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August 1997
August
29, 1997
According
to newspaper reports today, Michael "severely sprained his ankle" on the
27th which led the band to cancel its Milwaukee engagement. The show will
be rescheduled within the next few days. No word on whether the band will
perform in today's SpiritFest in Kansas City.
Here are
the current sales figures for Elegantly Wasted: 138,889 copies
sold to date in the US. Sales this week were 1,669 - up 0.5% from the
previous week. As for FMDH, 147,573 units have been sold to date...
August
27, 1997
Michael
apparently sprained (or otherwise hurt) his ankle today, so the band postponed
its show this evening in Milwaukee. No word yet on how serious the injury
was, or whether any other shows will be cancelled.
An interview
with Andrew Farriss appears in this month's KEYBOARD with INXS on the
cover. If anyone would like to transcribe it, drop me a line!
August
23, 1997
INXS launched
the second leg of its US tour last night with a rocking sold-out concert
in Chicago. The band next plays Detroit and Cleveland.
Two articles
have recently appeared on the band. The August AXCESS has a three page
article and interview on the band, while a small article appears on Jon
Farriss in the Aug/Sept issue of DRUM. Here's a transcription of the piece
written by David Weiss and transcribed by Karen R. Dillard:
JON FARRISS:
Back to the Basics with INXS
Recording
tracks for the tenth INXS album, Jon Farriss found himself in a slightly
strange place--on a drum stool. "I played more drums on Elegantly Wasted
than I have on any record for about 12 years!" Farriss says, laughing.
That doesn't
mean there aren't sequencers and programs aplenty on Wasted. After all,
Farriss was one of the first drummers to exploit drum machine technology
without deserting his acoustic chops. "I embraced drum machines instead
of fearing them," he says. "Sequencers, sampling, looping are something
that I fortunately married with drums way back when."
With another
world tour pending, Farriss is mindful of the types of problems that can
crop up with an acoustic/electric setup like his. "The nightmare of playing
on stage with sequencers is that you have to be quite good if something
goes wrong--which it does," Farriss assures us. "It's called MIDI hell.
Everything breaks down, and the result is a bit like Apollo 13: 'Houston,
we have a problem!'"
August 16, 1997
Happy 40th
Birthday to Tim Farriss and Happy 20th Anniversary to INXS!
We're all looking forward to the next 20 guys! :)
August
13, 1997
INXS has
signed on to record two songs for an ambitious upcoming tribute to Creedence
Clearwater Revival. The disc, which is tentatively scheduled for release
on May 1, 1998, will feature the likes of Jewel, Red Hot Chili Peppers,
John Hiatt, Los Lobos, John Fogerty, Travis Tritt, P-Funk, Tracy Chapman,
and many others. INXS will perform "Hey Tonight" solo and "Long As I Can
See The Light" as a duet with Ray Charles.
August
12, 1997
An update
arrived today from Paul Craig, INXS' manager. Here are some excerpts (with
my own comments inserted in italics):
In AMERICA,
the band performed 'Don't Lose Your Head' on the Jay Leno show and then
commenced a sold out West Coast tour at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
"An energized INXS wows enthused Canyons crowd. INXS passed every test
thrown at it." DESERT NEWS, Salt Lake City.
Why is
there only one review from the current US tour included? I for
one have been struck by the lack of media coverage of the current tour,
and can only blame management for slacking. Articles and photographs from
each show should have been appearing in newspapers and magazines daily...
In CZECH,
the band played to 5,000 people with Sheryl Crow as special guest.
In DENMARK
the Band headlined the Midtfyn festival in front of 35,000 people and
the reviewers wrote:
"INXS delivered the merchandise as they handed over an elegant rock show
thanks to the hyper-active Michael Hutchence who flaunted his Danish skills."
