Crowded House Drummer Commits Suicide - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 03-28-2005, 10:17 AM

Crowded House Drummer Hangs Himself

Crowded House drummer Hester poses for the camera in 1986.

SYDNEY, Australia (March 28) - Paul Hester, the drummer from popular 1980s Australian rock band Crowded House, hanged himself in a park in southern Australia, an emergency services spokeswoman said Monday.

Hester, 46, had failed to return home after taking his two dogs for a walk on Friday night. The drummer's body was later found in a park near his home in the southern city of Melbourne.

Ambulance officers arrived on the scene shortly after midday Saturday and tried to resuscitate him, but "he was dead when they arrived," Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokeswoman Liraje Memishi said.

Memishi said he had "attempted suicide" and then suffered strangulation. She declined to confirm where Hester's body was found. Reports have said he was discovered hanging from a tree.

Hester played in several small bands before joining the New Zealand group Split Enz in 1983. He and Split Enz singer Neil Finn formed Crowded House in 1985 with bass player Nick Seymour.

Crowded House was one of Australia's most successful bands in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with international hits such as "Don't Dream it's Over" and "Weather with You."

Peter Green, a longtime friend of Hester, reportedly contacted Finn and Seymour after learning of the drummer's death.

Green said Hester had experienced "some dark moments," but dismissed media reports that he was struggling with depression or illness at the time of his death.

"Paul never said anything about that and I never, ever, heard he was suffering from any illness," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper for its Monday edition. "Then, after today, I wonder if anybody really knew anything."

Seymour also expressed surprise at the news, telling the paper he seen Hester in Ireland two weeks ago.

"It was all good," Seymour told the paper from Dublin. "The last words Paul told me were: 'I love you, mate. See you in town (Melbourne) in a month'."

Finn, currently touring in London, said he was deeply saddened at the loss of his friend.

"I am devastated," he told the paper. "I have lost one of my best mates."

Hester quit Crowded House in 1994, citing the pressures of touring and declining motivation for the group.

He is survived by his girlfriend Mardi Sommerfield and their two daughters aged 8 and 10.

TJL · 03-28-2005, 10:28 AM

What a shame...

phoebe7165 · 03-28-2005, 12:44 PM

Yeah, I just read about that on another page. So sad, not only because of his loss of life but because he left behind 2 daughters.

dlemond · 03-28-2005, 01:01 PM

That is awful.

I'm a big Split Enz fan, though Paul only joined at the very end, and I really liked Cowded House. Woodface is the best album you don't own.

It's hard to understand that he could go off and leave his two kids like that.

ABlairican Pie · 03-28-2005, 10:06 PM

This is horrible. I saw Crowded House at the Bumbershoot Festival at the Seattle Center in 1991 and they put on an excellent, hilarious show. Their drummer was quite a jokester.

dandelion wine · 03-28-2005, 10:08 PM

Really awful and very sad. I wish he could've gone to get help.. something. I agree with dlemond, it is hard to understand how he could leave them behind.

MandieR1980 · 03-29-2005, 01:05 AM

it's horrible I loved Crowded House, "Don't Dream It's Over" is one of my favorite songs ever.

03-28-2005, 10:17 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Crowded House Drummer Commits Suicide Crowded House Drummer Hangs Himself Crowded House drummer Hester poses for the camera in 1986. SYDNEY, Australia (March 28) - Paul Hester, the drummer from popular 1980s Australian rock band Crowded House, hanged himself in a park in southern Australia, an emergency services spokeswoman said Monday. Hester, 46, had failed to return home after taking his two dogs for a walk on Friday night. The drummer's body was later found in a park near his home in the southern city of Melbourne. Ambulance officers arrived on the scene shortly after midday Saturday and tried to resuscitate him, but "he was dead when they arrived," Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokeswoman Liraje Memishi said. Memishi said he had "attempted suicide" and then suffered strangulation. She declined to confirm where Hester's body was found. Reports have said he was discovered hanging from a tree. Hester played in several small bands before joining the New Zealand group Split Enz in 1983. He and Split Enz singer Neil Finn formed Crowded House in 1985 with bass player Nick Seymour. Crowded House was one of Australia's most successful bands in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with international hits such as "Don't Dream it's Over" and "Weather with You." Peter Green, a longtime friend of Hester, reportedly contacted Finn and Seymour after learning of the drummer's death. Green said Hester had experienced "some dark moments," but dismissed media reports that he was struggling with depression or illness at the time of his death. "Paul never said anything about that and I never, ever, heard he was suffering from any illness," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper for its Monday edition. "Then, after today, I wonder if anybody really knew anything." Seymour also expressed surprise at the news, telling the paper he seen Hester in Ireland two weeks ago. "It was all good," Seymour told the paper from Dublin. "The last words Paul told me were: 'I love you, mate. See you in town (Melbourne) in a month'." Finn, currently touring in London, said he was deeply saddened at the loss of his friend. "I am devastated," he told the paper. "I have lost one of my best mates." Hester quit Crowded House in 1994, citing the pressures of touring and declining motivation for the group. He is survived by his girlfriend Mardi Sommerfield and their two daughters aged 8 and 10.

03-28-2005, 10:28 AM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	What a shame...
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03-28-2005, 12:44 PM	#3
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	Yeah, I just read about that on another page. So sad, not only because of his loss of life but because he left behind 2 daughters.
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03-28-2005, 01:01 PM	#4
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	That is awful. I'm a big Split Enz fan, though Paul only joined at the very end, and I really liked Cowded House. Woodface is the best album you don't own. It's hard to understand that he could go off and leave his two kids like that.
	__________________ Michael

03-28-2005, 10:06 PM	#5
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	This is horrible. I saw Crowded House at the Bumbershoot Festival at the Seattle Center in 1991 and they put on an excellent, hilarious show. Their drummer was quite a jokester.
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03-28-2005, 10:08 PM	#6
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	Really awful and very sad. I wish he could've gone to get help.. something. I agree with dlemond, it is hard to understand how he could leave them behind.
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03-29-2005, 01:05 AM	#7
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	it's horrible I loved Crowded House, "Don't Dream It's Over" is one of my favorite songs ever.
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930