finn for their contribution to the music of New Zealand.
Originally active between 1985 and 1996, the band is notable for consistent commercial and critical success in Australia and New Zealand and international chart success in two phases; their self titled first album was successful in the US and hits from this period include "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong". The second phase of international success was experienced in the UK and Europe with their third and fourth albums, Woodface and Together Alone and compilation album, Recurring Dream which included the hits "Fall at Your Feet" ,"Weather with You", "Distant Sun", "Locked Out", "Instinct" and "Not the Girl You Think You Are". In 2006, the group reunited and added new drummer Matt Sherrod. The group subsequently released the album, Time on Earth, which reached #1 on Australia's ARIA Albums Chart.
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