In early 1974, the band’s sound evolved further with the addition of keyboardist Eddie Rayner and saxophonist Rob Gillies. It was around this time that they altered their name to Split Enz, with the “nz” referring to New Zealand.
During 1973 and 1974, the group recorded three singles, “For You”, “The Sweet Talking Spoon Song” and “No Bother to Me”
By 1974, work had begun in earnest on a Tommy film . Stigwood suggested Ken Russell as director, whose previous work Townshend had admired. The film featured a star-studded cast, including the band members. David Essex auditioned for the title role, but the band persuaded Daltrey to take it. The…
Read More
In the early years of Split Enz, they were known as an “adventurous, flamboyant art-rock band” with unique, theatrical live shows, which evolved during a run of Buck-A-Head theatre concerts in Auckland during 1974, where they gained a strong cult following.
In 1974, it peaked on the US chart at No. 170.
Later in 1974, Rob Gillies and Geoff Chunn left the band, with the latter being replaced by Emlyn Crowther , while Noel Crombie also joined as percussionist and the band’s visual director.
Following the album’s release, the band began to divide once more, this time over performance. Musically, Fripp found himself positioned between Bruford and Wetton, who played with such force and increasing volume that Fripp once compared them to “a flying brick wall”, and Cross, whose amplified acoustic violin was consistently…
Read More
In January 1974, Queen played the Sunbury Pop Festival in Australia.
Rolling Stone briefly mentioned the album unfavourably following its 1974 reissue
Released in 1974, Sheer Heart Attack reached number two in the UK, sold well throughout Europe, and went gold in the US.