Paul Hester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Hester
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Hester in San Francisco in 1987
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Newell Hester |
| Also known as | Hessie |
| Born | 8 January 1959 Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 26 March 2005 (aged 46) Melbourne Australia |
| Genres | Rock, pop rock, jangle pop, indie rock, alternative rock, new wave |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, vocals, keyboards |
| Years active | 1976–2005 |
| Associated acts | Crowded House, Split Enz, Deckchairs Overboard, Tarmac Adam, The Wiggles, The Holy Toledos |
Paul Newell Hester (born January 8, 1959 – died March 26, 2005) was a talented Australian musician. He was also known for being a fun television personality. Paul was the drummer for the famous band Split Enz for a short time in 1984. He then helped start and played drums for the popular rock group Crowded House.
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Paul's Early Life
Paul Hester grew up in Melbourne, Australia. He was the older of two children. His dad was a bushman, and his mom was a jazz drummer. Because his mom played drums, Paul started playing them at a young age.
Paul had a very outgoing personality. This sometimes made school a bit tricky for him. He left school early and tried different jobs. Then, he started his amazing music career. He spent his teenage years living in the Dandenong Ranges. His family's home was near Sherbrooke Forest. From 1976 to 1978, Paul played in Melbourne bands like Thunder and Edges. In 1979, he helped create a band called Cheks. This band later changed its name to Deckchairs Overboard.
Joining Split Enz and Crowded House
Playing Drums for Split Enz
In 1981, the band Split Enz needed a new drummer. Their percussionist, Noel Crombie, took over the drums for a while. After their album Time and Tide came out in 1982, the band took a break.
When Split Enz got back together in 1983, they decided to find a new drummer. Noel Crombie wanted to go back to playing percussion. Paul Hester was suggested by Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil. Paul auditioned and got the job! He joined the band for their album Conflicting Emotions. In June 1984, the band's founder, Tim Finn, left. Split Enz released one more album, See Ya 'Round, which included a song Paul wrote called "This is Massive." When Split Enz broke up in December 1984, Paul and Neil Finn decided to start a new group together.
Starting Crowded House
Paul Hester and Neil Finn first named their new band "The Mullanes." They asked Nick Seymour to play bass guitar. Craig Hooper also joined on guitar for a short time. Hooper left when the band got a record deal with Capitol Records in the US. Capitol Records didn't like the name "The Mullanes." So, the band changed their name to Crowded House.
They recorded their first album, Crowded House, in 1986. Paul played drums on many other popular Crowded House albums. These included Temple of Low Men (1988), Woodface (1991), and Together Alone (1993). By 1993, Paul felt a lot of pressure from touring. He started to feel worried about leaving home for tours.
Paul stayed with Crowded House until 1994. The constant touring and the birth of his first daughter made him want to stay home. He left in the middle of a tour in America. Another drummer, Peter Jones, filled in for the rest of the tour. Paul did play with Crowded House one last time at their farewell concert. This big show was held at the Sydney Opera House in 1996. Crowded House has sold over 20 million albums! In 2016, the band and all its original members, including Paul, were honored in the ARIA Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Paul's Life After Crowded House
After leaving Crowded House, Paul Hester appeared on many TV and radio shows in Australia. He also opened a cafe and restaurant called Beach House Cafe in Melbourne. From 1995 to 1998, Paul was a regular guest on the popular Australian radio show Martin/Molloy. He also worked with his old bandmate, John Clifforth, on a project called Craven's Pharmacy. Paul played drums and other instruments on several songs. He also played drums for other musicians as a session musician. One of his last recordings was for Sophie Koh's first album, All the Pretty Boys.
Paul even worked with the popular Australian children's music group The Wiggles in 1998. He played drums on their album Toot Toot! He also appeared in their video Yummy Yummy as Paul the Cook.
Largest Living Things and Hessie's Shed
Later, Paul started a new band called Largest Living Things (1997–2000). He played guitar and drums in this band. This was different from his time in Crowded House, where he mainly played drums. Largest Living Things released a few EPs in Australia. The band also appeared on Mick Molloy's TV show The Mick Molloy Show, with Paul as the bandleader. In 2001, Paul formed another band called Tarmac Adam.
In 1998, Paul hosted his own TV show called Hessie's Shed on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). This show let Paul show off his funny personality. He invited friends to perform, including some from Crowded House. Paul played with the house band, Largest Living Things, sometimes on drums and sometimes on guitar.
Hosting The MAX Sessions
Paul also hosted special concerts called The MAX Sessions. These concerts were shown on the MAX TV channel. They featured many local and international music acts. A special moment was when Paul reunited with his former bandmates Neil Finn and Tim Finn. He played drums for them on a few songs while they were promoting their album Everyone Is Here.
Paul's Family Life
In the early 1980s, Paul was in a relationship with Deborah Conway. Later, he was with photographer Mardi Sommerfeld. They had two daughters named Olive and Sunday. They lived in the suburb of Elwood in Melbourne.
Paul Hester passed away on March 26, 2005. His daughters, Olive and Sunday, were 5 and 10 years old at the time. A few years before, Paul's mother had also passed away in 2003. Paul's life was celebrated at the 2005 Aria Awards. Neil Finn sang the Crowded House song "Better Be Home Soon" in his memory. There was also a short video about Paul's life and achievements.
In October 2005, a path next to the Elwood Canal was named the Paul Hester Walk. This was to remember Paul and his connection to the area. Later, Hester Street in Officer was also named after him.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Paul Hester para niños
