Who were INXS?
INXS was an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1977, fronted by charismatic singer Michael Hutchence. The band became internationally famous in the 1980s with hits such as Need You Tonight and Never Tear Us Apart.
The band included three Farriss brothers, Andrew, Tim and Jon, along with Garry Gary Beers and Kirk Pengilly. They started as The Farriss Brothers before taking the name INXS, pronounced in excess.
Their 1987 album Kick was a global success, selling millions of copies, with singles such as Need You Tonight, New Sensation and Devil Inside. Need You Tonight reached number one in the United States.
Tragedy and legacy
Hutchence died in a Sydney hotel room in November 1997, at the age of 37. His death shocked fans around the world.
The band later continued with other singers, including J. D. Fortune, chosen through the reality TV show Rock Star: INXS in 2005, before eventually retiring from touring in 2012.
INXS was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. The band sold tens of millions of records worldwide, and songs such as Never Tear Us Apart remain staples of Australian radio and weddings.
Did You Know?
A 2014 Australian miniseries, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, told the band's story.