Michael Hutchence: 25 years since the INXS front man died

It was November 22, 1997, and the band was back in Australia rehearsing and getting ready to tour with songs from their 10th studio album Elegantly Wasted.

It was the band's final album recorded with lead singer Hutchence.

On the 25th anniversary of the day Hutchence died, INXS guitarist Tim Farriss spoke exclusively to ACM.

"It's one of shock, horror and pretty dramatic memories that day," he said.

Hutchence was 37 years old when he died in his Sydney hotel room. His death was ruled a suicide.

Farriss still lives in Sydney's northern beaches, as does INXS guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly. They live just a few minutes away from an old warehouse in Brookvale where they used to rehearse as an up-and-coming band, then called The Farriss Brothers.

While humbled by the outpouring of love and support the band still receives, Farriss is not surprised.

"If you think about how hard we worked and how many places we played and how often, it doesn't really surprise me," he said.

"The big reason for that is we didn't just play the same old kind of thing over and over. We pretty much changed continuously, so that we always offered something a bit different with each release.

"I think people can hear something a bit different with each record, probably from Shabooh Shoobah (celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022) right through to The Very Best.

"The Very Best of record, sort of sums it all up really. It's a good record because it does go through all the eras," Farriss said.

INXS always had dreams of making it big in the music business, and were headlining international festivals just four years after they played at that Brookvale warehouse.

"I don't think many Australians really realise that since 1983 we started touring internationally. South America for instance, we headlined a festival there in 1983 with 33,000 people," Farriss said.

In an interview with ACM's Northern Beaches Review in 2021, Kirk Pengilly said Hutchence always wanted to know that what they were doing as a band mattered.

"He used to say often that all he really wished for was that we would matter, that INXS and our music and what we created would matter," he said.

On the anniversary of Hutchence's death, Farriss said the pain and loss doesn't get any easier.

"We miss him terribly and you often wonder what we'd be doing if he was still here, but he's not so there's not much point in dwelling on that," he said.

"I often do wonder, especially when it comes to making music. I can't help but wonder where we'd be at."

To the fans, Farriss said "we love you back".

The truly dedicated INXS fans will know the band played Don't Change at the end of every gig since they first released the song in 1982.

But, they never played it at their biggest gig ever - London's Wembley Stadium in 1991 when they played to 74,000 screaming fans.

On the 25th anniversary of Hutchence's death, Farriss admitted he's not sure why they didn't play that song on their biggest of nights.

"I don't know why we didn't play it that night, there was a very good reason, but I just can't remember what it is," he said.

"We've often laughed about the fact we religiously played it, last song every night, except that one night. We're like 'what the hell were we thinking'."

"I cannot believe it's been 25 years. Where did that time go? Sorely missed, so glad we have his voice and music. I remember them way back in the early days when they played at Jannali Girls High School, it was awesome," Julie Boynes remebered.

"Doesn't seem like 25 years, gone way too soon. The music will live on forever and so will Michael Hutchence in everyone's heart," Lee Ann Phelan said.

"I've just never gotten over this loss. I remember the moment I heard," Diane Louise reminisced.

"I listen to INXS everyday and I still miss Michael! Such a Great talent gone too soon," Dorothy Myers Bettis said.

"I'll always remember the beautiful music INXS made. I was stationed on Oahu in the Navy from '86 to '89 and INXS was a huge part of my happy memories of Honolulu," Jackie Morin Mastin remembered.

"A staple of my everyday music. I loved Michael and the whole band. Such a huge loss. What a voice, what a presence," David Potts reflected.

"Miss you every day. Always loved and never forgotten Hutch," Chris Higgins said.