MusicBox - INXS - To The Absolute Limit.

MusicBox - INXS - To The Absolute Limit.

Nov, 7 2024


Prior to the Australian series ‘Neighbours’ was launched in 1985 another soap opera was born this time the drama played out in a band that took things to the extreme.

INXS were formed in 1977. They were originally known as The Farriss Brothers due to three members having the Farriss surname. This later developed into INXS (a phonetic play on ‘in excess’) and the name was aptly titled thanks to the charismatic frontman and main lyricist Michael Hutchence.

Forty years ago they had their first number one hit in Australia with ‘Original Sin’. By 1987, they released their sixth and most successful album ‘Kick’. It has been certified platinum six times and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. The album contained four top 10 US singles –

  • New Sensation
  • Never Tear us Apart
  • Devil Inside
  • Need You Tonight

The last of which reached the top of the US Billboard singles charts. It one of their most punchier tracks and has a great guitar riff. Check out the music video here –

The next thirty years the following events took place –

  • 1990 album ‘X’ – Released to much critical acclaim.
  • November 1997 – Untimely death of Michael Hutchence
  • July 2005 – Reality television show launched in the search for a new frontman
  • November 2010 – Album released in memory of Michael Hutchence titled ‘Original Sin’.
  • February 2014 – Miniseries focusing on the band’s behind the scenes stories called ‘INXS – Never Tear Us Apart’.

In 2019, a documentary film was released about Michael Hutchence titled – Mystify. A soundtrack was also released featuring INXS tracks. It was a poignant goodbye to the enigmatic frontman and the events that led up to his untimely death.

The official website -https://www.inxs.com/ gives fans an opportunity to watch the 2014 miniseries and to discover more about one of Australia’s greatest rock bands.

It’s often the case that when a popular frontman dies the band are never quite the same again. This was a similar situation for Queen. Like Queen, Michael Hutchence was THE frontman. He had everything, charisma, good looks, talent and sophistication. His death remains a void in the INXS world and their new frontman can only aspire to be as good as Hutchence.

INXS in their heyday were one of their kind. Great guitar riffs, cool lyrics and melodies of pure brilliance that cannot be repeated. They were a band of their time and they took their music to the absolute limit they never held back, they did everything in excess.

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger