Fane Michael Flaws (16 May 1951 – 17 June 2021) 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. 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.

Short film

  • Rodney and Juliet (1990)

Music videos

Directed unless otherwise noted

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Year !! Song !! Artist

|-

| 1979 || Tears || The Crocodiles

|-

| rowspan=8 | 1981 || Proud || rowspan=2 | Dropbears

|-

| Shall We Go

|-

| Come on Over || Holidaymakers

|-

| 1989 || Parihaka || Tim Finn

|-

| rowspan= 2 | 1992 || Dominion Road

<small>Director and Editor</small>

| rowspan="6" | The Mutton Birds

|-

| Nature

|-

| 1993 || Giant Friend

|-

| In My Room <br/><small>directed by Leon Narbey, recut by Fane Flaws.</small>

|-

| rowspan=2 | 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.
  • 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