THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Tim Finn

Tim Finn's remarkable career (outlined here) now reaches to nine solo albums with the release of The View is Worth the Climb. Add in all the Split Enz years, the Crowded House/Finn albums and other work with brother Neil, soundtrack contributions, ALT and guest appearances . . .

It is quite something to reflect on, although you suspect he is too busy moving on to do much of that . . . although every now and again some songs ring out with autobiographical weight or an echo of something from the past.

Tim Finn OBE -- whose songs provided the backbone for the play Poor Boy, and is the subject of tributes -- may be busy but he took time out to join that long list of those -- including his nephew Liam -- who have answered The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.

The first piece of music which really affected you was . .
Dion, The Wanderer

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .
My parents' friends on a Friday Night

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Lennon, Ramones, Gag, Jacko

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
Profesional surfer

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
Waterloo Sunset (Kinks)

In My Life (Beatles)

All This and More (from my new album The View is Worth the Climb)

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
Original 45 of Dock of the Bay
A slightly scary doll of Enz me

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . .
Too many other good books to read

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
John Lennon, drums

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
39 Steps, Raising Arizona, Mad Dogs and Englishmen

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Emmylou Harris' new one Hard Bargain produced old friend and collaborator Jay Joyce

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .
Is That All There Is

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
Matisse cut-out

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

A saddle bag

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?
Exactly where I am and what I'm doing now

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
It just is. OK?