INXS: Never Tear Us Apart

INXS: Never Tear Us Apart is a two-part Australian miniseries about the rock band INXS and was originally telecast on 9 February 2014, and concluded on 16 February 2014, produced by Shine Australia and airing on the Seven Network.^[1][2]

Synopsis

INXS: Never Tear Us Apart is based on the band's rise to stardom, and focuses on the events leading up to the death of its then-lead singer, Michael Hutchence, in November 1997.^[3]

In the early 1980s, The Farriss Brothers are playing covers at a club with Michael Hutchence on vocals. They are eventually kicked out of the club and their current manager changes the band name to INXS after seeing a IXL commercial then seeing an X and an S then combined them. The cops start searching their house for drugs and find a half smoked roach. Other band members are Jon Farriss , Andrew Farriss, Garry Gary Beers, Kirk Pengilly, and Tim Farriss. They eventually sign on to a record label thanks to Chris Murphy who becomes their new manager. He eventually gets a U.S. tour for three months. Flashbacks show a younger Hutchence being bullied at school and joins the Farriss Brothers band as lead singer. Hutchence starts to date Michele Bennett. He breaks up with her then starts going out with Kylie Minogue.

Murphy advises them to write an album full of singles where he has Hutchence and Andrew writing the songs. They write Need You Tonight and they call it Kick(album). Murphy sells the album without record label's consent. The album eventually becomes a hit. Hutchence breaks up with Minogue and begins dating supermodel Helena Christensen. While he and Christensen are out one night, he suffers a sucker punch to the face. He falls and hits his head making him lose his senses of smell and taste, which causes him to act out. Realising that they are not popular anymore, Murphy suggest that they either turn to Grunge music, but they say no. The band takes time off and Hutchence starts going out with Paula Yates. The couple are followed around by the press so much that Hutchence punches a camera man.

Yates becomes pregnant and gives birth to their daughter Tiger Lily and they get married. The band and Hutchence get back together to make "Elegantly Wasted" and start touring again. Murphy also resigns from INXS. After practice, Hutchence goes to his hotel room on November where he makes various calls. After taking a shower he looks at pictures of Paula and his daughter. He tries calling her and says he couldn't go any minute longer without seeing his daughter. The next day at practice, INXS turns on the TV only to see the news of Hutchence's suicide. The movie ends with actual clips of the real INXS playing live.

Cast

• Luke Arnold as Michael Hutchence

Toby Wallace as a young Michael.

• Damon Herriman as Chris Murphy^[1]
• Andrew Ryan as Andrew Farriss^[1]
• Hugh Sheridan as Garry Gary Beers
• Alex Williams as Kirk Pengilly^[1]
• Ido Drent as Jon Farriss
• Nick Masters as Tim Farriss
• Samantha Jade as Kylie Minogue^[4]
• Georgina Haig as Paula Yates^[1]
• Mallory Jansen as Helena Christensen
• Ali Ryrie-Golding as Julie

Production

Filming of the telemovie took place throughout the second half of 2013, with post-production taking place in October 2013. The telemovie is the only biopic to have the right to use the band's music.^[3] The telemovie is being aired in two parts on Sunday evenings, and commenced 9 February 2014.^[1]

Reception

The first part of the telemovie achieved a national ratings audience of 2.243 million, winning its timeslot.^[5] The first part aired against a telemovie on Nine Network entitled Schapelle about Schapelle Corby, which attracted only 1.153 million viewers.^[5]

The second part of the telemovie achieved a national ratings audience of 2.081 million, winning its timeslot.^[6]

Impact on ARIA Charts

The week following the airing, INXS' albums and singles had a resurgence on the Australian ARIA Charts.^[7]

Albums

• The Very Best – #1
• Kick – #2
• Live at Wembley Stadium 1991 – #17
• The Swing – #25
• "Shabooh Shoobah" #33
• "Listen Like Thieves" #36

Singles

• "Never Tear Us Apart" – #11
• "Need You Tonight" – #28

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS at the Internet Movie Database