RIP: Paul Hester, drummer for Crowded House, takes his own life

kwadguy · 03-27-2005, 05:34 AM

According to people I know who are on the Crowded House mailing list, they got the following email yesterday. Sad to hear it...

"Everyone,

sitting here in the office trying to figure out what to write, we are a bit messed up at the moment.

Last night, our mate, and Crowded House drummer Paul Hester took his own life.

Over the years Paul has swung the extremes of happiness and sadness, but
none of us ever thought this would happen. He loved life too much, and it really seems like a bad dream that we hope we'll wake up from tomorrow.

At the moment we are trying to look after Paul's family, he leaves behind two beautiful girls, so if people could not email us that would be appreciated during this incredibly sad time.

It doesn't seem real, but (sadly) it is.

I'll post more on this later on, we are all just getting our heads around this loss of one of our family.

Please take care,
Peter"

Dave D · 03-27-2005, 05:37 AM

Dear 23 · 03-27-2005, 05:46 AM

So tragic (for everyone).

Radiotron · 03-27-2005, 05:47 AM

Oh man...

markl · 03-27-2005, 06:22 AM

todd33rpm · 03-27-2005, 06:24 AM

As soon as I get home, I'm popping in Woodface just so I can hear "Italian Plastic" and "How Will You Go."

This is a bummer. Rest peacefully, Paul.

Phil Elliott · 03-27-2005, 06:53 AM

I can't believe this. When I saw the Finn Brothers in October, they announced he was
getting married. A big cheer came from the packed house.

RIP, Paul.

detroit muscle · 03-27-2005, 07:43 AM

Very sad news. Crowded House were a fantastic band, and Paul a very charismatic drummer who helped make their live shows a thing of legend.

Runt · 03-27-2005, 08:04 AM

Official news item...very sad.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/People...?oneclick=true

KeithH · 03-27-2005, 08:08 AM

eelkiller · 03-27-2005, 08:22 AM

Tragic news. RIP Paul

Ed Bishop · 03-27-2005, 09:37 AM

The darkness overcomes another soul....R.I.P.

Metralla · 03-27-2005, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runt

Official news item...very sad....

FYI, The Age site requires registration to read the articles.

reechie · 03-27-2005, 11:01 AM

One thing I always loved about Crowded House was their sense of humor, especially Paul's. I'm very saddened to hear the news. Rest well.

LaserKen · 03-27-2005, 11:01 AM

Very sad.

FYI-- Paul Hester's sudden departure from the "Together Alone" tour inspired the Sheryl Crow song, "Every Day is a Winding Road." I saw the bands at The Vogue in Indianapolis, and Paul had (if I recall correctly) abruptly left the night before in Cincy. I was drinking a beer with Neil Finn after the Indy show and he explained how they had to fly in a drummer and that Paul's departure was mystifying-- that he had gotten out of bed that day and decided he was finished touring. Neil quoted him as saying, "Every Day is a Winding Road, mate, it's time for me to veer off..." Crow's next album, of course, featured a song with that same theme, with Neil Finn on backing vocals. I've read elsewhere that Paul's leaving provided the song's inspiration, so it's not just my (sometimes fertile) imagination.

My thoughts and prayers go to Paul's family.

Sgt. Pepper · 03-27-2005, 12:00 PM

This is just really unbelievable.

Aggie87 · 03-27-2005, 12:25 PM

A couple of years ago I had the "pleasure" of watching a couple of Wiggles videos over and over, as my daughter had got bitten by that very poisonous bug. One clip showed them around a kitchen table making some concoction, with "Paul the Chef". I kept staring at that guy, knowing he looked familiar from somewhere, but couldn't place him. Finally it dawned on me that it was Paul Hester from CH... I hadn't seem him since some of the 80's videos on MTV, so it took a while. Somehow that made the Wiggles a little more tolerable, moving up a notch on the cool-o-meter.

trainspotter · 03-27-2005, 01:06 PM

what's with all these people killing themselves?
i dont get it

I was only listening to Crowded House recently after not hearing them for a long time.
Split Enz is never off the stereo for long here...

