Rhino Refurbishes INXS' Back Catalog

While veteran Australian rock act INXS gears up for its first North American tour since the 1997 death of original lead singer Michael Hutchence, Rhino Records is excavating portions of the group's catalog for June 4 release, set to coincide with the tour.

Arriving that day is "The Best of INXS," a 21-track, single-disc collection featuring two new songs with vocals by Hutchence, alongside remastered, expanded versions of the group's platinum Atlantic albums "Kick," "X," and "Welcome to Wherever You Are."

"The Best of INXS" features the group's seven top-10 hits -- "Need You Tonight," "Devil Inside," "New Sensation," "What You Need," "Never Tear Us Apart," "Disappear," and "Suicide Blonde" -- alongside other singles and choice cuts. Also featured are two previously unreleased songs, the 1990 "X" outtake "Salvation Jane" and the 1992 track "Tight," an outtake from the "Welcome to Wherever You Are" sessions. The set comes packaged with liner notes written by the band.

The group's 1987 breakthrough, "Kick," which hit No. 3 on The Billboard 200, will be reissued with two previously unreleased bonus tracks, "Jesus Was a Man" and "The Trap," as well as the b-side "Move On" and a demo of "Mystify." Its 1990 follow-up, "X," will feature the previously unreleased songs "Waiting To Be Free," "Who Pays the Price," and "Dark of Night," as well a demo of "Salvation Jane."

The new edition of 1992's "Welcome to Wherever You Are" will include the previously unreleased tracks "The Answer" and "Indian Song," as well as alternate versions of album tracks "Wishing Well," "All Around," and "Heaven Sent." All reissues will come packaged with new liner notes and photos of the group.

Hutchence's replacement, Jon Stevens, who has been with the group since early 2000, will serve as lead vocalist on the upcoming tour. Shows in Wantagh, N.Y., (June 27), Holmdel, N.J., (June 28), and Detroit (July 3) will be co-headlining bills with Simple Minds.

Here are INXS' North American tour dates:

May 30: Anaheim, Calif. (the Grove)
May 31: San Diego (Humphrey's)
June 1: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
June 2: Agoura Hills, Calif. (Canyon Theatre)
June 4: Los Angeles (El Rey Theatre)
June 6: Reno, Nev. (Hilton)
June 7: Saratoga, Calif. (Mountain View Winery)
June 8: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Field Amphitheatre)
June 9: Medford, Ore. (Britt Festivals)
June 11: Salt Lake City (Utah State Fair Park)
June 13: Phoenix (Celebrity Theatre)
June 14: Albuquerque, N.M. (Santa Ana Star Casino)
June 15: Denver (City Lights Pavilion)
June 16: Omaha, Neb. (Anchor Inn)
June 18: Chicago (Metro)
June 22: Robinsonville, Miss. (Horseshoe Casino)
June 26: New York (Irving Plaza)
June 27: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach)
June 28: Holmdel, N.J. (P.N.C. Bank Arts Center)
June 29: Hampton Beach, N.H. (Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom)
July 1: Milwaukee (Summerfest/Harley Stage)
July 3: Detroit (Freedom Hill Amphitheater)
July 5: Ledyard, Conn. (Fox Theatre/Foxwoods Resort & Casino)

(by Troy Carpenter, N.Y.)

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