Paul Hester (1959–2005), musician and former drummer for Crowded House, was born in Melbourne. His mother, a jazz drummer, encouraged him to play drums. After playing in a few local bands, in 1984 he joined Split Enz, and the following year he, Finn and Nick Seymour co-founded Crowded House. Their self-titled debut album was a critical and commercial success in Australia and around the world, and featured the hits 'Don't Dream it's Over' and 'Something so Strong'. In 1992 Crowded House was named Best International Group at the UK music awards, the BRITS. By 1994 Hester was struggling with life on the road and left the band in the middle of a US tour. He later appeared on television and radio shows, including a recurring role as 'Paul the Cook' in The Wiggles. He took his own life in 2005 after a long battle with depression.
