Enz not in sight until NZ finds right venue

The reborn Split Enz say New Zealand will definitely "get a guernsey" at the band, but there are no concrete plans in place.

At a Melbourne press conference with the band, who have re-formed after 22 years for a tour of Australia, Frontman Tim Finn said Split Enz had toured New Zealand in 1992 - the only tour since the band split in 1984.

"So we felt we owed Australia. But New Zealand will definitely get a guernsey at some point."

Neil Finn also said the band would visit its birthplace, "but we are waiting for the right venue to show up".

The tour could depend on the availability of Auckland's Vector Arena, which is due to be completed mid-year.

Promoter Michael Gudinksi, of Frontier Touring, said a tour was not definite.

"They have done New Zealand recently in the 1990s, and are waiting for the right event or a new venue to open up. It could be this year or next year. The only thing on their minds is doing their Australian tour."

He said a New Zealand tour would partly depend on how well the Australian tour went and also on the opening of the Vector Arena.

"Once the new arena opens it will make such a difference to the amount of events in New Zealand."

The only New Zealand concert by Coldplay, the biggest-selling band behind U2, was cancelled this year because the venue could not be completed in time, and rock star David Bowie bypassed Auckland last year in favour of Wellington.

At the press conference, Split Enz members said they were not doing the Australian tour for the money.

"We didn't need to do it, we wanted to do it. It's not about what will make us money," said Tim Finn.

The idea arose during rehearsals for a special performance last year, when Split Enz were inducted into the Australian music industry's hall of fame.

The band will do five concerts from June, in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.

Band members would be the Finns, Eddie Rayner, Noel Crombie, Nigel Griggs, and Malcolm Green - the line-up behind the band's 1980s True Colours album.

Mr Gudinksi said spoons player and percussionist Crombie - the man responsible for the band's initial colourful incarnation - would also be the stylist and set designer "so be prepared for some classic Split Enz costumes with a bit of 06 flair and a return of the famous spoons."

He said Split Enz were icons in Australia, where the band based itself from 1975 to 1977 before moving to Britain.

"Split Enz define the seventies and eighties for so many Australians so this is going to be the ultimate gig for these people."

The band's official fan website is reported to have 15,000 paying members worldwide.

Membership has grown markedly over recent years, which the site credits to a new generation discovering the Enz.

Tickets go on sale on February 21 on through Ticketmaster for the Sydney concert and Ticketek for the others.