Something So Strong: Crowded House

Australian History Non-Fiction Pop Culture Australiana Music Biography Rock Music History Band Biography

Chris Bourke’s “Something So Strong” is the definitive biography of Crowded House, the Melbourne-via-New Zealand trio that turned bittersweet pop perfection into a string of unforgettable hits. First released in 1997 and now a sought-after out-of-print Pan Macmillan Australia paperback, this 300-plus page chronicle traces the band’s journey from Neil Finn’s Split Enz days to the global success of “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” the internal tensions that fuelled their songwriting, and the triumphant 1996 farewell show on the Sydney Opera House steps. Bourke—an award-winning music journalist—had full co-operation from the band, so every tour anecdote, studio session and personal struggle is backed by fresh interviews and never-before-seen photographs, making the book feel less like a rock memoir and more like a fly-on-the-wall documentary pressed between covers.

What makes this particular copy special for collectors and fans is its clean, tightly-bound condition: a smooth uncreased spine, bright pages free of markings, and only a discreet mark on the bottom edge to hint at its previous life. At 602 g and a comfortable 152 × 237 mm format, it sits perfectly in the hand for long reading sessions or display on an Aussie-music shelf beside your Crowded House and Split Enz vinyl. Because the title has been unavailable from the publisher for years, decent second-hand copies are becoming scarce—especially ones with no ex-library stamps, inscriptions or dog-eared corners beyond a single page.

For lovers of Australiana, rock history or simply great storytelling, “Something So Strong” offers far more than a set list of chart positions. Bourke unpacks the cultural backdrop of 1980s Australia and New Zealand, the rivalry and mutual respect between Finn brothers, the band’s battles with American record labels, and the emotional cost of writing songs that became the soundtrack to millions of lives. Whether you’re revisiting the Crowded House catalogue or discovering it anew, this well-preserved 1997 first edition delivers the complete, unfiltered saga—no eBay clippings needed, just turn the page and hear that opening piano riff all over again.

Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.