Enzology - The Story of Split Enz on RNZ

Tuesday, 21 December 2004, 8:32 am
Press Release: Radio New Zealand Limited

Enzology - The Story of Split Enz is a 10-part documentary on National Radio.

Beginning Saturday 1 January 2005, the series tells the story of this iconic New Zealand band from their beginnings in 1972 through to the break up in 1984.

Each programme takes the title of a Split Enz studio album. The making of each album is illustrated with original song demos, recording session out-takes and recollections from the band.

The series includes new interviews with the band members: Tim Finn, Phil Judd, Miles Golding, Mike Chunn, Geoff Chunn, Wally Wilkinson, Robert Gillies, Eddie Rayner, Noel Crombie, Paul Crowther, Mal Green, Nigel Griggs, Neil Finn, Paul Hester. (The only member missing is 1972-3 flautist Mike Howard who declined to be interviewed on tape.) There are also new interviews with Split Enz record producers and managers: Barry Coburn, Dave Russell, Mike Gudinski, Phil Manzanera, Nathan Brenner, David Tickle and Hugh Padgham.

Enzology contains music excerpts from all the hits & numerous album tracks, plus previously unreleased demos, live recordings and rough mixes gathered from the band members' personal archives and those of Sound Archives NZ, the BBC, ABC and elsewhere. These tapes go back as far as 1968, including live recordings from 1973 through to 1984 (plus a brief excerpt from 1-1-2000).

The series was researched, engineered, narrated and produced over seven years by Jeremy Ansell for National Radio, a network of Radio New Zealand.

There is a supporting website designed by ALTO of Wellington with additional information including image galleries at: http://www.radionz.co.nz/enzology

Contact the programme makers: enzology@radionz.co.nz

ENZOLOGY Programme Briefs: Enzology One: The Beginning of the Enz - 1950s to 1974. 3.06pm Saturday 1 January & 9.06pm Tuesday 4 January 2005

The formation of the band (as Split Ends) and the songwriting partnership of Tim Finn and Phil Judd. Covers their earliest gigs in New Zealand and the origins of the Split Enz look and sound. Songs in this programme include Split Ends, Time for a Change, 129, No Bother to Me, Lovey Dovey.

Enzology Two: Mental Notes - 1975-76 3.06pm Saturday 8 January, 9.06pm Tuesday 11 January 2005

Split Enz move to Australia and infiltrate the Aussie Rock industry. They record their first album, Mental Notes, recently voted the number 1 New Zealand album of all time in Rip It Up magazine. Songs in this programme include Stranger Than Fiction, Under the Wheel, Spellbound, Maybe, Late Last Night.

Enzology Three: Second Thoughts - 1976-77 3.06pm Saturday 15 January, 9.06pm Tuesday 18 January 2005

The big move to London. Mental Notes is re-recorded for the overseas market and the Enz tour the UK* just as punk rears its snotty head. An ill-fated promotional tour of the United States leads to the departure of key band members. Neil Finn is asked to join. Songs in this programme include Titus, Sweet Dreams, Another Great Divide, Jamboree, Crosswords

Enzology Four: Dizrythmia - 1977-78 3.06pm Saturday 22 January, 9.06pm Tuesday 25 January 2005

New members, new songs, disaster and rebirth. After recording a new album, Split Enz regain Phil Judd, lose their record company, lose Phil Judd again and feed off the energy of punk with the Rootin' Tootin' Luton demos. Songs in this programme include Parrot Fashion Love, My Mistake, Bold As Brass, Charlie, Play It Strange, Semi Detached.

Enzology Five: Frenzy - 1978-79 3.06pm Saturday 29 January, 9.06pm Tuesday 1 February 2005

Fired up after the Luton session, Split Enz record I See Red with whizz-kid producer David Tickle. Lose the plot by recording Frenzy album with Jimi Hendrix's tea boy. Get fired up again by losing gear* in a fire* one day before Nambassa Festival performance in New Zealand. Songs in this programme include Carried Away, Next Exit, I See Red, Give It a Whirl, Stuff and Nonsense, True Colours.

Enzology Six: True Colours - 1979-80 3.06pm Saturday 5 February, 9.06pm Tuesday 8 February 2005

Split Enz based again in Australia. Nearly break up due to bad debts. A successful tour rebalances the books, as does the huge radio hit I Got You and album True Colours. The Enz simultaneously hit the charts in the UK and USA and begin recording the follow-up album. Songs in this programme include I Hope I Never, I Got You, Poor Boy, Hard Act to Follow.

Enzology Seven: Waiata - 1980-81 3.06pm Saturday 12 February, 9.06pm Tuesday 15 February 2005

Split Enz sell out London's Hammersmith Odeon, sack their drummer and hand the kit to their costume designer. There is a gun to the head and a chair to the ceiling. Canada loves them, America misses the boat, hotels lock the windows. Songs in this programme include One Step Ahead, What's the Matter With You?, History Never Repeats, Lost For Words.

Enzology Eight: Time and Tide - 1981-82 3.06pm Saturday 19 February, 9.06pm Tuesday 22 February 2005

Tim Finn has a nervous breakdown. He's not alone. Split Enz record perhaps their best album but a leaky boat is scuppered in the UK. Songs in this programme include Remember When, Dirty Creature, Six Months In a Leaky Boat, Take a Walk.

Enzology Nine: Conflicting Emotions - 1983 3.06pm Saturday 26 February, 9.06pm Tuesday 1 March 2005

Tim makes a solo album and has a giant hit. Split Enz begins to fall apart. The robots take over. The American label gets all the fax* and they're not impressed. Songs in this programme include Fraction Too Much Friction, Strait Old Line, Message To My Girl, Kia Kaha.

Enzology Ten: See Ya 'Round - 1984 3.06pm Saturday 5 March, 9.06pm Tuesday 8 March 2005

Tim Finn leaves and Split Enz splitz. Enz ends with a bang, Neil Finn almost ends with a bang too. Songs in this programme include Something So Strong, Voices, I Walk Away, Years Go By.

Information on how to tune in to National Radio, and a supporting website for the ENZOLOGY radio series is at: http://www.radionz.co.nz

Contact the programme makers: enzology@radionz.co.nz

ENDS

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