The Rise and Fall of INXS: A Musical Biography

In the 80s and 90s, INXS was one of the most popular and successful bands in the world. They had a unique blend of rock, funk, and pop, and their energetic live performances made them one of the most exciting bands to watch. But with the tragic death of their lead singer Michael Hutchence in 1997, the band's future was uncertain. In this blog post, we'll take a look back at the musical biography of INXS, from their beginnings to their most famous albums and songs.

INXS was formed in 1977 in Sydney, Australia, by a group of friends who bonded over their love of music. The original members were Michael Hutchence, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, and Kirk Pengilly. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1980 and showcased their unique blend of pop, funk, and rock. It was a modest success in their native Australia, but it wasn't until their 1982 album, Shabooh Shoobah, that they started to gain international recognition.

Shabooh Shoobah contained some of the band's most popular songs, including The One Thing and Don't Change. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it set the stage for the band's future success. Over the next few years, INXS released a string of hit albums, including Listen Like Thieves in 1985 and Kick in 1987.

Kick was the band's most successful album, with four top ten hits in the US and six top ten hits in their native Australia. The album's lead single, Need You Tonight, became the band's signature song and won them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The album's success cemented INXS's status as one of the biggest bands in the world.

Throughout the 90s, INXS continued to release albums and tour, but their popularity began to wane. Their 1993 album, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts, was a commercial disappointment, and their subsequent albums failed to replicate the success of their earlier work. But it wasn't just the music that was causing problems for the band. In 1997, Michael Hutchence was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney, in what was ruled a suicide.

After Hutchence's death, the future of INXS was uncertain. The band took a hiatus and later tried out new lead singers, including J.D. Fortune, who won the reality TV show Rock Star: INXS. But even with a new frontman, the band was never able to recapture the magic of their glory days.

INXS was a band that had it all – talent, energy, and a unique style that was all their own. They captured the hearts of music fans around the world, with their infectious pop hooks and electrifying live performances. But with the tragic death of Michael Hutchence, the band's future was uncertain, and they were never able to replicate the success of their earlier work. Nevertheless, their music lives on, and their legacy as one of the most exciting bands of the 80s and 90s will never be forgotten.

INXS was a band that had it all – talent, energy, and a unique style that was all their own. They captured the hearts of music fans around the world, with their infectious pop hooks and electrifying live performances. But with the tragic death of Michael Hutchence, the band's future was uncertain, and they were never able to replicate the success of their earlier work. Nevertheless, their music lives on, and their legacy as one of the most exciting bands of the 80s and 90s will never be forgotten.