Formed:
1977 in Sydney, Australia
Overview:
Rising from the Australian pub rock scene, the long-running sextet INXS has thrived in nearly all corners of the pop/rock universe, displaying an uncanny ability to blend into various genres without losing its singularity. During the early '80s the band occupied a solid niche within the guitar-heavy strain of
new wave, and then by the middle of the decade the group had become a mainstream rock staple with a growing grasp of Top 40 sensibilities. Ultimately, the band attained its greatest success by maximizing dance beats in combination with an elegant pop music approach anchored by stylish frontman Michael Hutchence.
'80s Group Members:
- Michael Hutchence (born Michael Kelland John Hutchence on January 22, 1960 in Sydney, Australia, died November 22, 1997 in Sydney) - Lead vocals, songwriter
- Andrew Farriss (born Andrew Charles Farriss on March 27, 1959 in Perth, Australia) - Keyboards, songwriter, guitar
- Tim Farriss (born Timothy William Farriss on August 16, 1957 in Perth) - Lead guitar
- Jon Farriss (born Jonathon James Farriss on August 10, 1961 in Perth) - Drums
- Kirk Pengilly (born July 4, 1958 in Kew, Australia) - Guitar, songwriter, saxophone, backing vocals
- Garry Gary Beers (born Gary Williams Beers on June 22, 1957 in Sydney) - Bass guitar
Early Years:
The band originated as a true homegrown high school outfit and initially went by the logically derived name the Farriss Brothers. Once Pengilly and Tim Farriss joined after playing together in crosstown bands, the only ingredient needed to fill out the classic INXS lineup was the youngest Farriss brother, Jon. The group quickly began forming an identity as an eclectic pub rock band, earning an Australian record contract by 1980 and making the more lucrative shift to America for 1983's
Shabooh Shoobah. During this period INXS loosely fit into the new wave category even if its music was always fairly elastic.
INXS & a Pop Evolution:
Although the group's new wave/
synth pop period produced some fine tunes, particularly the infectious "Don't Change," the hits didn't begin to flow freely until 1985's solid, widely accessible
Listen Like Thieves. At this point the INXS transition toward more prominent funk-inflected dance grooves became detectable, exemplified by the slow-building Top 5 pop hit from 1986, "What You Need." While I've always preferred the melodic focus of a song like "This Time," music fans noticeably took to the band's versatility and unique rhythmic foundations displayed within a shifting sound.
'80s Mega Stardom Kicks Into Gear:
Despite an already respectable, memorable pop/rock career that ranked among the most influential American success stories for a Down Under band, INXS would enter unexplored sonic and music biz territory with 1987's smash hit album
Kick. I've never loved any of the tracks on this album, but there's no denying that much of America got a genuine kick out of stylish, sultry vehicles for Hutchence like "Need You Tonight," "New Sensation," "Devil Inside," and the sophisticated ballad "Never Tear Us Apart." The band would release no more music during the '80s, but with success like this, who needed to?
INXS Continued - '90s Experimentation:
X, INXS' 1990 follow-up to
Kick, sold quite well but failed to generate the same level of critical acclaim as its predecessor. Of course, competing with the group's peak period would have been a daunting task for any major rock act, which probably at least partially explains the roots rock and world music explorations that peppered the band's next couple of releases. Nonetheless, INXS successfully maintained a consistent level of output, and this period culminated reasonably well with the 1997 release
Elegantly Wasted. Unfortunately, no one would get to find out if a true comeback was imminent.
Silenced - the Sad, Tragic Death of Hutchence:
Activity slowed for the band in 1997, but no one could have been prepared for the screeching halt brought on by the mysterious and unfortunately tabloid-matched demise of Hutchence on November 22. Though ruled a suicide officially, Hutchence's death by hanging in his hotel room left many questions unanswered, leading some to believe it stemmed from a practice of autoerotic asphyxiation gone wrong. Emotional and substance problems were also rumored to influence the incident, but no doubt existed as to the course of the band in the immediate aftermath. INXS was no more, it seemed, potentially a condition of permanence.
Perseverance & A Reality TV Boost:
Refusing to allow the severe emotional blow of the loss of Hutchence to derail its career, INXS soldiered on with guest singers through the end of the '90s, eventually breaking reality TV ground with 2005's
Rock Star: INXS. The series promised the selection of a full-time replacement for Hutchence and injected much new interest in the band's contemporary activities. The jury may still be out on whether or not this was more of a publicity stunt than a desire to keep rocking based on genuine motives, but the original lineup continues to tour and record with J.D. Fortune as frontman in place of Hutchence.
