September 2001

30.09.2001

INXS Enters Hall Of Fame
As previously hinted here, INXS will indeed be this year's ARIA Hall of Fame inductee. The band will receive their award at the annual ARIA award show on October 3. According to the Sunday Telegraph, band members said accepting the honor would be tinged with sadness because of the absence of their front man, Michael Hutchence. "I would have loved this to have happened while Michael was still alive, and I will be dedicating the award to him and my mother Jill, who also had so much to do with the band," said guitarist Tim Farriss. "It is sad this didn't happen during Michael's lifetime; it would have meant a lot to him." INXS, which formed on August 16, 1977, the day that Elvis Presley died, will celebrate 25 years in the business next year. They have been one of Australia's most successful musical exports, exploding in 1987 in the US with the multi-platinum-selling album Kick. Andrew Farriss, who was Hutchence's songwriting partner, said the induction comes at a time when the band is finding a new audience through continued live performances, assisted by front man Jon Stevens. "I find it amazing that a generation of people in their late teens and early 20s in the last couple of years have started to seek us out," he said. "This kind of award is probably more about commercial success than validation of the art of music but there isn't anything wrong with commercial success." (thanks to gail warren)
 

12.09.2001

Reaction
CDnow reports the following statement: From INXS with love. Jon, Tim, Garry, Andrew and Kirk would like to express their sadness and send out their love to those in the United States after the tragedy in New York and Washington. We still search for peace!
 
"I know you've seen something
That hurt you in your dreams
Your face it tells the story
The pages stained with tears
Take the curtains down
The sun is what you found
It leads you far from here
And takes you to high ground."
 
(from INXS "Kill The Pain")
 

07.09.2001

MusicMax INXS Special
In Music & Media reports: INXS will launch the "Good Times" series, pay TV channel MusicMax new 13-week look at Aussie music icons. The first of the series launches October 9 at 8.30pm. Others profiled include Kylie Minogue (October 16), Midnight Oil (October 23), Paul Kelly (October 30), Split Enz/Crowded House (November 6), Richard Clapton (November 13), Savage Garden (November 20), Hunters and Collectors (November 27), Hoodoo Gurus (December 4), Cold Chisel/Jimmy Barnes (December 11), Tina Arena (December 18), John Farnham (December 25), and AC/DC (January 1, 2002).
 

07.09.2001

INXS To Play AFL Grand Final
INXS will perform at the AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on September 29. The AFL Grand Final is the Australian Rules Football final, somewhat equivalent to the US Superbowl. Also performing at this event will be Men At Work and Vanessa Amorosi.
 
Amorosi will also join INXS and Jon Stevens at a press conference on Saturday afternoon to preview their roles in the Goodwill Games spectacular Closing Event scheduled for this upcoming Sunday, September 9. According to the press release, "The Closing Event will be on a scale never before seen in Brisbane, incorporating a sensational concert, fireworks, lighting, laser, audio visual and aerobatics display at South Bank on Sunday evening."
 

04.09.2001

ARIA News
Tall Paul vs INXS "Precious Heart" continues to scale charts around the world. This week it debuts at #28 on the Australian ARIA singles chart. More impressively, it debuts at #4 on both the dance and club charts. Congratulations!
 
In other ARIA news, The 15th Annual ARIA Music Awards will take place on October 3 in Sydney. The Pre-ARIAs will be on Tuesday 11th September. This will be a private industry and media event where a selection of The 15th Annual ARIA Music Awards will be given out. Rumor has it that one of the Hall Of Fame recipients will also be announced at this function. Could this finally be INXS' year to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame?
 

03.09.2001

Motorcycle Auction
In Music & Media reports: A 1987 Harley Davidson Softail motorbike owned by Michael Hutchence, a guitar signed by the Who, and a spa lunch with Elle MacPherson are three of 200 items up for grabs, at an auction put together by whiskey manufacturer Chivas Regal as part of the company's 200th anniversary to raise millions of dollars for
charity. The auction runs between September 6 to end of October at http://www.chivas.com/.
 
In other news, VH-1 recently aired their Top 80 Songs of the 1980's countdown. The influential 1987 chart-topper "Need You Tonight" was selected as the #47 video. Congratulations!
 

02.09.2001

INXS In Lights
Showing in Brisbane's Lyric Theatre is a wonderful show on Australia's 'Elvis,' the late Johnny O'Keefe. Johnny O'Keefe is widely credited as being responsible for the birth of Australian rock 'n' roll in the 1950's and 60's, and is given credit for laying the foundation for future Aussie acts. The closing scene of the theatrical performance sees the names of famous Australian bands displayed in the background in neon lighting. There are around twenty influential acts displayed, and proudly, INXS is honored in the middle row to the right of center. This is yet another fitting tribute to INXS and Australian rock 'n' roll. Perhaps the band may take time out to see the show while they are in town for the Goodwill Games concert? (Thanks to Ben Webb)
 

01.09.2001

Ted Mulry Dies
Ted Mulry, lead singer of the seminal Aussie band the Ted Mulry Gang in the '70s ("Jump In My Car", "Darktown Strutters Ball") has died of cancer. Mulry's last public appearances were at the March "Gimme Ted" benefits held in Sydney this past March. The two concerts helped raise over AU$170,000 toward Mulry's medical bills. INXS' Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, and Garry Gary Beers participated on stage with long-time friend Richard Clapton, and were also joined by new singer Jon Stevens. A true rock legend, Mulry will be sorely missed by fans and musicians alike.
 
Today is also the 22nd anniversary of INXS' first live performance at the Oceanview Hotel at Toukley, Sydney.