Michael Hutchence in 1986 by Andwhatsnext
Theme Times Directory
INXS (pronounced “in excess”) were an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band’s founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, guitarist Tim Farriss, lead singer and main lyricist Michael Hutchence, and guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. For twenty years, INXS was fronted by Hutchence, whose “sultry good looks” and magnetic stage presence made him the focal point of the band.] Initially known for their new wave/pop style, the band later developed a harder pub rock style that included funk and dance elements.
In 1984, INXS scored their first number-one hit in Australia with “Original Sin”. The band would later achieve international success in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s with the hit albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X, as well as the singles “What You Need”, “Need You Tonight” (the band’s first and only number-one single in the United States), “Devil Inside”, “Never Tear Us Apart”, “Suicide Blonde” and “New Sensation”.
Following Hutchence’s death from suicide in November 1997, INXS made appearances with several guest singers and toured and recorded with Jon Stevens as lead singer beginning in 2002. In 2005, members of INXS participated in Rock Star: INXS, a reality television series that culminated in the selection of Canadian J.D. Fortune as their new lead singer. Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Gribbin replaced Fortune as lead singer in 2011. During a November 11, 2012 concert, INXS stated that the performance would be their last, though they did not announce a permanent band retirement.
INXS won six Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, including three for “Best Group” in 1987, 1989 and 1992; the band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. INXS has sold an estimated 60 million records worldwide.
***
Top 10
1990 – 1 – Suicide Blonde
1987 – 2 – Never Tear Us Apart
1987 – 3 – Need You Tonight
1985 – 4 – What You Need
1990 – 5 – By My Side
1987 – 6 – Devil Inside
1985 – 7 – Listen Like Thieves
1984 – 8 – Original Sin
1982 – 9 – Mystify
1992 – 10 – Taste It
Bonus
So there we go folks, my top ten INXS tracks, now tell me, were you fans like l was? If so what were your favourites songs?
I was introduced to Micheal Hutchence one day by a friend. I didn’t know who he was and there is a good reason for that – he wasn’t anybody at the time. I can’t really remember much about him except to say that he came across as very quiet and shy. He may have been just bored, though.
It was some time later that another friend sent me a tape with the standard ‘you need to listen to this’ advise attached. It was a recording of ‘The Loved One’ …. a cover version of a much earlier Australian song. I was mightily impressed.
I was never to become an INXS fan, but ‘The Loved One’ remains a bit of a favourite.
Hey Brutus, of course, how did l not think of this song and include it, l am asking myself? I used this piece in a fashion show once.
Hope you are keeping well 🙂
Love INXS! You pretty much nailed it with your song selection. I actually never knew they had different singers after Michael’s suicide. I guess I figured with him gone, the band was over.
I think personally, once he ‘left’, l didn’t really follow the band that closely.
I LOVED INXS!!!!! Michael Hutchence had PERFECT hair!! LOL! No, seriously, he did.
Ha ha 🙂