Thursday Throwback: Split Enz 1980

Greg Noakes

The suit that launched a thousand hits.

The Finn brothers are pretty much known the world over as being two of the greatest song writers of the past 30 or so years, but we reckon it's a shame that their equally great sense of fashion gets overlooked by the history books.

For example, check out this 1980 promo photo taken in Melbourne by Greg Noakes. It's of a then-little known band called Split Enz, who were about to release a single called ''I Got You''.

Most folks would be able to peer past the impressive quiffs to recognise (from left) Nigel Griggs, Eddie Rayner, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie, Tim Finn and Malcolm Green.

More easy to recognise is the band's amazing fashion sense. Their musical style was eclectic, incorporating influences from art rock, vaudeville, swing, punk, rock, new wave, and pop, and their fashion gratifyingly reflected that.

Split Enz established a reputation for a highly distinctive visual style, thanks partly to their colourful, offbeat costumes and, of course, those hairstyles.

We just wish this photo was in colour to fully appreciate how awesome these suits are.

The Finn brothers will play a charity gig in Hamilton on Thursday to raise money for the True Colours Charitable Trust but, sadly, they won't be wearing anything close to this. 

- © Fairfax NZ News