Michael Hutchence
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| Michael Hutchence | |
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 Michael Hutchence of INXS - San Francisco, 1986
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Kelland John Hutchence |
| Born | January 22, 1960 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Died | November 22, 1997 (aged 37) Sydney, Australia |
| Genre(s) | Rock, New Wave |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1977 - 1997 |
| Label(s) | Atco Records/Atlantic Records Epic Records Mercury Records V2 Records |
| Associated acts | INXS
Max Q |
| Website | www.michaelhutchence.net |
Michael Kelland John Hutchence (January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997) was an Australian singer-songwriter, most famous for his work with rock band INXS.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
Hutchence was born in Sydney, son of Kelland ("Kell") and Patricia Hutchence, but was subsequently raised in Hong Kong. He began performing at the age of eight in a local toy store commercial. He attended King George V School and was in the house Crozier.
The Hutchence family eventually returned to Sydney in Michael's late teens, and it was there that Hutchence befriended Andrew Farriss at Davidson High School on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Shortly, Michael and Andrew joined with Andrew's brothers Tim and Jon, as well as friends Garry Gary Beers and Kirk Pengilly to form their first band, The Farriss Brothers which would ultimately become INXS.
When, in 1979, the Farriss family moved to Perth, Western Australia, the rest of the band followed, returning to Sydney soon after. In 1980, the group released their first album, INXS, and put out their first single, "Simple Simon," which was soon followed by their first moderate Australian hit, "Just Keep Walking."
Hutchence became the main spokesperson for the band, and gained a reputation as a confident, sexy frontman, although his close friends and family always maintained he was much more introverted than his on-stage persona. A talented lyricist, he co-wrote almost all of INXS's songs with Andrew Farriss, who has attributed his own success as a songwriter to Hutchence's 'genius.'
[edit] Stardom, acting career and romances
In 1987, following several increasingly successful INXS albums, Hutchence appeared in the Australian movie Dogs in Space, directed by long-time INXS music video collaborator, Richard Lowenstein. In the film, some events are from Lowenstein's life when sharing a home with friend Sam Sejavka, played by Hutchence. In 1989, he released the album Max Q, a collaboration with Australian post-punk pioneer Ollie Olsen. In 1990, he played Percy Shelley in Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound.
Hutchence's private life was often reported in the Australian and international press, with a string of love affairs with prominent actresses, models and singers, including Kym Wilson and Helena Christensen. In 1989, Hutchence began a highly publicised relationship with Kylie Minogue, helping to transform her image from girl-next-door (a hang-over of her soap opera Neighbours fame), into a sexy, edgy dance-oriented pop diva.
Other brief romances included Berlin lead singer Terri Nunn[citation needed], supermodel Elle MacPherson and Go-Go's lead singer Belinda Carlisle.
In 1990, INXS released X, which spawned more international hits such as "Suicide Blonde", "Disappear" and "Bitter Tears". A live album, Live Baby Live, followed in 1991. Welcome To Wherever You Are, was released in 1992, with little chart notoriety.
That same year, Hutchence was involved in an altercation with a taxi driver in Denmark. He suffered a blow to the head and consequently, lost his sense of smell and partial sense of taste. This made him depressed and more aggressive. According to INXS band mate, Garry Gary Beers, Michael pulled a knife on him and threatened to kill him. This incident occurred during the recording of INXS' 1993 album, Full Moon Dirty Hearts.
[edit] Later career
INXS spent the mid-1990s trying to develop a successful new album after a series of critically acclaimed but less commercial releases.
During this time, Hutchence's relationship with Kylie Minogue ended, then he dated Danish supermodel Helena Christensen before starting a relationship with Paula Yates, whom he had met some years earlier during an interview and who was still married to Bob Geldof. Paula and Michael's affair was soon discovered by the English press. The pressure from the media was so intense that Hutchence once assaulted a photographer hounding him. Around this time, Yates' separation from her husband became official, sparking an at-times bitter custody battle over their three daughters, Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom and Little Pixie. In 1996 Yates gave birth to Hutchence's only child, daughter Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence, whom Paula claimed in a TV interview shortly after Michael's death was delivered in their bathroom. Like her sisters, the child was christened with an unusual name. It was Pixie who chose the name Heavenly, Michael chose Hiraani, and Paula chose Tiger Lily. They had chosen to call her Tiger since her birth. Michael once described his daughter as "just what we ordered."
After a period of inactivity punctuated with comparatively lukewarm-received releases, INXS felt the pressure to make a relevant and successful new album. Recording commenced in late 1996 with Bruce Fairbairn and bandmate Andrew Farriss producing what would become INXS' 10th official release.
