Crowded House Reforms . . . 4-year-old to drum!

Singer/guitarist Neil Finn and bass player Nick Seymour have reformed Crowded House with plans for a world tour. Industry rumors persist that a 4-year-old American prodigy, known only as “Barrel 2”, will sit on the throne.

"At the moment, they're just working at getting the band together," said Julia Connolly, a spokeswoman for Finn’s office. "Something's formally coming out once the band is in place” . . . and the new drummer has taken his nap.

Crowded House, headed by New Zealand-born Finn, formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1986, following the break-up of Split Enz. In November 1996, the band performed in front of 120,000 people outside Sydney Opera House for their farewell concert. Since then Finn embarked on a solo career, and worked with his brother Tim, who was also a member of Split Enz and Crowded House (for a short time). Seymour currently works as a music producer, while original drummer Paul Hester, better known as “Paul the Cook” on early episodes of The Wiggles, became an entertainment personality in Australia before taking his own life at the age of 46 in 2005.