Paul Hester is dead and I am sad.

http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/mar05/20050326_paulhester.html

R.I.P. Paul Hester

by Paul Cashmere

26 March 2005

Former Split Enz/Crowded House drummer Paul Hester has taken his own life.

Peter Green, President of the Split Enz and Crowded House fanclubs broke the news to fans. "Everyone, sitting here in the office trying to figure out what to write, we are a bit messed up at the moment" his letter reads.

"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."

Paul Newell Hester was born in Melbourne on January 8, 1959. His mother Ann was a jazz drummer.

Hester joined Split Enz in 1983 fresh from Deckchairs Overboard. He was recruited into the band with a reference from Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst. His first album with The Enz was 'Conflicting Emotions'. He played on the hits 'Message To My Girl' and 'Strait Old Line.

When Split Enz broke up one album later after 'See Ya Round', Hester stayed with singer/songwriter Neil Finn and together with bass player Nick Seymour, was a founding member of Crowded House.

Crowded House was an international success. 'Don't Dream It's Over' became a major hit in the USA.

Hester recently played with Tarmac Adam, a band featuring his Crowded House band-mate Nick Seymour.

He also hosted The Music Max Sessions for Australia's cable music news channel Music Max.