Fane Michael Flaws (16 May 1951 – 17 June 2021)History. faneflaws.com. 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.Fane Flaws. NZ On Screen.
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.Fane Flaws – Clever Bastards: The best of New Zealand art & design
Short film
Rodney and Juliet (1990)
Music videos Directed unless otherwise noted Year Song Artist 1979 Tears The Crocodiles 1981 Proud Dropbears Shall We Go Come on Over Matt Finish My Heart's on Fire Machinations Get Some Humour Jenny Morris Life in Asia I Am Joe's Music Talking 'bout the Fridge The Way You Get Your Way 1983 Beautiful Things The Front Lawn 1985 Diamonds on China The Narcs 1986 Injun Joe The Johnnys 1988 Sweet Lovers Holidaymakers 1989 Parihaka Tim Finn 1992 Dominion Road Director and Editor The Mutton Birds Nature 1993 Giant Friend 1994 The Heater In My Room directed by Leon Narbey, recut by Fane Flaws. 1995 Anchor Me Naked Flame Dave Dobbyn 1999 Can You Hear Us Neil Finn
Awards Best Video at the New Zealand Music Awards, 1985 for The Narcs: Diamonds on China Best Video at the New Zealand Music Awards, 1988 for Holidaymakers: Sweet Lovers Best First Film at Clermont Ferrand Film Festival for Rodney and Juliet Best TV Graphics, 1989 NZ LIFTA Awards for Radio with Pictures
Commercials Lemon & Paeroa soft drink. (1991) McDonald's (1991) New Zealand Police – community service commercial on babysitting. (1981) NZ Post (1991) Rexona Dry Solid anti perspirant (1990)
Death Flaws died on 17 June 2021, aged 70.
References
General references Dix, John, Stranded in Paradise, Penguin, 2005. Eggleton, David, Ready To Fly, Craig Potton, 2003.
External links Fane Flaws official website AudioCulture profile
NZ On Screen biography and screenography Fane Flaws on YouTube Radio New Zealand Interview Fane Flaws in artists profiles at Dilana Rugs Tears – The Crocodiles, Music Video, 1980 NZ On Screen