Gardo · 03-27-2005, 01:14 PM

This is a big loss to music and the world, and all the more tragic because it is suicide. I know all the excellent reasoning about how this was his decision, and no outpouring of love and respect and support would have made a difference, but when it's suicide I always wonder if just one intervention at the right moment in those moments leading up to the end would, just perhaps, have bought enough time for him to have changed his mind....

I got to talk to Paul a couple of times on the first CH tour, and it was clear that he was very bright, very talented, and not altogether happy. That's not an unusual profile for an effective clown, which he also was, sparking some inspired lunacy from the band every time I saw them.

I asked him where he had picked up his fabulous brush technique. (The band sometimes did a few numbers with Paul up front on snare, brushes, and splash cymbal only.) He said "from my mother." I thought he was kidding, but apparently not. Either way, he had enough nervous energy for five normal people and was a genuinely kind fellow to boot. Zany, and heartfelt.

We can't afford to lose folks like Paul. I have "Hole in the River" going through my head now. This is very sad news. God have mercy.

Gardo · 03-27-2005, 01:29 PM

The most in-depth report I've seen so far; includes words from Neil and Nick, who are clearly both devastated by Paul's suicide:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12676559-2,00.html

03-27-2005, 05:34 AM	#1
kwadguy Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 6,431	RIP: Paul Hester, drummer for Crowded House, takes his own life According to people I know who are on the Crowded House mailing list, they got the following email yesterday. Sad to hear it... "Everyone, sitting here in the office trying to figure out what to write, we are a bit messed up at the moment. Last night, our mate, and Crowded House drummer Paul Hester took his own life. Over the years Paul has swung the extremes of happiness and sadness, but none of us ever thought this would happen. He loved life too much, and it really seems like a bad dream that we hope we'll wake up from tomorrow. At the moment we are trying to look after Paul's family, he leaves behind two beautiful girls, so if people could not email us that would be appreciated during this incredibly sad time. It doesn't seem real, but (sadly) it is. I'll post more on this later on, we are all just getting our heads around this loss of one of our family. Please take care, Peter"

03-27-2005, 05:47 AM	#4
Radiotron Tube Designer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 1,559	Oh man... __________________ Dan

03-27-2005, 06:24 AM	#6
todd33rpm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bloomington, IN USA Posts: 709	As soon as I get home, I'm popping in Woodface just so I can hear "Italian Plastic" and "How Will You Go." This is a bummer. Rest peacefully, Paul. __________________ Avatar: Roofless Church (1960), designed by Philip Johnson (b. 1906, d. 2005), New Harmony, Indiana

03-27-2005, 06:53 AM	#7
Phil Elliott Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Was York, England. Moved to Aberystwyth, Wales :-) Posts: 1,726	I can't believe this. When I saw the Finn Brothers in October, they announced he was getting married. A big cheer came from the packed house. RIP, Paul. __________________ Read this: http://lukpac.org/stereostones/stones-cd-faq.txt

03-27-2005, 08:08 AM	#10
KeithH CD collector, and so much more Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: It varies. Posts: 24,279	__________________ www.keithhirsch.com

03-27-2005, 05:37 AM	#2
Dave D Done! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Milton, Canada Posts: 32,799

03-27-2005, 05:46 AM	#3
Dear 23 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 897	So tragic (for everyone).

03-27-2005, 06:22 AM	#5
markl Forum Icon Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cyberspace Posts: 2,421

03-27-2005, 07:43 AM	#8
detroit muscle Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,336	Very sad news. Crowded House were a fantastic band, and Paul a very charismatic drummer who helped make their live shows a thing of legend.