DET FRI AKTUELT NEWSPAPER
"Perfect 'Showmanship'" INFORMATION NEWSPAPER
"The Australian INXS became the absolute monarch from 'down under'. By
this their last European concert, they rocked and captivated a large audience
Saturday night" SKIVE FOLKEBLAD NEWSPAPER
"INXS took the festival to a higher ground. The concert with the energetic
boys was a great experience and the end of the concert was impressive
leaving 30-35,000 people jumping and dancing" MIDTJYLLANDS AVIS NEWSPAPER
"INXS conquered the audience at Midtfyn by an intense concert Saturday
night. The Australian mega stars master the art of transferring their
music beyond the stage. The concert proved that INXS is untouchable on
a large stage. They have the music and the star-like attitude. What else
is needed?" MORGENPOSTEN FYNS STIFTSTIDENDE NEWSPAPER
Reviews have
recently arrived from FRANCE relating to the album:
"This new album is a real success" REFLETS DNA (Regional Newspaper)
"INXS produce the best album they have ever done. A terrific album of pop"
FANZINE PLUS
"INXS come back with 'Elegantly Wasted'. The band decide to stay in the
same way, INXS is still INXS and its better like this" PARIS CAPITALE
"INXS is back. 'Elegantly Wasted' proves INXS is a real rock band" BLAH
BLAH (Music Magazine)
"Elegantly Wasted is a wonderful album with a lot of emotions, sadness,
happiness, desire so a very good album" LIBERATION CHAMPAGNE (Regional Newspaper)
"Elegantly Wasted the new album of the Australian band INXS is a wonderful
album. INXS plays the authenticity and that works." VOGUE (Womens Magazine)
"Album of week. "Elegantly Wasted" the new album of INXS should put the
band on the big wave success." LE PROGRES (Regional Newspaper)
"INXS prove that the Rock is still alive. Instead of doing fashion music
like U2, INXS keep their pop-rock image and that works very well" SUD OUEST
DIMANCHE (Regional Newspaper)
"Elegantly Wasted, the new album from INXS, mixes past, present and future"
AUJOURD'HUI LE PARISEN (Regional Newspaper)
"With changing their label and having new Management the band have a new
breath and it seems better. 'Elegantly Wasted' is one of the best albums
INXS have done" CINE TELE REVUE (TV Schedule Magazine)
The following
reviews have been received from AUSTRIA
"It is a great record as INXS hold on to their own sound and style" KRONEN
ZEITUNG (Newspaper)
"Elegantly Wasted gets four stars out of a maximum of five" NEWS (Magazine)
More reviews
have come through from the UK Tour:
"Michael Hutchence remains a master at heating things up live" SHEFFIELD
STAR (regional newspaper)
"Last night we were reminded of the bands world-wide appeal which has
bagged them countless awards" NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE (regional newspaper)
"And there you have it! A damn good rock gig - a case of 'get the beers
in - let's dance!'" PAINT IT RED (regional newspaper)
"INXS wows the crowd with grand finale. The band provided an entertaining,
worthy ending to a day packed with some great live music" WESTERN MAIL
(regional newspaper)
Mr. Craig
-- though it's wonderful to see such glowing reviews, it can not hide
the fact that the album and the current tour are not selling as well as
hoped, and that radio and MTV are pretty much ignoring the singles. As
a loooong-time fan of the band, I can't sit by and watch Mercury just
let the album disappear. Mr. Craig -- it is your duty to start applying
some long-needed pressure to the media and record label to get behind
the album. It would be a sorry waste for this wonderful album to just
be forgotten. One more note -- please release some of the more experimental
and daring songs off the album! Playing it safe only gets one so far.
August
10, 1997
Happy 36th
Birthday to Jon Farriss!
August
1, 1997
INXS will
resume their Elegantly Wasted World Tour in Chicago on August 22.
The current US tour has garnered the band some of its most glowing live
reviews ever. Click
here to read one fan's impression of the LA Greek Theatre gig.
Everything
has moved up to #7 on the MTV Latino charts!
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