History Literature / StrangerThanFictionTheLifeAndTimesOfSplitEnz

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' (no relation to the Creator/WillFerrell [[Film/StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their [[WidgetSeries wildly original music]] and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* [[WidgetSeries [=STANZA=]]]: The band was at its most wildly eccentric during its first few years in the 1970s. Even after toning down the eccentricity, they still had an air of Australasian quirkiness.

* {{Bishonen}}: Pretty much [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys the entire band]] underneath all that makeup (or not), but especially [[TagalongKid Neil]], Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie.

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Creator/WillFerrell [[Film/StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their [[WidgetSeries wildly original music]] and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* ''Mental Notes'' (1976)

Chronicling their beginnings from an UsefulNotes/{{Auckland}} flat (and even further back in the case of the Finn and Chunn brothers) to their final (non-reunion) concert and even [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue beyond]], the original book is now long out of print but with the author's permission can now be read online [[http://www.book.russells.id.au/ here.]]

* ButtMonkey: The whole band could be subject to this at times, at least until the ''True Colours'' album.
** Mike Chunn himself in regards to coastal holidays.
* CoolTeacher
* CountryCousin[=/=]CountryMouse: Tim Finn (technically Neil as well, though it's brought up more often with Tim). Notably lampshaded in the song ''Maybe'', from early in their career:

* {{Eagleland}}: Type 2 occasionally appears.

* TheGlassesGottaGo - Neil Finn, though he only ever wore them as part of his on-stage persona.
* {{God}}: Even He shows up in one scene.
* GrandFinale: The ''Enz With A Bang!'' tour.

* NonFictionLiterature

* SadistTeacher

* TitledAfterTheSong
* TrueCompanions: The Enz themselves... a few firings aside.

* WackyFratboyHijinks: Even after their fratboy years.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue

* BadassMustache / BadassBeard: Noel Crombie for ''Waiata'' and ''Time and Tide''.

* {{Bishonen}}: Pretty much [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys the entire band]] underneath all that makeup (or not), but especially [[TagalongKid Neil]], Eddie Rayner and [[{{Adorkable}} Noel Crombie]].

* {{Biography}}: Apart from the obvious example, there was also Tim Finn's ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aZ54yEZOTI Haul Away]]''.

* BrokenPedestal: Phill Judd to Tim Finn, and the later [[AloofBigBrother Tim]] [[BigBrotherMentor Finn]] to Neil to a certain extent. Also Tim and Paul [=McCartney=] above, leading Tim to write the song ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tah52vTsBrM Famous People]]''.

* LargeHam - Tim Finn on occasion, most of the band in their early videos.

* MagicalRealism - Every now and then, mostly courtesy of Mike Chunn's narration (Hence the thing about {{God}}).

* [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] - The band steered in this direction with ''Frenzy'', and consolidated it with ''True Colours''.

* PrecisionFStrike - Didn't pop up in their music, but not unknown to the band members themselves.

* [[WidgetSeries [=STANZA=]]] - The band was at its most wildly eccentric during its first few years in the 1970s. Even after toning down the eccentricity, they still had an air of Australasian quirkiness.
* StarvingArtist - The Enz quickly fell into this after first coming to Australia.
* TeensAreMonsters - How the Enz felt after their first two performances up against teenagers (their third performance thankfully went over much better). The Finn brothers themselves back in the day.

Chronicling their beginnings from an UsefulNotes/{{Auckland}} flat (and even further back in the case of the Finn and Chunn brothers) to their final (non-reunion) concert and even [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue beyond]], the original book is now long out of print but with the author's permission can now be read online [[http://www.book.russells.id.au/ here]].

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys - Gender Inverted with Liz Malam in regards to Tim. Didn't end well though.
* AscendedFanboy - Tim Finn actually meeting up with Paul [=McCartney=] and ever getting to London itself. The former though was a partial example of BrokenPedestal learning about how musical idols aren't gods, just people.
** PromotedFanboy - Neil for ''Split Enz'', even though he surprisingly didn't appear all that enthusiastic about it upon being offered (on the surface anyway).
* BadassMustache / BadassBeard - Noel Crombie for ''Waiata'' and ''Time and Tide''.
* TheBandMinusTheFace - Subverted, as Neil was just as equally known ([[SpotlightStealingSquad if not more]]) as Tim by the time the latter left, though this feeling definitely permeated the band themselves.
* {{Biography}} - Apart from the obvious example, there was also Tim Finn's ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aZ54yEZOTI Haul Away]]''.
* {{Bishonen}} - Pretty much [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys the entire band]] underneath all that makeup (or not), but especially [[TagalongKid Neil]], Eddie Rayner and [[{{Adorkable}} Noel Crombie]].
* BoardingSchool - Sacred Heart College in Auckland, though occasionally delving straight into BoardingSchoolOfHorrors (especially in Neil's case).
* BreakupBreakout - Tim Finn with ''Escapade'', odd example as it technically happened while he was still in the band (if not for much longer). Also Neil Finn and Paul Hester with a little thing called ''[[Music/CrowdedHouse Crowded]] [[MorePopularSpinoff House]]''.
* BrokenPedestal - Phill Judd to Tim Finn, and the later [[AloofBigBrother Tim]] [[BigBrotherMentor Finn]] to Neil to a certain extent. Also Tim and Paul [=McCartney=] above, leading Tim to write the song ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tah52vTsBrM Famous People]]''.
* ButtMonkey - The whole band could be subject to this at times, at least until the ''True Colours'' album.

