Although back home in New Zealand—and Australia—Split Enz are YUGE, and agreed upon by all as THE seminal Kiwi pop act, everywhere else they’d be considered a cult band. Formed in 1972—although many of the band members had known each other for even longer—the group was started by Tim Finn and Phil Judd and were, at first, an all acoustic ensemble. Their sound incorporated a whimsical Beatles-influenced skiffle pop sensibility along with an often frantically complex song structure and twitchy vocals. They could be described as “music hall meets prog rock meets a circus act” although this is only kinda/sorta in the ballpark. The music of early Split Enz was uniquely unique. But I don’t have to describe it to you, that’s what YouTube is for, isn’t it?
 

 
And no other band looked like they did, either. Even during the glam rock era, with their angular clothes and makeup—inspired by German Expressionist cinema and Surrealism—Split Enz stood out. I mean here was a band that looked as weird—or weirder—as even Alice Cooper. Or Sparks. Or Lou Reed. The New York Dolls, you name it. Their seriously oddball art-directed look during the earlier phase of their career predated Klaus Nomi’s similar getup by several years. The same can be said for how their shtick comes a few years prior to Richard and Danny Elfman’s similar-ish Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. These guys were doing something incredibly odd for forty plus years ago. And incredibly forward-looking, too. It’s no wonder their music still sounds so fresh today. They never really were “in style” save for a few years where a toned down Split Enz reached worldwide cult status during the “New Wave” era, first with their immortal hit “I Got You” and then with songs like “Six Months In A Leaky Boat,” “History Never Repeats” and the albums True Colours, Waiata and Time & Tide. After the end of the Enz, Neil Finn would go on to form the even more successful Crowded House. From time to time there’s a Split Enz reunion.
 

 
Here’s a selection of some of my favorite early Split Enz videos.

First up is the group’s debut Australian single, 1975’s “Maybe,” which was a conscious effort to do an “I am the Walrus”-type thing. How great is this, I ask you, my rock snob readers?
 

 
“No Bother to Me” on Aussie television’s ‘Countdown’ in 1975 (and originally broadcast in B&W). Before you say “This is a Genesis rip-off” bear in mind that these guys were barely aware of who Genesis even was at this time and also that they apparently hated the comparison once they were.
 

 
“Jamboree” from 1977’s Dizrythmia album:
 

 
Bowie meets Cabaret in this Split Enz’ number, 1975’s “Spellbound” (with Phil Judd on vocals)

 
“My Mistake”:

 
“Sweet Dreams” from their second 2nd album Second Thoughts:
 

 
By the time “I Got You” came out in 1980, they’d toned their eccentricity down by quite a bit, but do enjoy this delightful final clip of Split Enz’ biggest hit, performed on The Paul Hogan Show: