CROWDED HOUSE - CROWDED HOUSE 'RELIEVED' BY HESTER'S DEPARTURE

Australian band CROWDED HOUSE were "relieved" when drummer PAUL HESTER quit the group. The musician left the band in 1994, and frontman Neil Finn insists the departure was much-needed. He says, "The day he said he wanted to leave it was like an end to some horrible tension. Bandmember Mart Hart adds, "Oh God, he was an emotional guy. Some days you just wanted to stay away from him. Paul was never mean to me but in certain situations with other people - interviewers, record company representatives - he was not so pleasant to be around." Hester committed suicide in March 2005.