Real Name: Michael Hutchence, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers
Date of Birth / Formation: 1977
Age / Status: Active 1977–2012
Origin: Formed in Sydney, Australia; originally performed as the Farriss Brothers before adopting the name INXS (a play on 'in excess').
Core lineup: Michael Hutchence (lead vocals), Andrew Farriss (keyboards, principal composer), Tim Farriss (lead guitar), Jon Farriss (drums), Kirk Pengilly (guitar/sax), Garry Gary Beers (bass).
Signature style: A blend of new wave, rock and funk that shifted into a more mainstream rock sound through the mid-to-late 1980s.
Peak commercial era: Mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, led by the global success of 1987's Kick and multiple US Top 10 singles.
Accolades & sales: Multiple ARIA awards and induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame (2001). Reported sales in excess of 50 million records worldwide.
INXS was an Australian rock band that became one of the world's most successful acts in the 1980s and 90s. Led by the charismatic frontman Michael Hutchence, the band's sound blended new wave, rock, and funk. Their 1987 album 'Kick' was a global phenomenon, producing four top-ten hits including the number-one 'Need You Tonight'. Known for their stylish image and infectious rhythms, INXS was a staple of the MTV era. The band sold over 60 million records worldwide and won numerous awards. Despite the tragic loss of Hutchence in 1997, the band's musical legacy remains immense, influencing generations of rock and pop artists.
Formed in 1977 in Sydney by the Farriss brothers with Michael Hutchence and Kirk Pengilly, the group cut their teeth on the Australian pub circuit. Early singles and the self-titled debut (1980) established their new wave/ska-influenced sound and a reputation as a tireless live act before international attention followed. [1]
A string of increasingly international releases — Shabooh Shoobah (1982), The Swing (1984) and Listen Like Thieves (1985) — prepared the band for global success. By 1987's Kick, INXS combined danceable grooves and rock songwriting to reach mainstream US and European audiences and MTV fame. [1]
Album, 1992, UK [2]
Chart summary: INXS achieved 1 UK Number 1 album on the main Official UK Singles and Albums Charts. The cards above list each verified chart-topper. [2]
The ensemble that became INXS debuted as the Farriss Brothers at Whale Beach, north of Sydney, laying the groundwork for their pub-circuit development. [1]
Their self-titled debut (1980) produced the Top 40 Australian single 'Just Keep Walking' and began a period of heavy touring and profile-building domestically. [1]
Shabooh Shoobah (1982) and the single 'The One Thing' opened North American exposure, aided by early MTV airplay and a new international label arrangement. [1]
'Original Sin' became the band's first Australian No. 1 single and increased their global profile ahead of extensive international touring. [1]
Listen Like Thieves spawned the hit 'What You Need', giving INXS their first major US chart breakthrough and growing international momentum. [1]
Kick (1987) became a global phenomenon, producing multiple US Top 10 singles and the band's only US No. 1, dramatically raising their international profile. [1]
A concise 1980s snapshot paired with a source-linked status update checked on 17 July 2026.
The profile’s own 1980s timeline captures INXS’s era-defining momentum. These late-decade milestones anchor the period in the original profile.
Group listed as dissolved. Wikidata records INXS as dissolved in 2012. MusicBrainz lists LUST (27 August 2021) as the newest catalogued ep linked to INXS. Any later catalogue entry may be archival, reunion-related, or a reissue and is not treated as proof of a current lineup.
No short interview quotation was included because an exact, attributable public transcript could not be verified for this profile.
Selected songs with context and brief thematic notes.
Lyrics note: Full copyrighted lyrics are not reproduced. The notes below are original summaries of each song’s themes and imagery.
Lyric theme: A sultry, groove-driven rock-pop song built on a minimal riff and seductive vocal delivery about desire and immediacy.
Lyric theme: An upbeat, danceable track combining rock energy and pop hooks; celebrates momentum and the thrill of escape.
Lyric theme: A dramatic, string-accented ballad exploring intense loyalty and emotional connection between lovers or close companions.
Lyric theme: Funk-tinged rock that mixes assertive rhythms and confident vocals about offering someone exactly what they lack or desire.
Lyric theme: A darker, taut groove examining temptation and the shadowy impulses within human nature.