Australian rock icons INXS wrapped their successful sojourn supporting Matchbox Twenty on their current Australian national tour, but the group had some rather shocking news for the audience, and in turn the music world, at Sunday night’s concert at Perth Arena.
As News Ltd reports, toward the conclusion of the band’s set at the Perth show, drummer Jon Farriss announced that it would be the band’s last ever performance, admitting “I’m getting teary” at the news that the group would be disbanding after their 35 years of music-making. The group then performed one of their biggest hits, ‘Need You Tonight’ for the Perth crowd in their ultimate finale.
INXS have strong ties to Western Australia, with the Farriss brothers, drummer Jon with Andrew and Tim, spent part of their teenage years in the west, as well as late frontman Michael Hutchence.
The iconic Australian act formed in Sydney in 1977, when the Farriss trio, Huchence, along with bassist Garry Gary Beers, invited schoolmate Kirk Pengilly to play their first ever show in Whale Beach.
They went on to become one of the most successful exports in Australian history, particularly during the 80s, a decade which saw the certified rock stars both home and abroad, with large media attention and pressure building until the fateful death of Michael Hutchence in 1997.drummer Jon Farriss announced that it would be the band’s last ever performance, admitting “I’m getting teary”
INXS have arguably struggled to recapture their former glories since, with a reality television show documenting the search to find a frontman to fill Hutchence’s not un-sizeable shoes, in the form of 2004’s Rock Star: INXS.
Canadian J.D. Fortune took the spot and fronted the band until September, 2011, when Irishman Ciaran Gribbin took on the role. As our reviewer of INXS’ support slot at Matchbox Twenty’s slideshow at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre wrote of the new lineup: “they’ve reinvented themselves and managed to produce the same excitement and charisma that they had all those years ago.”
The news of their split comes as the band were set to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their iconic 1987 album Kick with rumoured plans of developing a Michael Hutchence hologram. Kick contained some of the band’s biggest hits, including ‘New Sensation’, ‘Need You Tonight’, and ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ – which has become an unofficial epitaph for Michael Hutchence, with the band dedicating its performance on their latest tour to their fallen frontman.
Regardless, the news of the band’s split comes as a shock for fans and industry alike, and though no specific details have yet emerged for the reasons behind them calling it a day – their legacy remains a largely impressive one.
To date INXS have sold more than 30 million records worldwide, along with numerous awards across their 35-year career. Including taking out six ARIA awards, including three for Best Group in 1987, 1989, and 1992 and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001.
