Today’s song marks the closing act in a rock and roll tragedy. It will be a brief story of Michael Hutchence and INXS. First, I will focus on the feature song of the day which will be ‘Never Tear Us Apart’. The music for the song was written by keyboard player Andrew Farriss and the passionate lyrics were provided by Hutchence. The initial premise of the song was to be a blues piano offering in the style of Fats Domino, but INXS producer Chris Thomas had the band modify it to a synthesizer arrangement that came through as a halting Viennese waltz. The song is noteworthy for its dramatic pauses before each instrumental break. This combined with Hutchence and his honest delivery made for a memorable song that remains one of the most popular compositions in the INXS library. Kick was released in 1988 and became INXS’s most successful studio album. It went six times platinum and presented fans with four #1 singles, including ‘Never Tear Us Apart’. This success was hard earned for INXS. They were an extremely popular band in their native Australia but despite glimpses of worldwide success leading up to Kick they couldn’t quite kick the door down. The 1988 release definitely pushed them over the top.
I had the pleasure of seeing INXS live in 1983 when they opened for The Kinks at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Their forty five minute set was extremely energetic and I remember being very impressed with Michael Hutchence’s energy and stage presence. There was something in his stage manner that reminded me of Mick Jagger. Yes, he was that good. This concert holds a special place in my heart and music memory bank as one my favourites of all time. To see The Kinks live was truly memorable and over thirty five years later I still consider it the most fun I have ever had at a concert. The Kinks were an incredible live act. I saw them twice and loved every honest, hard driving second of straight forward rock and roll. INXS’s place on that first ticket is definitely still noted because they were very good, and I was not at all surprised a few years later when they reached international stardom. They would go on to sell fifty-five million albums.
Michael Hutchence was born on this day in 1960. This was the beginning of a rock and roll destiny, but he paid his dues in exchange for success. Sadly, this trip was marked with a series of issues that led to the ultimate tragedy. Michael Hutchence exuded the rock and roll image and that came complete with a life of rock and roll excess and attitude. It was this approach that would lead to his demise. Known for his cantankerous manner when under the influence, Hutchence was labeled a ‘bad boy’ in the tabloids. On several occasions he found himself in barroom skirmishes. In August of 1992 he and his girlfriend, Helena Christensen were walking in Copenhagen after a night of heavy drinking at a pub. Allegedly, he refused to move for a taxi. The driver became annoyed with Hutchence’s belligerence and shoved the singer, who fell backwards and hit his head. This altercation resulted in a fractured skull. Unfortunately he waited several days before seeking medical attention and the injury cost him his sense of smell and a large portion of his sense of taste. Further, it led to bouts of serious depression and increased levels of aggression, which due to his frustration, and combined with his penchant for being difficult was a recipe for disaster. In 1997 INXS decided to go on a 20th anniversary tour. Hutchence and his girlfriend at the time, Paula Yates were embroiled in a serious custody battle with Yates’ previous relationship Bob Geldhof, over the couple’s daughters. This battle made headlines on several occasions as Hutchence was charged with assaulting a photographer who was alleged to have been following the couple and the children. To add to the mix Yates and Hutchence had a child of their own. I mention this because it had a severe impact on Michael Hutchence’s head space when things took a nasty turn.
When INXS announced the 20th anniversary tour of Australia in November and December of 1997, the plan was for Yates and Hutchence to take the kids along and see Hutchence’s homeland as a ‘family’. The problem was, Bob Geldhof had taken legal action against Paula Yates in order to prevent her from taking his daughters out of the country. On November 22nd Hutchence received word from Yates that the custody hearing for her daughters had been delayed and would not be held until mid-December. This made prospects of a family reunion impossible. According to reports, people who had been with Michael Hutchence suggested that he was despondent as a result of not being able to be with Yates and the girls. The police report indicates a very loud phone conversation taking place at about 5 am between Hutchence and Bob Geldhof. By all indications, according to a guest in the neighbouring hotel room, Hutchence was abusive and threatening and likely intoxicated. His last interaction was to a former girlfriend, Michele Bennett at about 9:54 am. Hutchence requested that she come to visit and he was reported to be extremely upset. Bennett arrived in less than an hour but she could not gain access to the room. Less than two hours later, Hutchence’s body was found by a hotel maid at approximately 11:50 am. He had hung himself. The death report indicated death by hanging, and toxicology reports indicated traces of alcohol, cocaine, Prozac and prescription drugs.
Hutchence’s funeral was held on November 27th, 1997. His INXS band mates carried his casket along with his brother, Rhett. While they carried him to his resting place ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ was played in St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney.
INXS would continue to varying degrees of success. Most notably they took part in a TV reality show called Rock Star INXS where the show’s winner would become the band’s singer and record and tour with the Australian icons. By 2012 INXS announced that they were finished as their world tour concluded. When it was all said and done INXS is reported to be the third most successful Australian act behind only the Bee Gees and AC/DC.
For today’s cover version I am going with the captivating and legendary version by Tom Jones and Natalie Imbruglia. The pair recorded this version in 1999. It included a video but I couldn’t find it. I thought this rendition was best to share because Imbruglia is Australian. Here is the audio. A very good duet. Enjoy!
Ted Tocks Covers 
Reblogged this on Ted Tocks Covers and commented:
Originally posted on January 22, 2019
LikeLike