[edit] Death
The new INXS album, Elegantly Wasted, was released in April 1997. Hutchence and INXS went on a world tour. The final leg of the tour was to be in Australia in November and December. However, on the morning of November 22, 1997, Hutchence, aged 37, was found dead in his room at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Double Bay, Sydney (now the Stamford Plaza). A belt found at the scene suggested that he had died by hanging.
The Coroner of New South Wales determined that Hutchence's death was the result of suicide but analysis of the witness statements in the Coroner's report, the lack of a suicide note and other anecdotal evidence, such as the fact that Hutchence was found nude has led some - including some of Hutchence's closest relatives, including his brother - to suggest that the cause of death may have resulted from autoerotic asphyxiation (strangling himself during a sex act). [1]
Kym Wilson and her then boyfriend Andrew Reyment were the last people to see Michael alive. Kym later became known as the "Suicide Blonde," after one of INXS' hits, which was originally written for Kylie Minogue.
Michael Hutchence's coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral by members of the band and his younger brother Rhett. "Never Tear Us Apart" was played in the background. The song is now known to many original fans as his anthem.[citation needed]
[edit] Later developments
Paula Yates died on September 17, 2000 of what was ruled an accidental heroin overdose. She had been battling Hutchence's family for custody of Tiger Lily, but ultimately it was decided that the child would live with Bob Geldof and be raised with her sisters.
The Melbourne newspaper The Age reported on 20 August 2005 about the disposition of Hutchence's estate and assets, estimated at $20 million [1]. The remainder of Hutchence's estate was sold off and swallowed in legal fees. Millions of dollars in property and other assets, including on-going royalties from INXS, were held in "The Vocals Trust", a complex arrangement of international companies and trusts, of which Hutchence was not a beneficiary. Mr. Fisher, the man who set up this arrangement, has stated that Michael Hutchence used this structure to keep his wealth from his "thieving relatives", girlfriends and any wives.
Hutchence's long-in-the-works solo album, Michael Hutchence, was finally released in 1999. He had begun working on the album in 1995 and had last worked on it 3 days prior to his untimely death. The last song he recorded was "Possibilities". It was co written and co produced by Hutchence and a gaggle of collaborators - Andy Gill from Gang of Four, Tim Simenon of Bomb The Bass, and Danny Saber from Black Grape. It featured a duet with U2's Bono called "Slide Away"; Bono actually recorded his vocals after Hutchence's death. The movie, Limp, was also released in 1999 and featured a cameo by Hutchence, playing a record company A & R man. (Hutchence had filmed the scene in 1996 on a day off from working on INXS' Elegantly Wasted.)
From July to September 2005, a television show featured the members of INXS looking for a new singer to succeed Michael. The show, which aired on CBS, was called Rock Star: INXS. The winner was Canadian singer J.D. Fortune.
Early in 2006 it was announced that a biopic focusing on the life and times of Michael Hutchence was going forward, initially in development with Morgan Freeman's production firm Revelations, the new word is that The Australian's have taken over. An Oz production Shingle as well as an Aussie sales agency have teamed up with producers Clark Westerman and Rodney Wilson to augment development and turn Slide Away into something of a Sensation in 2009. A cannes 2008 announcement of full details is anticipated. The project is backed by Michael's trust and his brother, Rhett.INXS film is the new sensation
On November 22nd, 2007, the 10th anniversary of Michael's death, the remaining original members of INXS created a tribute page on their website, leaving testimonials to their friend and bandmate. Countless other tributes have been made throughout the world, citing Hutchence as one of Australia's finest and one of the world's last true rock stars.
Ten years after Michael's death, Rhett Hutchence revealed to Woman's Day that he is going to the Supreme Court to try and overturn the verdict of suicide, as he does not want Tiger growing up thinking her father intentionally left her.
The ongoing fight between Bob Geldof and the Hutchence family over Michael's only child continues as Geldof has decided to legally adopt Tiger, leaving Hutchence's mother and sister distraught, believing Geldof intentionally wants to erase Michael entirely by changing Tiger's surname to Geldof.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] With INXS
- INXS (1980)
- Underneath the Colours (1981)
- INXSive - compilation album (1982)
- Shabooh Shoobah (1982)
- Dekadance (1983)
- The Swing (1984)
- Listen Like Thieves (1985)
- Kick (1987)
- X (1990)
- Live Baby Live — recorded live at Wembley Stadium (1991)
- Welcome to Wherever You Are (1992)
- Full Moon, Dirty Hearts (1993)
- Elegantly Wasted (1997)
[edit] Other albums
- Max Q, self-titled album with Hutchence's short-lived band Max Q (1989)
- Michael Hutchence (1999)
[edit] Collaborations / Soundtracks
- "Speed Kills" with Cold Chisel and "Forest Theme" on Freedom Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1982)
- "Reckless" Soundtrack (1984): To Look at You, Soul Mistake and The One Thing.
