Birthday
| Paul Hester | |
|---|---|
 San Francisco, 1987.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Newell Hester |
| Born | 8 January 1959 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 26 March 2005 (aged 46) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1980–2005 |
| Associated acts | |
Paul Newell Hester (8 January 1959 – 26 March 2005) was an Australian musician and television personality; he was the drummer for the related bands, Split Enz and Crowded House.
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Hester was the older of two children (his younger sister is Carolyn Hester), from Melbourne, Australia. At an early age, he was encouraged by his mother, Anne, to learn to play drums, as she was a jazz drummer. Hester attempted various jobs before starting a musical career. He spent most of his teen years living in the Dandenong Ranges with the family home on the edge of Sherbrooke Forest on the Sherbrooke/Kallista boundary. Some of his early bands in the late 1970s, which gigged around the eastern suburbs of Melbourne included, Thunder, (possibly his first performance band) 1976–1977 and then Soft Edges 1977–1978. In 1980 he co-founded a Melbourne-based band called Cheks, renamed Deckchairs Overboard when they moved to Sydney in 1982; which also had Cathy McQuade, Ken Campbell and John Clifforth. Hester was living with Deborah Conway of Do-Ré-Mi during the early 1980s while also playing regularly in Love Party.[1] Hester later worked with Conway in Rose Amongst Thorns (1990-1991) and Ultrasound (1995).[2]
At the departure of drummer Mal Green from Split Enz in 1981 their percussionist Noel Crombie took up the role of drummer. After the release of the Enz album Time and Tide in 1982, the band took a break to focus on other projects. According to the radio documentary Enzology, when they reformed in mid-1983 both Finn brothers returned somewhat distracted. Tim Finn had just released the very successful solo album Escapade, while younger brother Neil had a child on the way.
The reunion resulted in Conflicting Emotions (November 1983), an album which marked the beginning of the end for the band. Before the tour to support the album it was decided that Crombie would return to percussion (something he says he enjoyed more than drumming) and the band would find a new drummer. Hester was auditioned on the advice of Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil and got the job. In June 1984, founder Tim Finn left Split Enz, they released, See Ya 'Round in November which included "This is massive" which was written by Hester. When Split Enz disbanded in December, Hester and Neil Finn decided to start a new group.
Initially, the new band formed by Hester and Neil Finn was named, The Mullanes, and then underwent a few name changes. They recruited Nick Seymour to play bass guitar and Craig Hooper on guitar,[2] Hooper left as they secured a recording contract in the US. However, the studio disliked the name and the band changed to Crowded House to record their debut eponymous album, Crowded House in 1986.[2]
Paul remained with Crowded House until 1994,[2] when the pressure of touring and the birth of his first daughter made him want to stay home rather than remain on the road. Hester left mid-way through a 1994 tour of America, forcing the band to recruit Australian drummer Peter Jones for the rest of the tour.
After leaving Crowded House, Hester appeared on many TV and radio shows in Australia and opened a cafe/restaurant named Beach House Cafe with fellow Melbourne musician Joe Camilleri in Elwood Beach in Melbourne. From 1995 until 1998, Hester appeared regularly on the popular Australian radio show Martin/Molloy.
Paul played drums as a session musician for producer Richard Pleasance. One of his final recordings was Sophie Koh's debut album All the Pretty Boys.
Hester also had a recurring role as "Paul the Cook" on the popular Australian children's television show, The Wiggles, including his appearance in the Wiggles' video on the Disney Channel for "Fruit Salad (Yummy Yummy)".[3]
Another of Hester's major contributions was his consistent efforts on behalf of Indigenous Australian culture. He also worked to publicize the local Melbourne musical scene.
Hester later became involved in a new band called Largest Living Things (1997–2000),[2] with Kevin Garant on guitar and Barry Stockley on bass, performing with members of rock groups Crowded House, Split Enz, Midnight Oil, and others. Largest Living Things released a few EPs in Australia featuring songs written and sung by Hester; in contrast to his previous work in Crowded House, Hester played guitar as well as drums. The Largest Living Things featured on Mick Molloy's controversial 1999 TV show The Mick Molloy Show with Hester acting as bandleader.
Hester formed Tarmac Adam with Crowded House's Nick Seymour and Matt O'Donnell, Sean McVitty and Steve Paix in 2001.[2]
In 1998, Hester hosted his own 10-part TV series Hessie's Shed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). This show gave Hester the room to explore his humorous presenter skills, showcase some friends, reunite with friends from Crowded House, and play with the house band and his own band, Largest Living Things, with Hester now performing from behind the drums instead of guitar. Special guests included Paul Kelly, Neil Finn, Rob Hirst, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Stephen Cummings, Colin Hay, Deb Conway, Mick Thomas, Ross Hanaford, Renée Geyer, Dan Warner, Kutcha Edwards, and Ross Wilson.
Hester went on to host the intimate concerts The MAX Sessions. Broadcast on MAX (Channel), these intimate concerts, which were mainly recorded at Sydney's Opera House, featured a variety of local and international acts. A highlight of the show's concerts saw Hester reunite with former bandmates Neil Finn and Tim Finn for a few songs, backing them on drums, while they were promoting their album Everyone Is Here.
Hester's younger sister, Carolyn Hester, lives in the Dandenong Ranges, to the east of Melbourne. Hester had two daughters with photographer Mardi Sommerfield, they lived in the suburb of Elwood in Melbourne, Victoria. Hester is quoted as having claimed that he's always lived "on pages 57 and 58 of the Melway", being the pages of the Melbourne map book covering the St Kilda district. Acknowledging Paul's long links with the area, in October 2005 the local council agreed to name a path alongside the Elwood Canal after him, Paul Hester Walk.
On 26 March 2005, aged 46, Hester committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in a park near his home. He had split from the mother of his two daughters Olive and Sunday (aged 2 and 8 at the time). It was known to family and close friends that he had been suffering from depression for a number of years, and he was known for his extreme mood swings.[3] Hester was buried at Blackwood in the high-country region of Victoria. His life was commemorated at the 2005 Aria Awards with Neil Finn singing the staple Crowded House anthem solo "Better Be Home Soon" along with a mini-biography and footage from his life and achievements.
In July 2006, Hester's former girlfriend Kashan Vincent sued his estate, claiming a third of his net worth.[4] Vincent claimed the pair had a relationship for 32 months, and while not cohabiting, were engaged, but had called off the wedding. By May 2007 the lawsuit was resolved out of court, with Vincent receiving a payout and Hester's two daughters described as the sole beneficiaries.[5]
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Wikinews has related news: Crowded House drummer found dead |
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