03-27-2005, 08:04 AM	#9
Runt Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Motor City Posts: 4,795	Official news item...very sad. http://www.theage.com.au/news/People...?oneclick=true

03-27-2005, 08:22 AM	#11
eelkiller elitist snob Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Where Lake Superior meets Lake Huron Posts: 10,645	Tragic news. RIP Paul __________________ Barry

03-27-2005, 09:37 AM	#12
Ed Bishop Vinyl Hound, Esq. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Between D.C. and Charleston Posts: 24,571	The darkness overcomes another soul....R.I.P. __________________ "A Bad " ...have a question about Quad and Multichannel discs? Visit QQ

03-27-2005, 11:01 AM	#14
reechie Forum Legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baltimore Posts: 18,504	One thing I always loved about Crowded House was their sense of humor, especially Paul's. I'm very saddened to hear the news. Rest well. __________________ \|8#/ reechie (Rich) ______________________________ "...I'll believe it when it's in my hands."

03-27-2005, 11:01 AM	#15
LaserKen Forum Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Avon, Indiana Posts: 1,182	Very sad. FYI-- Paul Hester's sudden departure from the "Together Alone" tour inspired the Sheryl Crow song, "Every Day is a Winding Road." I saw the bands at The Vogue in Indianapolis, and Paul had (if I recall correctly) abruptly left the night before in Cincy. I was drinking a beer with Neil Finn after the Indy show and he explained how they had to fly in a drummer and that Paul's departure was mystifying-- that he had gotten out of bed that day and decided he was finished touring. Neil quoted him as saying, "Every Day is a Winding Road, mate, it's time for me to veer off..." Crow's next album, of course, featured a song with that same theme, with Neil Finn on backing vocals. I've read elsewhere that Paul's leaving provided the song's inspiration, so it's not just my (sometimes fertile) imagination. My thoughts and prayers go to Paul's family.

03-27-2005, 12:00 PM	#16
Sgt. Pepper Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 382	This is just really unbelievable. __________________ Michael

03-27-2005, 12:25 PM	#17
Aggie87 Member Formerly Aggie89 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 1,628	A couple of years ago I had the "pleasure" of watching a couple of Wiggles videos over and over, as my daughter had got bitten by that very poisonous bug. One clip showed them around a kitchen table making some concoction, with "Paul the Chef". I kept staring at that guy, knowing he looked familiar from somewhere, but couldn't place him. Finally it dawned on me that it was Paul Hester from CH... I hadn't seem him since some of the 80's videos on MTV, so it took a while. Somehow that made the Wiggles a little more tolerable, moving up a notch on the cool-o-meter.

03-27-2005, 01:06 PM	#18
trainspotter Forum Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,079	what's with all these people killing themselves? i dont get it I was only listening to Crowded House recently after not hearing them for a long time. Split Enz is never off the stereo for long here... __________________ Don't worry about the world ending today, It's already tomorrow in Australia!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/heyanth

03-27-2005, 01:14 PM	#19
Gardo Forum All Star Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,416	This is a big loss to music and the world, and all the more tragic because it is suicide. I know all the excellent reasoning about how this was his decision, and no outpouring of love and respect and support would have made a difference, but when it's suicide I always wonder if just one intervention at the right moment in those moments leading up to the end would, just perhaps, have bought enough time for him to have changed his mind.... I got to talk to Paul a couple of times on the first CH tour, and it was clear that he was very bright, very talented, and not altogether happy. That's not an unusual profile for an effective clown, which he also was, sparking some inspired lunacy from the band every time I saw them. I asked him where he had picked up his fabulous brush technique. (The band sometimes did a few numbers with Paul up front on snare, brushes, and splash cymbal only.) He said "from my mother." I thought he was kidding, but apparently not. Either way, he had enough nervous energy for five normal people and was a genuinely kind fellow to boot. Zany, and heartfelt. We can't afford to lose folks like Paul. I have "Hole in the River" going through my head now. This is very sad news. God have mercy. __________________ Tact, poise, and reason.

03-27-2005, 01:29 PM	#20
Gardo Forum All Star Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,416	The most in-depth report I've seen so far; includes words from Neil and Nick, who are clearly both devastated by Paul's suicide: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12676559-2,00.html __________________ Tact, poise, and reason.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode