Tim Finn was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand on June 25, 1952. Though he never totally focused on music until after he was attending Auckland University studying philosophy and politics, his upbringing influenced Finn's piano-playing rocker sound. Raised Catholic, his first piano lessons were taught by a nun, and he would often perform, produce and idealize school plays. Influenced by the Beatles, the Move and the Kinks, Finn was ready to pursue music full time by the ‘70s . Leaving the University in 1972, Finn formed Split Enz, a new wave band that initially started as an acoustic combo with Finn as the vocalist and pianist. The group's success was overwhelming as they saw a series of international hits and albums that allowed them to tour the world. But when Finn's solo album, Escapade, which he prepared in-between Split Enz albums, became an international commercial success in both Australia and New Zealand, he was forced to leave the band in 1983.

Moving to London, Finn worked on his sophomore effort which appeared in 1985. The album, titled Big Canoe, didn't see any commercial or critical acknowledgment until his brother's band, Crowded House, gave him a bit of a push in 1988. Crowded House began out of Split Enz's end and had several former members of Finn's first band, including his brother, Neil. With that, Finn released a self-titled album in 1989 with Capitol Records. Near the edge, Finn joined Neil's band for their Woodface album and tour,but left to record his fourth studio album flop.

In 1995, Finn joined Hothouse Flowers' Liam O Maonlai and Andy White for ALT, after which a long-awaited Finn Brothers collaboration appeared. A year later he returned to his solo career and released another album. Finn Brothers have continued to record together with two albums released in '04 and '06.