CROWDED HOUSE - CROWDED HOUSE REUNITE FOR WORLD TOUR

CROWDED HOUSE REUNITE FOR WORLD TOUR

Australian band CROWDED HOUSE are reuniting for their first world tour in a decade. The band's former frontman NEIL FINN and bassist NICK SEYMOUR will hold auditions for a new drummer in Melbourne, Australia this week (begs22JAN07). PAUL HESTER, the band's founding drummer, took his own life two years ago (05). Finn has regularly dismissed notions of reforming the band, but reconsidered after Hester's tragic death . Last year (06), Finn toured with SPLIT ENZ, his band that pre-dates Crowded House. In March (07), he will release a solo album, on which Seymour plays bass. Finn tells Sydney's Daily Telegraph, "In the shadow of Paul's passing, we had more than enough reason to seek each other out and take a bit of comfort from each other. "But we've reconnected musically, too. I've really enjoyed him playing bass. There's something instinctive that we've got together and it's pretty undeniable." Rehearsals will begin as soon as a new drummer is found and sources say the new band will commit to a 12-month world tour. The surprise re-forming comes 10 years after the band's emotional farewell performance on the Sydney Opera House steps. New dates will include a performance at April's (06) Coachella Valley Music + Arts Festival in California, which will also feature a reunited RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE among the headliners.