December 2000

December 29, 2000:

Bono Remembers Michael
Reuters reports that Australian rocker Michael Hutchence, who killed himself in 1997, had discussed suicide with U2 singer Bono who now feels guilty that he let his friend slip through the cracks, Rolling stone magazine said on Wednesday. In today's issue of the magazine, Bono said that they had both agreed how "pathetic" suicide was, "(a)nd we kind of promised each other we wouldn't, we wouldn't cross that line where things get stupid." Hutchence, charismatic frontman for rock band INXS, broke that promise in November, 1997, when he hanged himself in a Sydney hotel room. A coroner determined that Hutchence had been depressed about a custody battle between his lover, Paula Yates, and her former husband, singer Bob Geldof. Bono wrote a song about Hutchence called "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of," which appears on the new U2 album All That You Can't Leave Behind. "That song is an argument. It's a row between mates. You're kind of trying to slap somebody around the face, trying to wake them up out of an idea. In my case it's a row that I didn't have while he was alive." Describing himself in the Rolling Stone interview as a deeply loyal friend, Bono recalled feeling guilt, anger and annoyance when hearing of Hutchence's death. He said the tune was a "really tough, nasty little number," because he felt it would be disrespectful to Hutchence to write a "soppy" song.

December 22, 2000:

Seasons Greetings!
Happy Holidays from Mario and Neil to INXS fans everywhere around the world! 'Tis the season for good deeds and remembering loved ones. It's also a great opportunity for both of us to thank all of you for your kind emails and well-wishes over the past year. It is your steadfast love of INXS' music that gives us the motivation to continue this site -- now finishing its sixth year of operation. Thank you thank you, and again, happy holidays!

December 12, 2000:

Another Hutchence-Linked Tragedy
InMusic&Media reports that fashion photographer Francisco Arriaza has killed himself while visiting Michael Hutchence's brother Rhett. Arriaza, 33, hanged himself with a garden hose in the backyard of Rhett's house in Bangalow northern NSW last Monday. The former Vogue photographer is an Australian resident but had reportedly been based in New York.

December 8, 2000:

INXS Stamp
Undercover reports: In March, Australia Post will issue a stamp paying tribute to the success of Australian rock bands. INXS' stamp will feature original artwork recognising their hit single "Original Sin" from 1984. Also featured in the series are: Silverchair for "Tomorrow" (1994), Cold Chisel for "Khe Sahn" (1978), Men At Work for "Down Under" (1981), Midnight Oil for "Power and The Passion" (1983), John Farnham for "You're The Voice" (1988), Crowded House for "Don't Dream It's Over" (1988), Yothu Yindi for "Treaty" (1991), Kylie Minogue for "Confide In Me" (1994), and Savage Garden for "Truly Madly Deeply" (1997). A CD featuring the artists will also be released at the time of the stamp collection. The stamps will be released on March 20, 2001 and be available for one year.

December 7, 2000:

U2 Dedicate Song to Michael
Billboard Online reports: Following in the recent steps of fellow superstars Madonna and Ricky Martin, U2 played a rare club gig Tuesday December 5 in New York. The group performed an hour-long set of new songs and classics for an audience of 1,000 contest winners, music industry insiders, and celebrities at the city's Irving Plaza. Bono dedicated the song "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" to late INXS singer Michael Hutchence, saying this is "a song about friendship, for our good friend Michael Hutchence." During the song, the Edge enjoyed a chance to deliver a falsetto verse. The song appears on U2's new disc "All That You Can't Leave Behind."

December 1, 2000:

INXS Perform in Queensland
With INXS' New Year's Eve performance looming at the end of the month, the band took the stage on November 26 at the American Express Charity Golf Ball in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland. The private, sold-out event helped raise funds for a local children's hospice. The gig is just one of a string of recent INXS appearances with Jon Stevens as special lead vocalist. The band is also rumored to be performing dates in Europe in June/July 2001.
 
Perth Compilation
InMusic&Media reports that Perth's Seeing Eye Records has put together a tribute album to AC/DC called "Hometown Tribute", consisting of WA acts (home town and final resting place of Bon Scott etc). Bands involved are Black Steel ("TNT"), Rawkus ("It's A Long Way.."), Kajun ("Dirty Deeds"), Scott Arnold-Eyers ("Dog Eat Dog"), FULL ("To The Moon"), Navarone ("Walk All Over You"), Green Room ("Riff Raff"), Leftnut ("Big Balls"), Stoneface ("Whole Lotta Rosie"), Wax Tadpole ("Let There Be Rock"), Mutt ("The Rocker") and Skin Inc ("A Touch Too Much"). Seeing Eye, which is run by Rob Caruso, is also putting out compilation CDs of Bon Scott and INXS, due out early next year.