Mention the name Nick Seymour to any music buff in Australia, and you'll probably hear the reply 'Oh, you mean Mark's brother....?'. That's how it was for Nick Seymour throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Any acclaim he reached at all was always meeted with 'Oh, and by the way, his brother Mark Seymour fronts Hunters and Collectors'.... Although this did not dissuade Nick. He spent a career doing things he loved. Born on the 9th of December 1958, in Benalla, Victoria, Nicholas More Seymour was never pegged to pursue a musical career. One of four siblings, Nick's parents encouraged their children to follow their creativity. For older brother Mark it was music, for Nick, it was his art. Throughout High School Nick pursued his love for art and after graduating Nick attended an art school in Melbourne. Was he any good? Of course! Good enough to score a number of jobs as an art designer and set decorator in a few Australian films made in the 1980s, such as 'A Test of Love'(1984) and 'Death of a Soldier' (1987). Although Nick's name did not appear in either of the credits of these films, it was still quite an experience to contribute to a film. In 1981 Nick's older brother formed popular Australian Band 'Hunters and Collectors' which became one of the most influential pub rock bands out of the 1980s in Australia. While Nick was putting himself through art school he taught himself how to play bass guitar, and in the mid 80s he saw an on air interview with Neil Finn and Paul Hester who were talking about how they were looking for a bassist to form a band with them, after the break up of Split Enz. Finn was acquainted with Mark Seymour, having provided back up vocals on several of his songs, and when Nick met up with them, they all hit it off and Nick became the third member of Crowded House. Crowded House formed in 1985, and broke up in 1996, and while it was eleven years, they were not the joyful, blissful years you would expect for a band as successful as Crowded House. Both drummer Hester and Seymour were often countlessly subjected to cruel mind games by Neil Finn, who made it clear that the band was not a democracy, it was HIS band! Seymour and Hester both reported much distaste with Finn throughout the years.In 1991 Neil was having trouble writing songs for their new album, and took it out on Nick, briefly sacking him from the band. Although shortly rehired, both Hester and Seymour were unhappy with Finn telling them that brother Tim would be joining the band for their next studio album, whether they liked it or not. Hester reported that Finn continually threatened to break up the band, continually hanging that over his band mates heads in return for full creative control. In 1993 Hester had had enough: He walked. He could not continue to work with Neil Finn, and just upped and left Crowded House. Although Nick stayed with the band it was not a happy few remaining years. After breaking up in 1996 Seymour played bass on brother Mark's solo album and took a long deserved break. In late 2003 Seymour and Hester (Still good friends) joined up and formed a new band 'Tarmac Adam' that has played around Australia to rave reviews. Tarmac Adam does not feature Neil Finn, and Seymour and Hester have absolutely no problems with that aspect...
