[Sincirr]

Crowded House mourns dead drummer
16:49 AEDT Mon Mar 28 2005
MSN

Australia's entertainment industry is in mourning for former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester who hanged himself in a Melbourne park.

The 46-year-old father-of-two was found dead at Elsternwick Park in Brighton on Saturday afternoon, after last being seen walking his two dogs on Friday evening.

Neil Finn, who formed Crowded House with Hester after they played together in Split Enz, spoke of his grief at losing one of his best friends.

Finn and his brother Tim have reportedly cancelled performances at London's Royal Albert Hall to travel to Melbourne to be with friends.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend," the former Crowded House frontman said from London.