* CountryCousin[=/=]CountryMouse - Tim Finn (technically Neil as well, though it's brought up more often with Tim). Notably lampshaded in the song ''Maybe'', from early in their career:

* CulturalCringe - Played straight, then later inverted. Split Enz had to travel overseas in the 1970s and 1980s to make it big. Today, they're fondly remembered as one of NZ's first bands to take on the world.

* {{Eagleland}} - Type 2 occasionally appears.

* {{God}} - Even He shows up in one scene.
* GrandFinale - The ''Enz With A Bang!'' tour.

* TheLongList - Mike trying to guess the name of the Enz's fifth album.
* LovableRogue - Neil attempted to adopt this persona for an interview. YMMV on whether it worked, but the results were definitely... odd, to say the least.

* MeaningfulRename - The Enz all adopting their middle names as their stage names, except Phil, which Chunn suggests may have been a sign of his discomfort within the band. Also changing the band's name from 'Ends' to 'En''z''' for patriotic reasons.

* OnlySaneMan - Nigel Griggs' (Mike Chunn's replacement) first reaction upon meeting the band (due to not being completely informed), though he adjusted.

* RealityIsUnrealistic - The winner of the (otherwise a total failure) look-alike contest, in Chunn's own words "He looked more like me than me".

* TheSmurfettePrinciple - Raewyn Turner (resident lighting expert) to the rest of the band. Later joined by Liz and Sharon, though none of them were technically members of the core band.

* TrueCompanions - The Enz themselves... a few firings aside.
* WackyCollege - The university which housed Room 129, even though Tim was there for only about a year. Practically the [[CharacterAlignment Chaotic to Sacred Heart's Lawful]].
* WackyFratboyHijinks - Even after their fratboy years.

* WhereItAllBegan - Their final concert in Auckland.

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Creator/WillFerrell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their [[WidgetSeries wildly original music]] and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* CountryMouse - Tim Finn (technically Neil as well, though it's brought up more often with Tim). Notably lampshaded in the song ''Maybe'', from early in their career:

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Creator/WillFerrell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their wildly original music and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* AscendedFanboy - Tim Finn actually meeting up with PaulMcCartney and ever getting to London itself. The former though was a partial example of BrokenPedestal learning about how musical idols aren't gods, just people.

* BrokenPedestal - Phill Judd to Tim Finn, and the later [[AloofBigBrother Tim]] [[BigBrotherMentor Finn]] to Neil to a certain extent. Also Tim and PaulMcCartney above, leading Tim to write the song ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tah52vTsBrM Famous People]]''.

* CreatorBreakdown - Tim Finn is no stranger to this: ''Time and Tide'' owed a lot to his depression. In particular, the opening track "Dirty Creature" is about his efforts to [[SadClown laugh off his demons]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen - Neil leaving proto-band ''After Hours'' after only two performances.

* Music/NewWave - The band steered in this direction with ''Frenzy'', and consolidated it with ''True Colours''.

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Creator/WillFerrell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier Music/NewWave band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their wildly original music and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Will Ferell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier Music/NewWave band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their wildly original music and, erm, wildly [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

Chronicling their beginnings from an Auckland flat (and even further back in the case of the Finn and Chunn brothers) to their final (non-reunion) concert and even [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue beyond]], the original book is now long out of print but with the author's permission can now be read online [[http://www.book.russells.id.au/ here]].

* BannedInChina - ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeKdUeb1InI Six Months In A Leaky Boat]]'' in England, due to UnfortunateImplications with the Falklands War.

* ExecutiveMeddling - Most notably with producer David Tickle, during the production of ''Waiata''.

* MagnumOpusDissonance - Neil Finn never originally thought much of ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkPaj0ttjbc I Got You]]''. The Enz's SignatureSong.

* ThePeteBest - ...It'd be easier to list the band members that weren't.

* TroubledProduction - ''Waiata'', the follow-up to their breakout album ''True Colours'', was dogged by conflicts with their producer after he [[TookALevelInJerkass developed an inflated ego]]. Tim Finn left during the production of 1983's ''Conflicting Emotions'', feeling that he couldn't diversify his songwriting any further if he remained with the group.

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Will Ferell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier Music/NewWave band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their wildly original music and, erm, [[AnimeHair wildly]] [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[IconicOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* {{WidgetSeries STANZA}} - The band was at its most wildly eccentric during its first few years in the 1970s.

* CreatorBreakdown - Tim Finn is no stranger to this: ''Time and Tide'' owed a lot to his depression.

''Stranger Than Fiction: The Life And Times Of Split Enz'' ([[NamesTheSame no relation]] to the Will Ferell [[StrangerThanFiction movie]]) is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Mike Chunn ('semi' as Chunn left the band [[ThePeteBest before their third album]]) detailing the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin life and times]] of the UsefulNotes/NewZealand premier Music/NewWave band ''Split Enz'', headed by Tim and Neil Finn. The group was best known for their wildly original music and, erm, [[AnimeHair wildly]] [[UncannyValleyMakeup original]] [[MemeticOutfit appearances]] (that they only [[BrieferThanTheyThink actually wore]] for the Seventies).

* AscendedFanboy - Tim Finn actually meeting up with PaulMcCartney and arguably ever getting to London itself. The former though was a partial example of BrokenPedestal learning about how musical idols aren't gods, just people.

* GirlsHaveCooties - A few of the band members' reactions in the case of Liz, along with arguably [[ExecutiveMeddling John Hopkins']] reaction to Rayner.

* MagnumOpusDissonance - Neil Finn never originally thought much of ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkPaj0ttjbc I Got You]]''. arguably the Enz's SignatureSong.

* TeensAreMonsters - How the Enz felt after their first two performances up against teenagers (their third performance thankfully went over much better). Arguably the Finn brothers themselves back in the day.