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75_1
Michael Hutchence's Mother Patricia Glassop

Interview Part 1

Patricia, you've had to deal with the tragic death of your son in the glare of the media spotlight. How do you cope?
"We go through many moods after the loss of a loved one, and I am still going through a myriad of emotions. As I am a private person and Michael was in many ways a 'public property', I know this will not go away for some years to come. If he ad been going through anything in the past year like what I have had to bear over the past six months, all I can say is that I hope he is resting in peace.
    "Because of all those rumours and innuendoes out there, it is harder even to grieve privately and I have a lot of anger. I have now turned to a grief counsellor to help me through.
    "Nothing can bring Michael back and nothing can hurt me more than losing him. I loved him unconditionally."

What has your life been like since your learned of Michael's death?
"Hell, absolute hell. My life has changed forever. When someone is dead, it seems, people can write what they like. But they can't hurt me any more than I have been hurt already. Our whole family, and INXS, and a lot of Michael's really dear friends all feel we are different people, somehow... totally lost. It's hard to explain until it's happened to you. To lose a child is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone."

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Patricia and Paula got on well when they first met in London.
 

Did you see Michael in Sydney before he died and was there anything to indicate his depressed state?
"No, I didn't fly to Sydney because he was due in Brisbane in three days. We did speak the day before he died because he was trying to organise a hotel there for Ross and me. He also spoke about Christmas. He wanted to come to the Gold Coast and stay at his Isle if Capri home here with Rhett, Mandy and Zoe. He was also anxious to catch up with Tina, who was flying in from the States. He was busy with rehearsals, seeing his father and friends. If it had occurred to me that Michael was in such a depressed state I would certainly have moved to do something."

What of all the in-fighting since?
"People get angry, a lot of things are said in anger, a lot of it press-generated. People seem to forget that we have lost Michael. We are such a small family and it's hard to come to terms with the way he left us - a split-second decision that has changed many lives forever.
    "I try not to read the negative and cruel articles. Rhett and Mandy and Tina have been angered and hurt by them. I'm sure that if I went to Kell about something he had allegedly said, he would say, 'But I didn't say that,' and I suppose Paula would say the same. As far as replying to it, I'm not interested in tit-for-tat. I just want to be able to grieve for my son and I want people to have some respect for my privacy.
    "I divorced Kell 20 years ago, I am not prepared to discuss this publicly. After all we are both happily remarried, and I for one respect my husband and our privacy."

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Patricia was thrilled by the joy Michael found in little Tiger (small pict), who looks very like her dad at the same age in 1960.

Is it true hat you sold the TV rights to Michael's funeral?
"Definitely not. Kell and I both made the decision to give the TV rights to Channel Seven, to restrict press coverage to one camera. We never asked for, and did not receive, any compensation. The only thing I asked for was for Tina and myself to be supplied with a video copy of the service. I have been thanked by many of Michael's friends who could not reach Australia in time to pay their respects. I think it was a wonderful tribute to Michael that so many of his friends from around the world were able to join the service. I only hope he knows just how much he was loved."

What is your relationship with Paula?
"I first met Paula in London. Ross and I were on our way to Michael's home in the south of France and Michael invited us to stop over in his apartment in Belgravia. Paula was living in Chelsea with her daughters by Bob at the time. I was, to say the least, curious to meet Paula and I was pleasantly surprised."

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So many memories: family photos of all her children and grand-children crowd a table in Patricia's apartment, which is situated on Australia's Gold Coast.

So why have you fallen out so badly?
"It's a difficult question, because I don't know the answer myself. Over the past 12 months Paula has had many mood swings and I just happened to be in her line of fire.
    "Paula has said some hurtful things, but my focus is on picking up the pieces and getting on with my life. I Have an exceptionally supportive husband, who Michael adored, two loving children and three other gorgeous grandchildren. The pain will always be there and the question: 'Why did it have to happen?' But as far as my feelings for Paula... she cannot hurt me more than I am hurting now. Hopefully, some day, Paula will remember the nice times we had.
    "I certainly do not have the capacity for animosity against anyone. I just cherish the good, loving times with Michael. Having said this, I look at that beautiful child, an extension of Michael, and I know I must come to terms with the fact that I may never have the chance of knowing her."

cont.     

 
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