Unpacking INXS: Love, Loss, and Lasting Impact

Male Band Database2.png100 Most Popular Rock Bands of All Time

#85 INXS (1977~2012) [MB011]

Overview (article summary)
INXS, an Australian rock band originally formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977, consisted of members Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Michael Hutchence, and Kirk Pengilly. Led by the charismatic Hutchence, the band transitioned from new wave/pop to a harder pub rock style infused with funk and dance elements. Their first major hit, "Original Sin," topped charts in Australia in 1984, and they achieved international acclaim in the late 1980s and early 1990s with albums like Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X, featuring hits such as "Need You Tonight" and "Never Tear Us Apart." After Hutchence's death in 1997, INXS toured with various guest singers and later selected J.D. Fortune as their new frontman through the reality show Rock Star: INXS. Although they announced a farewell performance in 2012, they have not officially disbanded. INXS has sold over 75 million albums and won multiple ARIA awards.

Source Text
Wikipedia (2024) 'INXS'.

New Sensation (the second track on the album Kick), released 1987
Live, baby, live
Now that the day is over
I got a new sensation
In perfect moments
That's impossible to refuse

Sleep, baby, sleep
Now that the night is over
And the sun comes
Like a god into our room
All perfect light and promises
... ...

How to Listen to This Song
Go to the extremes, and you'll learn to love. Besides, you're someone who inherently has love, so just live freely without worry. If you're feeling down after being blamed by someone, give this song a listen. If you don’t feel better after one listen, try dancing to it while playing it about ten times. The melody is really uplifting! I'm pretty sure you'll feel better.

Devil Inside (the third track on Kick), released 1987
... ...
Here come the woman with the look in her eye
Raised on leather, with flesh on her mind
Words as weapons, sharper than knives
Makes you wonder how the other half die, other half die
Makes you wonder, wonder, wonder

Here come the man with the look in his eye
He's fed on nothing, but full of pride
Look at them go, look at them kick
Makes you wonder how the other half live
... ...

Quick Review
Everyone has a touch of the devil within them. But that's perfectly fine, isn't it? It's also fun to see the non-devilish parts fade away. However, it's strange how this song, when sung by INXS, sounds like a trickster's playful tale.

Never Tear Us Apart (the eighth track on Kick), released 1987
Don't ask me
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart

I… I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart

We could live for a thousand years
But if I hurt you
... ...

Note
Wikipedia (2024) notes: "The music was written by keyboardist Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues-style demo;[5] vocalist Michael Hutchence wrote the lyrics for his then-girlfriend, Australian film producer Michele Bennett, who was described as Hutchence's "first real love",[6] with whom he was in a relationship from 1982 to 1987[7] and remained close friends until his death – Bennett was the last person that Hutchence called on the morning of his death, on 22 November 1997." ('Never Tear Us Apart: Background and composition' @Wikipedia)

Founding Members
Tim Farriss – lead guitar (1977–2012)
Kirk Pengilly – rhythm and lead guitar, saxophones, backing vocals (1977–2012)
Garry Gary Beers – bass, backing vocals (1977–2012)
Andrew Farriss – keyboards, rhythm guitar, harmonica, percussion, backing vocals (1977–2012)
Jon Farriss – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1977–2012)
Michael Hutchence – lead and backing vocals (1977–1997; his death)

Other Members
Jon Stevens – lead vocals (2000–2003)
J.D. Fortune – lead vocals (2005–2011)
Ciaran Gribbin – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (2011–2012)

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