Michael Hutchence, a renowned Australian singer and performer, left an indelible mark on the music industry, spanning an impressive twenty-year career. Born to Kelland Hutchence and Patricia Hutchence, a film and television make-up artist, Michael was the second of three children, growing up in Hong Kong, the United States, and Australia. His childhood was marked by frequent visits to film sets, where he would often meet famous individuals, including his former classmate, Nastassja Kinski.
When his parents divorced in 1976, Michael accompanied his mother to America, but eventually returned to Australia to live with his father. He attended high school in Sydney, befriending Andrew Farriss, who would later become a crucial figure in his music career. Andrew's involvement in two bands, Doctor Dolphin and The Farriss Brothers, led to Michael joining him on stage, and subsequently, they recruited Garry Beers and Kirk Pengilly to form The Farriss Brothers. After graduating, they started touring pubs, eventually signing a record deal on the condition that they change their name to INXS, reflecting their carefree lifestyle.
Their initial three albums received moderate success, but the release of 'The Swing' in 1984 catapulted them to stardom, debuting at number one in Australia and selling double platinum. Their 1987 album 'Kick' garnered massive radio airplay, yielding an American number one hit ("Need You Tonight") and selling millions of albums worldwide.
However, Michael's life was marked by excess, including relationships, drugs, and alcohol, which took a toll on his personal and professional life. After 'Kick', the band's popularity began to wane, and Michael attempted to transition into film, but his first film, 'Dogs in Space' (1986),received an 'R' rating, alienating it from its intended teenage audience. His second film, 'Frankenstein Unbound' (1990),failed to showcase his talent, as he had a minor role.
Throughout his career, Michael struggled with personal and professional issues. He fell in love with and later lived with Bob Geldof's wife, Paula Yates, which tarnished his reputation. They had a daughter together, Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof. In 1997, Michael met with Michael Douglas to discuss using his songs in the film 'Face/Off' (1997). Hutchence sought Douglas' advice on advancing his film career, but ultimately, he could not cope with the pressure of being a fading rock star. The commercial failure of his latest album, 'Elegantly Wasted', marked the end of his career.
