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INXS Top 10
INXS started with the Farris Brothers (guitarist Tim, keyboardist Andrew and drummer Jon) in ’79. School friends, bassist Gary Beers, guitarist/sax player Kirk Pengilly and vocalist Michael Hutchence soon came on board. Interestingly, this line-up remained intact through the band’s lengthy history (’79 to ’97).Honing their act, INXS (in excess) set out on a rigorous tour of their native Australia. They began recording the following year and signed a deal with Warner Records in ’83.
It was their second Warner recording “The Swing” that brought them to the forefront. It contained “Original Sin,” (with the video showing Hutchence perched on a motorcycle), that established INXS. Hutchence came dangerously close to being “the new” Jim Morrison.
#10. Disappear
From their seventh studio album, “X” (1990), the song was written by Jon Farris, Michael Hutchence and Gary Beers while they were living together in Hong Kong in 1989.
Disappear
#9. What You Need
Released in 1986, it was the band’s first Top Ten U.S. hit, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 100.
What You Nee
#8. Beautiful Girl
Keyboardist Andrew Farris was inspired to write the song about the birth of his baby daughter: “I was writing lyrics… about how wonderful it is to have something else in your life besides yourself to worry about and think about.”
Beautiful Girl
#7. Devil Inside
Written by Hutchence and Andrew Farris, the song is from the band’s sixth studio album, “Kick.” It reached #2 on the Billboard 100.
Devil Inside
#6. New Sensation
Also from “Kick,” “New Sensation” features a signature Kirk Pengilly sax solo. The 1987 release peaked at #3 on the Billboard 100.
New Sensation
#5. Suicide Blonde
“Suicide Blonde” was the final song Hutchence performed live with INXS. It happened on September 27th, 1997 in Pittsburgh, PA, just months before Hutchence’s death.
Suicide Blonde
#4. Heaven Sent
“Originally I wrote the song as a ballad,” noted Andrew Farris. “The band heard it and Rocked it up to make it the recording it became. The (“megaphone”) vocal effect helped give the track some extra attitude.”
Heaven Sent
#3. Original Sin
“Michael wrote the lyrics and each time I ask him what they mean I get something different,” offered Pengilly.” “The main theme of it really is — it’s almost a hippy song! — it’s about everyone joining together, and it’s also about people’s desires, and waking up the next morning and finding them washed away.”
Original Sin
#2. Never Tear Us Apart
The music was written by Andrew Farris with lyrics by Hutchence for his then-girlfriend, Michele Bennett.
The song’s music video, featuring an extended intro, was filmed in various locations Prague. It won the Australian Recording Industry Association’s 1989 Award for Best Video.
#1. Mystify
The fifth and final single from their sixth studio album, “Kick,” the song was written by Andrew and Tim Farris with Hutchence as part of the first sessions for the album.
A performance-style video showed the song’s composers, Hutchence and Andrew Farris sitting at a piano developing in the studio, With the song fleshed out the video then cuts to the band recording and then performing the track before a live audience.
In late ‘ 97, Hutchence returned to Australia to begin rehearsing for the band’s twentieth anniversary tour. He seemed consumed by Yates’ child-custody battles with her ex-husband, Boomtown Rat and Live Aid driving force, Bob Geldof.
On November 22nd, Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room. Cause of death was ruled suicide by hanging – after consuming a mixture of alcohol and drugs
INXS:
Michael Hutchence – Vocals
Tim Farris – Guitar
Kirk Pengilly – Guitar
Andrew Farris – Keyboards
Gary Beers – Bass
Jon Farris – Drums
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