The 22nd of November 1997 was a sad day for the music industry, especially in Australia. And although I didn’t know it at the time as I was still only in single digits, it was a sad day for me personally as well. It marked the day that meant that I would never be able to see one of my favourite bands perform live. Today, 22 November 2009, is the twelfth anniversary of the tragic death of Michael Hutchence, lead singer of Australian new wave rock band INXS.
Micheal Hutchence and INXS formed in 1977 (then known as the Farriss Brothers in reference to brothers Andrew, Jon and Tim Farriss, who made up half of the six piece band, alongside Hutchence, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers) and by the late 80′s had become not only one of the biggest bands ever to come out of Australia, but also one of the biggest bands touring at that time in the world. Starting out as teenagers playing the pub circuit in Sydney, they battled their way to number one on the charts in 1987 with Kick, featuring such singles as Need You Tonight, New Sensation, Devil Inside and of course, Never Tear Us Apart.
Overall, INXS are the third highest selling Australian band worldwide behind AC/DC and the Bee Gees, but to many they are by far the best. Their catchy funk-inspired beats mixed with their pub rock roots gave INXS appeal to a wide audience and enabled them to find success in an era dominated by the punk scene. Michael Hutchence was a big factor in the success of INXS. At an early demo in the late 70′s, a prospective producer once famously said “I can see Mick Jagger, but where are the Rolling Stones?” Bono, lead singer of U2 and a friend of Michael’s said that Hutchence was his idea of what a rock star is. He was, in his words, “the real thing.”
Michael Hutchence left an impression on many other artists, including Bono and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. Both U2 and Duran Duran recorded songs in tribute to Hutchence. Le Bon actually penned “Michael, You’ve Got A Lot To Answer For” in 1996 and released it only a month before Hutchence’s death. In 2000 U2 recorded “Stuck In A Moment That You Can’t Get Out Of” in tribute to Hutchence, featuring lyrics such as: I am still enchanted/By the light you brought to me/I listen through your ears/Through your eyes I can see.
Despite still recording and touring, INXS will never be the same. In their days with Michael they created a legacy that will long be remembered. Individually, Michael Hutchence will be remembered as a devoted friend, singer and father. I’ll leave you with lyrics from INXS’s Afterglow, their own tribute song to Michael Hutchence. May he rest in peace.
Touch me and I will follow in your afterglow
Heal me from all this sorrow
As I let you go I will find my way, I will sacrifice
Now I’m living in your afterglow
