Born in Melbourne, Paul Hester (1959–2005) was encouraged to play drums by his mother, a jazz drummer. After playing in a few local bands, in 1984 he joined Split Enz, and the following year he, Neil Finn and Nick Seymour co-founded Crowded House. Their self-titled debut album was a critical and commercial success in Australia and around the world. By 1994 Hester was struggling with life on the road and left the band in the middle of a US tour. He later appeared on television and radio shows, including a recurring role as 'Paul the Cook' in The Wiggles. He took his own life in 2005 after a long battle with depression.
Photographer Alan Mitchell took this image of Crowded House during the filming of the music video for 'Something so strong', shot on a farm in the Yarra Valley, Victoria in 1987. This image of Hester, Finn and Seymour shows a more serious side of the musicians on the verge of major international success. 'I had taken numerous shots of Paul on the day when he suddenly said "I think you have taken enough shots of me being funny". At that moment his facial expression changed as I took one last shot.'
Gift of the artist 2021
© Alan Mitchell
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