- "Sex Symbol" and "Jungle Boy" on Flame Fortune album (1985)
- "Dogs In Space", "Golf Course", "The Green Dragon", and "Rooms For The Memory" on the Dogs In Space Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)
- "Laying Down the Law" (with Jimmy Barnes) and "Good Times" on The Lost Boys Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)
- "Under My Thumb" on Symphonic Music of the Rolling Stones (1994)
- "Baby Let's Play House" on It's Now or Never: The Tribute The Elvis (1994)
- "The Passenger" on Batman Forever Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1995)
- "Spill the Wine" on Barb Wire Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1996)
- "Red Hill" on One Voice: The Songs of Chage & Aska (1996)
- "The King Is Gone" on The Heads - No Talking Just Head (1996)
[edit] Tributes
- Nick Cave sang his ballad "Into My Arms" at the funeral of Michael Hutchence. The funeral was broadcast live on Australian TV, but out of respect for Hutchence, Cave refused to allow his song to be televised.
- U2 and Bono have made several tributes to Hutchence ever since his death:
- The 2000 U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind includes a song titled "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of", which Hutchence's friend Bono wrote about his apparent suicide. The song is written in the form of an argument about suicide in which Bono tries to convince Hutch of the act's foolishness. Bono characterized the song as a good old row between friends, which he felt guilty for never having with Hutchence while he was alive.
- Bono also dedicated an emotional performance of "One" to Hutchence on the live video PopMart: Live from Mexico City. During the intro to the song, Bono refers to Hutchence as "a great mate, a great singer." This track can also be heard on the album Hasta la Vista Baby!.
- On both the PopMart and Elevation Tours, Bono frequently dedicated the song "Gone" to Hutchence by yelling "Hutch!" at the beginning of the song.
- On U2's Vertigo Tour on November 13, 2006 in Sydney, Bono said "Blow a kiss to Heaven to Michael Hutchence" before playing "With or Without You."
- On November 24, 2007, U2 played a secret gig at the Little Noise Sessions in Islington, London. During their performance of "Desire", Bono changed the lyrics of a verse to include the lyrics from INXS's "Need You Tonight" on the tenth anniversary of Hutchence's death. He sang the lyrics "I've got to let you know / You're one of my kind."
- Singer Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, a friend of both Hutchence and Yates (and Geldof's best man at his wedding to Yates), also wrote an eerily prophetic song for him. It was recorded in 1996 and released on the album Medazzaland only a month before Hutchence's death. "Michael, You've Got a Lot to Answer For" included these lyrics:
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- "Trust you to get caught up in somebody's war; you'll come out of it all intact, I'm sure.
- Just remember what friends were put here for;
- Michael, you've got a lot to answer for, and I know that you're gonna call... if you need me."
- Duran Duran was touring to support the album when Hutchence died, and Le Bon found the song too difficult to perform anymore so it was cut from the set for the remainder of the tour. However during subsequent Duran Duran tours, it was included as a tribute.
- INXS has dedicated many performances to their fallen friend:
- On INXS' last tour, they dedicated "Never Tear Us Apart" to Michael and had a screen which showed pictures of him throughout his life.
- A song on INXS' album Switch called "God's Top Ten" pays tribute to Michael and his daughter, Tiger Lily. Another song, "Afterglow," pays tribute to Hutchence alone.
- The song "Private Man" on the Powderfinger album Internationalist is a tribute to Hutchence.
- At a 2007 show in Adelaide supporting INXS, Simple Minds dedicated "Gloria" to Michael, saying "it's about a woman, but it'd have to be with Michael." At a New Zealand show 2 months later, he also dedicated "Gloria" to the memory of Michael Hutchence.
- On many aftershows in London Indigo during his Earth Tour (21 nights in London), Prince played the song "What You Need" with Maceo Parker on saxophone to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Michael's loss.
[edit] References
- ^ Paula challenges Hutchence verdict. BBC News (August 10, 1999). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- INXS film is the new sensation (June 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
[edit] External links
- Official Michael Hutchence Memorial Website — a tribute from his family, created by Kelland Hutchence, Michael's late father
- Michael Hutchence Fan Site — a site created by fans
- Michael Hutchence Official Site — maintained by his half sister, Tina
- 2007 Tribute "Calling All Nations" — World-wide tribute to the 10th year of Michael's passing
- Michael Hutchence at the Internet Movie Database
- INXS.PL — Polish INXS website
- Michael Hutchence & INXS International Fans Forum
- New South Wales coroner's report on Hutchence's death
- Michael Hutchence at h2g2
- Michael Hutchence at Find A Grave
- Article about the missing millions
- Bob is Satan
- Geldof to adopt Tiger Lily
- INXS official site
- INXS Worldwide! Forum (Live Fan Site)
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