Fane Flaws


Fane Michael Flaws was a New Zealand musician, songwriter, director and artist.

Career

Flaws was a member of bands including Blerta, Spats, and The Crocodiles. Until joining Blerta he was known by his second name Michael: Bruno Lawrence of Blerta insisted Fane was a better name.
When he was in The Crocodiles, he wrote the song "Tears" with Arthur Baysting. The single reached number 17 in the New Zealand charts.
He wrote songs for the films Braindead and Meet the Feebles, even voicing the Musician Frog in the latter.
He animated the revamped titles for Radio with Pictures in 1986, a Television New Zealand programme featuring popular and alternative music.
He was co-author, with Arthur Baysting and Peter Dasent, of the children's book The Underwater Melon Man and Other Unreasonable Rhymes. The book was published in 1998, a CD in 1999. In 2011, an edition was published with a DVD. Musicians appearing include Chris Knox, Jenny Morris, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Renée Geyer, Tony Backhouse, Bic Runga and Boh Runga, the Topp Twins, Che Fu & King Kapisi and Dave Dobbyn.
He also designed rugs, paints and created assemblage art works from found objects such as demolition timber and building fittings.

Short film

  • Rodney and Juliet

    Music videos

Directed unless otherwise noted
YearSongArtist
1979TearsThe Crocodiles
1981ProudDropbears
1981Shall We GoDropbears
1981Come on OverMatt Finish
1981My Heart's on FireMachinations
1981Get Some HumourJenny Morris
1981Life in AsiaI Am Joe's Music
1981Talking 'bout the FridgeI Am Joe's Music
1981The Way You Get Your WayI Am Joe's Music
1983Beautiful ThingsThe Front Lawn
1985Diamonds on ChinaThe Narcs
1986Injun JoeThe Johnnys
1988Sweet LoversHolidaymakers
1989ParihakaTim Finn
1992Dominion Road
Director and Editor		The Mutton Birds
1992NatureThe Mutton Birds
1993Giant FriendThe Mutton Birds
1994The HeaterThe Mutton Birds
1994In My Room
directed by Leon Narbey, recut by Fane Flaws.		The Mutton Birds
1995Anchor MeThe Mutton Birds
1995Naked FlameDave Dobbyn
1999Can You Hear UsNeil Finn

Awards

Flaws died on 17 June 2021, aged 70.

General references