Doctors Finn cap musical careers to crowded house

By CATHY ARONSON

Last time Tim Finn stood on a stage at Waikato University it was orientation week in 1973 and he was wearing a silk leopard skin suit and an awful lot of eyeshadow.

Yesterday Drs Tim and Neil Finn wore the orange gown and black cap of an honorary doctorate on the stage of Waikato University's new Academy of Performing Arts.

Soon after the pair were capped, Tim told the crowd: "I was standing there looking at my brother and I thought, that's my kid brother up there looking like a dork."

Neil swiped back, "Look in the mirror", and pointed out that Tim's sandals were sticking out from underneath his formal attire.

While the crowd roared with laughter at this rather unusual capping ceremony, Tim told how it was an improvement on the "awful lot of eyeshadow" he was wearing last time he was at the university.

Neither of the brothers graduated from university.

Tim had a brief stint studying philosophy and politics for a bachelor of arts at Auckland University but left the next year to form Split Enz.

Neil never made it that far and joined Split Enz straight from school.

"Having not attended a university, I am feeling very gratified there is another way to graduate - although 20 years is a long time to earn a degree."

The Finn brothers, originally from Te Awamutu, were chosen for the honorary doctorates because of their national and international music success in Split Enz, Crowded House and their solo careers.

They were selected for the honour two years ago but could not find time in their busy careers for the official ceremony.

Vice-chancellor Bryan Gould said the Finns were the most distinguished sons of the Waikato.

"There must be few New Zealanders who have not been touched by the music of Tim and Neil Finn."

The brothers smiled as Professor Gould brought the boys back to their Waikato roots.

He told how 13-year-old Neil won $100 singing a Carole King song at Mt Maunganui's Soundshell in 1971.

The following year Tim and a band won a talent quest at the Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton.

Split Enz launched themselves at the Ngaruawahia Festival in 1973.

Drs Tim and Neil Finn ended the ceremony with a selection of songs and a promise to return to perform at the academy to support the university's attempt to nurture the region's arts.