INXS, formed in Sydney, Australia, in 1977, became one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from Australia, combining new wave, funk, rock and pop into a sound that was both stylish and danceable. Led by the charismatic singer Michael Hutchence, with brothers Andrew, Jon and Tim Farriss, plus Kirk Pengilly and Garry Gary Beers, the band built a reputation for strong songs, polished videos and powerful live performances.
Formation in Sydney
The band grew out of school friendships in Sydney. The Farriss brothers, Pengilly and Beers played together, and Hutchence joined as singer, bringing a stage presence that set the group apart. Early on they were known as the Farriss Brothers, before changing their name to INXS, pronounced “in excess”. They toured pubs and clubs across Australia, building a loyal following through constant live work, a pattern that would define their career.
Early Albums and Australian Success
INXS released their self-titled debut album in 1980, followed by Underneath the Colours in 1981 and Shabooh Shoobah in 1982. Shabooh Shoobah included “The One Thing”, which helped bring them attention in the United States. The Swing, released in 1984, included “Original Sin”, a song that became a hit in Australia and showed the band moving towards a funkier, more rhythmic sound. Listen Like Thieves, released in 1985, included “What You Need” and “Listen Like Thieves”, and it confirmed their growing international appeal.
Kick and Worldwide Fame
Kick, released in 1987, was the album that made INXS a worldwide band. Produced with Chris Thomas, it included “Need You Tonight”, “Devil Inside”, “New Sensation”, “Never Tear Us Apart” and “Mystify”. The album combined rock guitars with dance rhythms and Hutchence’s sensual, confident vocals, and its videos were widely played on music television. Kick became one of the defining pop-rock albums of the late 1980s, and its songs remain staples of radio and film soundtracks.
Never Tear Us Apart and the Band’s Ballads
“Never Tear Us Apart” showed a different side of INXS, a slower, more romantic song built around a simple piano figure and Hutchence’s restrained vocal. It became one of the band’s most enduring works, used at weddings and in films, and it demonstrated that the band could move beyond dance-floor energy to something more intimate. That balance between rhythm and romance is one reason Kick has lasted longer than many albums of its era.
X, Welcome to Wherever You Are and Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
X, released in 1990, included “Suicide Blonde” and “Disappear”, and continued the band’s commercial success. Welcome to Wherever You Are, released in 1992, was a more experimental album, with a wider range of sounds and a less obvious hit single, while Full Moon, Dirty Hearts, released in 1993, included a duet with Ray Charles on “Please (You Got That)”. These albums showed the band trying to grow, even as popular music moved towards grunge and alternative rock.
Live Power and the Wembley Moment
INXS were known as a strong live band, and their concert at Wembley Stadium in London in 1991, recorded as Live Baby Live, is often cited as a high point. The performance showed Hutchence commanding a huge stage, with the band playing tightly behind him. For many fans, that concert captured the band at its peak: confident, rhythmic and able to turn studio songs into larger, more physical live versions.
Loss of Michael Hutchence
In November 1997, Michael Hutchence died in Sydney, at the age of 37. His death was a major shock to fans and to the Australian music community, and it effectively ended the band’s classic era. The remaining members later performed with other singers, including a period with J.D. Fortune after a television series, Rock Star: INXS, in 2005, and they released the album Switch in 2005. The band eventually stopped touring as INXS, with a final series of concerts in Australia.
Songwriting and Sound
INXS’s songs were usually written by Andrew Farriss and Hutchence, with Farriss providing music and Hutchence lyrics and vocal melodies. The partnership gave the band a distinctive combination: Farriss’s keyboards and guitar work, Pengilly’s saxophone and guitar, and a rhythm section that kept the music moving. Hutchence’s lyrics were often direct and sensual, fitting the band’s image without becoming obscure.
Why INXS Still Matters
INXS matter because they showed that an Australian band could succeed internationally without losing its identity. Their songs combined American funk and British new wave with an Australian directness, and they did so with a visual style that made them stars of the music video era. Their best work still sounds modern because it was built on rhythm and melody rather than on studio fashion.
Where to Begin Listening
Begin with Kick, from beginning to end, then listen to Listen Like Thieves and X. Follow that with a live recording, such as Live Baby Live, to hear how the songs worked on stage. Heard together, they show a band that moved from Sydney pubs to world stadiums, and whose songs still fill dance floors and radio playlists today.
The Videos and the Visual Band
INXS understood the music video era better than many of their contemporaries. Their clips were stylish without being distant, and they gave Hutchence a screen presence that matched his stage presence. Songs such as “Need You Tonight”, with its inventive editing, and “Never Tear Us Apart”, with its restrained, cinematic feel, worked as short films as well as songs. That visual strength helped the band in the United States, where television exposure could turn a good album into a major event, and it remains part of why younger listeners still encounter the band through video platforms today.
INXS in Australia and Beyond
For Australian listeners, INXS were also a point of pride, a local band that toured relentlessly and then succeeded on a world stage. Their story is often told alongside other Australian acts of the period, but INXS stood out for their combination of pop polish and rock energy. They did not hide their origins, and their success helped open doors for later Australian bands. Even after Hutchence’s death, their songs continued to be played at Australian sporting events, on radio and in films, keeping the band’s name present for listeners who were too young to have seen them live.