INXS

The 1980s saw the rise of a band from Australia called INXS. The band formed in Sydney and consisted of the Farris brothers Andrew, Tim and John and the remainder were made up of Garry Beers, Kirk Pengilly and the enigmatic singer Michael Hutchence.

The band started out in the late 1970s as a ska band and got minor success as support act to Midnight Oil but proceeded to play live throughout Australia with as many as 300 shows in a 12 month period. The hard work saw a 5 album deal with independent label Deluxe.

The first album was self titled and sold 35,000 copies in there native land and the interest in there new wave/ska sound was pricking the conscience of the public. 1982 saw the release of there first international album 'shabooh shoobah' on Atlantic records and hit the top 50 in America and a single followed suit when the 'one thing' reached the top 30 in America. A video promo was done for the fledgling MTV station and the interest saw a small tour support for Adam and the Ants and Hall and Oates to name but a few.

The band had moderate success in America but the UK and Europe was still a mystery so they decided to change the style of music to suit and they came up with a more rockier edge. In 1985 saw the release of the album 'listen like thieves'. the album was written primarily by Andrew Farris and Michael Hutchence. The single 'what you need' achieved a top 5 status in America and in the UK it peaked at 51 and finally the UK market was weakening.

The band plugged away and continued with a tour in the UK as support act for Queen in 1986 at there infamous Wembley concert. However, they did not neglect there studio commitments and in 1987 after much derision from there record label Atlantic they released 'Kick'. The label felt it would not sell easier to the rock stations. The album hit the top 10 in the UK and America. It also held in its collection 4 top 10 US single success with 'new sensation', 'never tear us apart', 'devil inside' and 'need you tonight' and for the rest of the eighties the success was generated over both sides of the pond.

The band released six studio albums in the 1980s with only 'listen like thieves' and 'kick' making a significant dent on the charts in the USA and the UK. They also released 25 singles during the 1980s with only 10 making a contribution to the top 100 in the UK. The single 'What you need' was there first success in the UK peaking at number 51. There first top 10 was in 1987 with 'need you tonight' which was there highest placed entry at number 2. Suprisingly that was there only top 10 UK single!

The band continued it's success well into the 1990s but it came to a halt when singer and songwriter Michael Hutchence died in 1997. The success route was a long road but the band made a vital contribution to the music industry with the clever use of rock and dance.

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