Paul Hester

Paul Newell Hester (8 January 1959 – 26 March 2005) was an Australian musician and television personality. He was the drummer for the band Split Enz from November 1983 until their break-up in December 1984. Hester was also a co-founding member of the band Crowded House, for which he served as drummer.[edit]

Paul Hester, the Australian musician best known as the drummer for Split Enz and Crowded House, died on 26 March 2005 at the age of 46. He was found dead in a park near his home in Murrumbeena, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The official cause of death was suicide by hanging, a ruling confirmed by the coroner following an investigation into his sudden disappearance from his residence earlier that day. Hester had been suffering from a long-term battle with depression, a fact acknowledged by his family and the band members in subsequent statements. His final public appearance is not widely documented in specific detail beyond his ongoing work and interviews prior to his death; however, it is noted that he had struggled with mental health issues for some time before the incident.

Following his death, a police investigation was conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding his passing, which led to a formal inquest by the Victorian Coroner's Court. The coroner officially ruled the death as suicide by hanging, closing the matter without further criminal charges or legal disputes. The legal aftermath was limited to the coronial process, which served to formally document the cause of death and acknowledge the impact of his mental health struggles. The public reaction to Paul Hester's death was immediate and profound, particularly within the Australian music community and among fans of Crowded House and Split Enz. Tributes poured in from peers, including former bandmates Neil Finn and Nick Seymour, who expressed deep grief and highlighted Hester's contributions to their music.

While specific details of fan vigils or chart surges immediately following the event are not explicitly detailed in the search snippets, the enduring legacy of his work was commemorated in media retrospectives and anniversaries. The music industry recognized his loss through various memorial features and articles that re-evaluated his career and influence on Australian rock. Details regarding the funeral or memorial service for Paul Hester are not explicitly provided in the search results. Posthumously, Paul Hester's legacy has been preserved through various releases and tributes. His contributions to Crowded House and Split Enz continue to be celebrated, with his drumming featured in reissues and documentaries.

In 2026, the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) released archival footage highlighting his unique personality and musical collaborations, including a rare performance with Midnight Oil. A 20th-anniversary tribute was published by The Music in 2025, reflecting on his impact.[edit]