Michael Hutchence

Michael Hutchence biography

Michael Kelland John Hutchence (22 January 1960 - 22 November 1997) was an Australian musician and actor. He was a founding member and the lead singer and songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released posthumously. He acted in feature films, including Dogs in Space (1986) and Frankenstein Unbound (1990). According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "Hutchence was the archetypal rock showman. He exuded an overtly sexual, macho cool with his flowing locks, and lithe and exuberant stage movements". Hutchence won the 'Best International Artist' at the 1991 BRIT Awards with INXS winning the related group award.

His private life was often reported in the Australian and international press, with a string of love affairs with prominent actresses, models and singers. Hutchence's relationship with UK television presenter Paula Yates began while she was still married to music artist and Live Aid organiser, Bob Geldof. Hutchence and Yates had a daughter in 1996 just after she had divorced Geldof. Hutchence's death in 1997 was determined by the New South Wales Coroner to be the result of suicide - the finding was disputed by Yates, Hutchence's family and his fans. In 2000, Yates died of a heroin overdose and their daughter was placed in Geldof's custody with her half-sisters.

Early life and career

Michael Kelland John Hutchence was born on 22 January 1960, the son of Sydney businessman, Kelland ("Kell") Hutchence and make-up artist, Patricia (née Kennedy). His half-sister, Tina, was 11 years old when Kell and Patricia married in January 1959. Following Kell's business interests, the Hutchence family moved to Brisbane where younger brother Rhett was born, and subsequently relocated to Hong Kong. Hutchence performed in a local toy store commercial, before attending King George V School during his early teens.

The family returned to Sydney in his mid-teens, where he attended Davidson High School and befriended Andrew Farriss. Farriss convinced Hutchence to join his band, Doctor Dolphin, alongside two classmates, Kent Kerny and Neil Sanders. From nearby Forest High School, bass guitarist Garry Beers and Geoff Kennelly on drums filled out the line-up. Hutchence's parents separated when he was 15 and, in 1976 for a short time, he lived with Patricia and Tina in California.

Hutchence returned to Sydney with his mother. In 1977, a new band, The Farriss Brothers, was formed with Tim Farriss on lead guitar, his younger brother Andrew as keyboardist, and youngest brother Jon on drums. Andrew brought on-board Hutchence as lead vocalist and Beers on bass guitar, and Tim brought his former band mate Kirk Pengilly on guitar and saxophone. The band made their debut on 16 August 1977 at Whale Beach, 40 km (25 mi) north of Sydney.

In 1978, the parents of the Farriss boys moved to Perth, Western Australia, taking Jon, who was still at high school. After Hutchence and Andrew finished their secondary schooling, the rest of the group followed. They briefly performed as The Vegetables, singing "We Are the Vegetables". Ten months later, they returned to Sydney, where they recorded a set of demos. The Farriss Brothers regularly supported hard rockers Midnight Oil on the pub rock circuit, and were renamed as INXS in 1979. Their first performance under the new name was on 1 September at the Oceanview Hotel in Toukley. In May 1980, the group released their first single, "Simple Simon" / "We Are the Vegetables" which was followed by the debut album, INXS, in October. Their first Top 40 Australian hit on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart, "Just Keep Walking", was released in September. During the 1980s, Hutchence resided at the apartment block at the end of Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst, Sydney.

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